"Paz, Amor y Alegria" - Peace, Love and Joy! It's the season that we all look forward most. This year's theme for the Christmas Festival in Zamboanga City is simply "I Love Zamboanga City" which encourages each and every Zamboangueño to love their city and family each day. The decors which were designed and installed by the City General Services Office is centered on that theme with hearts as the main symbol. The City Hall is studded with colorful lights and heart-shaped lanterns with giant gifts at the frontage. At the center is the nativity scene, which is the essence of the Christmas celebration - the birth of Jesus Christ.



The Christmas lights display was officially switched on last November 23, Friday, and thousands came to witness the ceremony led by the City Mayor, Beng Climaco. Amazement and joy was felt when the lights turned on accompanied by happy Christmas carols. Bring your love ones and come and see them for yourself starting 6PM til 12 midnight. Take a selfie at the heart tunnels and don't forget to share it online using the hashtags #PascuaNaZamboanga and #iLoveZamboangaCity. Here are some of my shots during the Grand Switch-on Ceremony.






If Cebu has 10,000 illuminated flowers, Zambo has a field of glowing hearts located at Plaza Rizal, Plaza Pershing and Paseo del Mar.


Few moments til the Grand Switch-on!


A huge heart displayed at the Plaza Vicente Alvarez


View from Plaza Vicente Alvarez


City Hall at dusk


And its On! Look at those beautiful lights!


The field of hearts and heart canopies at Plaza Pershing


Heart tunnels at Plaza Pershing and the stage with "Pascua na Zamboanga" letterings


Little kiddo can't help but touch the glowing hearts


Beautiful heart tunnels! People just wanna have selfies here!


Love love love!


Simply breath-taking!


My favorite angle of them all! Don't forget to take your photos from this angle!

The City Government of Zamboanga presents Pascua na Zamboanga 2015. Every year, the city celebrates the yultide season with a lineup of fun-filled activities. The highlight of the Christmas Festival is the switching on of the City Hall as it transforms into a grand display of lights. This year the city is transformed into candyland, and the main attraction includes the City Hall as a gingerbread house, Plaza Pershing as a lollipop forest and Paseo del Mar with the giant ice cream cone Christmas Tree. All landmarks will be ceremonially switched on in December 1st, 5PM.

Every evening, chorale groups will be serenading us with Christmas carols at the City Hall lobby during the "Canciones de Pascua" from December 14 to 18, 7PM onwards. Shop until you drop at the Grand Christmas Bazaar at Paseo del Mar on December 6-12, and at the Grand 5-day Holiday Fiesta at City Mall Tetuan. It is also expected that the newest and biggest mall in Zamboanga, KCC Mall de Zamboanga, will be opening in December. Here's the poster for Pascua na Zamboanga 2015. Click for larger view.


Design by csz97

To open the Christmas Festival in Zamboanga City, the City Hall is once again adorned with bright lights and Christmas lanterns to promote Peace and Love this season. Dubbed as Pascua na Zamboanga, Christmas is opened with a grand lighting of the Ciy Hall, Plaza Rizal and Plaza Pershing led by the beloved Mayor Beng Climaco herself. The opening program started with the "family picture" of all local government offices with the grand "belen" or nativity scene in the background. Real lambs were at the centerpiece of the belen. More than 2,000 employees and their families enjoyed the Christmas carols performed by a grand chorale. They also had fun taking pictures with mascots while waiting for the 6PM cue time for the switching of lights.

Few minutes before the lighting, the program started with an intimate prayer. Then Ma'am Beng appeared at the tower of City hall and gave her message in her pink gown with matching halo. She started the countdown as she waved a wand like a fairy godmother. In the last second, the lights switched on and revealed the dominant blue and white lights of the city hall as the word PAZ glowed at the central tower. Plaza Rizal and Pershing also turned into wonderland as the lights cascaded among the lamp posts and lush gardens. A confetti storm also showered the facade of the city hall which was really magical. Above all, the happiness of the people was infectious and everyone was in awe with the great Christmas light display. With this simple spark of joy, every Zamboangueno were rekindled with the Christmas spirit. Watch the same-day edit video of the momentous occasion produced by the magical lenses of Vista de Lente and SkyFrames aerial videography.



After the grand lighting, the employees of the different offices marched towards Paseo del Mar with their colorful props and cheerful smiles. As they graced the streets, the lamp posts lit one by one, bringing the light of Christmas around the city. Upon entering Paseo del Mar, the colorful lights lit up, followed by the heritage lamps, then the gyrating musical fountain and finally the grand Christmas tree. The fun didn't end there! A Christmas party of the Local Government Unit of Zamboanga also happened at Paseo. Fun musical numbers were rendered by the different clusters and door prizes were given away. Among all the happenings that night, the camaraderie, happiness and peace among one other is the real highlight of this Celebration. So from the City of Zamboanga to you, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year! Vaya Con Dios!

Here are the official photos by Vista de Lente Photography.

It's Christmas time again! To share the spirit of the holidays, the City Government of Zamboanga prepared a lineup of activities and contests for the Zamboangueños. To open the Christmas Festival "Pascua na Zamboanga" on December 1, there will be a parade and light switching ceremony of the iconic City Hall. Every year, the landmark is transformed into a huge Christmas sight where lights adorn every corner depicting the Nativity. During the program, the nativity scene will be played by selected employees, and with real live animals, too. Aside from the city hall, all the major street and landmarks will also be decorated with Angels and Christmas symbols. Check out the poster for the full schedule of activities. Merry Christmas and have a Prosperous 2015!

This year, Zamboanga will be celebrating the Yultide season in a different tone. The past months has been a challenge for the city to rebuild and build back a better community. The theme for this year's Pascua na Zamboanga is Build Back Better Un Familia Zamboangueño. The celebration will kick off on December 2, with a Flag Raising Ceremony which is also a 'Tribute to Heroes' event. In the evening, there will be a ceremonial turning on of Christmas tree and lights at some landmarks of the city like City Hall, Plaza Pershing and Paseo del Mar.

Some events from the Hermosa Festival has been moved to the Christmas calendar of activities such as Vinta Sailing and Mascota de Zamboanga. A weekend Christmas Fair will also be held at Centro Latino, Paseo del Mar on Dec 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, & 28-29 from 10AM to 10PM. Check out the rest of the activities in the official poster designed by truly yours :)

Click to view larger :)