Christmas day is on the horizon and the holiday spirit is evident in Iloilo City.
The celebration of the yuletide season is visible in establishments and the merchandize that are being sold for those who want to start preparations for early decorating and gifting are already on the display racks.
Afterall, Christmas in the Philippines starts with the “Ber” months, starting with September 1 signaling the start of the season in the country.
Iloilo City is looking forward to a vibrant holiday season as visitors in Esplanade 1 are welcomed with colorful lights in the area. Iloilo joins the fun as the country celebrates Christmas the longest.
More lights are set to illuminate the city, as the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Indusry-Iloilo(PCCI-Iloilo), together with the Iloilo City Government is once again coming up with the yearly Ilonggo Christmas Parol of Hope, one of the social responsibility programs of the said business group.
The Christmas Parol of Hope is a program which supports the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology 6’s (BJMP 6) livelihood project, will light up the major thoroughfares of Iloilo City.
This year, PCCI aims to bring the parol display to major roads leading to neighboring towns in Metro Iloilo, to shed more light and camaraderie to more people, not just in the city but in the province as well.
The project is expected to once again bring life to the city streets, as businesses who are invited for this project supported by purchasing these parols made by the inmates of the BJMP 6.
One of the avid supporters of this project is SM City Iloilo. The mall is known for extending assistance to communities through its various partnerships.
As the countdown for Christmas began, SM City Iloilo came up with a partnership aligned with the overall Christmas theme of Happiness in SM Supermalls.
The campaign “100 Days of Happiness”, would like to create a Circle of Happiness in the community through viable livelihood support to various NGOs, organizations, and LGUs to raise resources & funds for noble advocacies and beneficiaries.
The basic concept is that SM partner with an organization and they will produce items and sell them in the malls. The proceeds of which shall be donated to a chosen beneficiary or charity.
For the 100 Days of Happiness campaign in SM City Iloilo, the mall partners with Fiesta! Favorite Souvenirs, a homegrown product of Iloilo which capture the colorful and festive spirit of Islands Philippines and has become the favorite souvenirs of tourists, both foreign and local, especially among Pinoy Balikbayans.
The inmates of Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Carmelite Sisters, Salngan Women’s Cooperative and Bayi bags of Leon, offer their handmade products for selling, so proceeds can be given to Asilo de Molo of the Daughters of Charity as the chosen beneficiary.
The selling booth is located at the Lower Ground Floor, North Point in front of Cafe Iloilo.
This campaign which encourages Ilonggos to support the advocacies of individuals and organizations that provide opportunities and create livelihood for their communities, is a testament that, indeed, Iloilo is the City of Love.