The Magical Wonders of Enchanted GenSan – Pasko Sa GenSan 2008
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When Pasko Sa GenSan 2008, General Santos City’s annual Christmas Festival was launched in December 5th, Mayor Pedro Acharon, Jr. together with the First Lady and Kagandahan GenSan Chair Dr. Rosalinda Acharon unveiled the theme, “Enchanted GenSan: Once Upon a Yuletide Season.”
It was a theme that not a few skeptics doubted could be mounted considering the grandiosity of it all. For how can one transform the barren oval plaza field into one big world of fantasy and magic?
But when the whole of the city oval plaza was simultaneously lighted up that night, it silenced the doubters, for the park immediately conjured up colorful images of Kings and Queens, of fairies and elves, of princesses and prince charming’s, of palaces and kingdoms, of carnivals and space ships, and of little drummer boys and pretty ballerinas.
The next two weeks of merriment and gaiety reinforced these images with a series of whimsical events casting their spell on the locals and visitors alike.
DRUM & LYRE PARADE COMPETITION
First to work its charms was the Drum & Lyre Parade Competition and its adorable fantasy and storybook characters from different primary and secondary school bands wowing the audience.
Adjudged the best at the high school level were Notre Dame of GSC, Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges – HS, GSC SPED HS, and the Johnny Ang National High School.
For their younger counterparts in the elementary, the best performers were Pedro Acharon Sr. Elementary School, Bula Central Elementary School, and Dadiangas South Elementary School.
FAIRY TALE PAVILION CONTEST
Continually captivating Christmas revelers at the oval plaza each night were the five pavilions all representing various worlds of wonder.
There was the Safari Land which was mounted by schools comprising Cluster 3: Bula National School of Fisheries, SPED, GSNSAT, Johnny Ang National HS, Bawing National HS, Ligay HS-Annex and Upper Labay HS.
For their amazing portrayal of the African bushland complete with tigers, lions, monkeys, cluster 3 was adjuged as Grand Winner, taking home P20,000 in cash.
Then there was Holy Trinity College’s haven of fairies and elves called Fairy Land, which was good enough to land the 2nd place in the competition. Here you will also meet young princesses and their princes who will tour you inside their magical kingdom.
They were followed by Cluster 1′s Galaxy Land and its giant alien spaceship hovering over the earthlings before they are transported in the Black Hole while passing through the millions of stars in the Milky Way. This combined effort of Lagao NHS, AG Busano NHS, Lagao NHS-Annex, Tinagacan NHS, Ingracia Aldomar NHS, Busgano HS, GSC HS, New Society HS and Fatima NHS was the 3rd best pavilion.
Rounding up the winners are Cluster 2′s Fruit and Flower Land and RMMC HS Department’s Circus Land.
Cluster 2 is Ireneo Santiago NHS, Banisil NHS, Buayan NHS, Baluan HS, Labangal NHS, Pao-pao HS, and Lanton HS.
DISNEY TOWER COMPETITION
Another set of attractions at oval plaza’s Magic Kingdom were the 26 delightful Disney towers built by the city’s barangays.
Utilizing materials indigenous to their individual localities, these barangays displayed their own take on Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty’s castles, lighting them up in the most imaginable way possible.
These proved to be and still are the major crowd-drawers of Pasko Sa Gensan, with the 3 best towers from Barangay Dadiangas East, Katangawan, and Barangay Dadiangas North winning the competition.
Kudos to Barangay rulers Captain Rosario Abao, Captain Remy Herceda and Captain Lising for leading their wards to victory.
FAIRY TALE MAKEOVER COMPETITION
For the Fairy Tale Makeover Competition at the KCC Convention Center, the ladies comprising the winners and contestants during the Ms. GenSan Tourism 2008 Pageant proved to be the perfect models for a variety of fantasy characters.
In the end, it was the Jessica Team who lorded it all over the rest with their version of the Fairy Godmother. Other winners were Savannah Lambana, The Mugna Team, Envy Me/Fairytopia, Sphistikantada, Sophia’s Team and Dona’s Team.
Their winning models were the most photographed during the awarding ceremonies at the oval plaza stage last December 16th.
MUSICAL & DANCE COMPETITIONS
What would an enchanted GenSan be without music and dance to give it more joy and pleasure? That is the very reason why an assortment of competitions were also conducted not only to add dazzle but to showcase the best performing young artists of the city.
GenSan POP IDOL 2009 produced another future singing star in Grand Champion Joven Greg Repe and in his batch, Cris John Ordanel and Christian Luis Cruiz. For sure, these new talents will be showcasing their vocal prowess in faraway kingdoms very soon.
Dance Fusion discovered new hataw groups in Extreme Boys followed by runners up Experience Kidz and SPA Kalingaw Singers. Their intricate dance choreography would SURELY enthrall even the most hard-to-please Kings and Queens.
In the Himig Pasko Christmas Carol, the sweet and angelic voices of the Holy Trinity College HS Choir captivated the discerning witches and sorcerers that they took home the Grand prize. Still, the Mindanao State U CETD, the Christ the King HS and GSC SPED HS were also accorded honors by being the next best singers.
2ND GENSAN ECO KARERA
For the brave knights, princes and warriors, the 2nd GenSan Eco Karera was their chance to show off their abilities. With the hand of Princess Romarie Cunanan, Ms GenSan 2008 as part of the prize, they all came as far as Davao City and Cagayan de Oro to try their luck in the grueling outdoor race through Enchanted GenSan’s diverse environment.
In the end, there can only be one GenSan Eco Karera King and that distinction belonged to Paulo Dino Ouano from kingdom Mulatto Davao, followed by Southern Peak Davao’s John Monares and Kagrupo/Energy Plus Digos’ Nere Jhun Florentino.
PBA JR. CUP – CHESS TOURNAMENT
In the ultimate mind game of chess where kingdoms are pitted against each other, the following won as champions and runners up:
For the Open Division, Ferdinand Leysa emerged as the top Knight in his turf. Among the Junior Knights, Arvin Galinada topped the competition while young Knight Christopher Panes was his Kiddie category counterpart.
PARTICIPATING PALACES AND CASTLES
Other palaces and castles also joined Enchanted GenSan in lighting up the hearts of the commoners.
For the best Santa Sleigh Stations (Gas Stations Décor Contest), the winners are Petron Citifront (Bulaong Avenue), Petron KARE (J. Catolico Avenue) and Abdil Petron (National Highway).
Even the FM Radio Stations joined the celebrations and are proving to be a hit with their nightly parties at the oval plaza stage.
For the young there is the Pamaskong Pambata at the Children’s Park conducted by various organizations and groups for the benefit of underprivileged kids.
And who could miss out on the exciting Christmas Carnival rides and the Hawker’s Flea Market and Food Stalls plus the Party Zone in different parts of the Magical Kingdom?
According to Artistic Director Egai Cadiente, all these plus more continue to dazzle and amaze the generals during the remainder of the Christmas Season until the 1st week of January 2009 at the oval plaza.
Pasko sa GenSan 2008 is presented by the local government of General Santos City through the Kagandahan GenSan and the CEMCDO; and the United Architects Association of Philippines -Socsargen.
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