CEBU CITY - The spirit of Christmas is already reverberating in Cebu City as over two thousand spectators rushed to Fuente Rotonda Circle to witness the annual ceremonial lighting of the giant Christmas Tree.

The event opened the month-long "Pasko sa Sugbu" program of the Cebu City government and various business groups.

The event ran simultaneous with the launching of the Kasadya sa Colon at Colon Street and Pasko sa Carbon at the Carbon Market.

The Christmas tree stands one hundred sixteen feet tall, with seven hundred star ornaments, sixty five angels and four huge Santa Clause replicas made by engineer Bernardino Adiong. It was sponsored by a known business establishment in Cebu City.

It is illuminated with one hundred fifty lights, two thousand two hundred bulbs and twenty four focus lights.

A five-minute fireworks display added spectacle to the ceremonial lighting which awed the spectators all the more.

"Well, this tree symbolizes unity among Cebuanos, and if we only stay united, Cebu will emerge as beautiful as this Christmas Tree," said acting Cebu City Mayor, Michael Rama.

Hope amidst crisis
Families and couples who witnessed the event can only speak of positive things about the grand Christmas Tree.

The Labandero family who had their dinner beside the grand Christmas Tree described it as their hope amidst the crisis.

"We are poor, but we feel rich with this Christmas Tree, no crisis can make this dinner less wonderful when the lights continue to twinkle," said Rogelio Labandero while having dinner with his wife and three kids.

The Christmas Tree will stand until January 2009 for the Sinulog Celebration of Cebu City.