The City of Pasay marked its 157th year with a month-long Christmas celebration and other major city-wide activities.
The series of major events will be highlighted Wednesday with the colorful fireworks display and opening of Mercato (market), both at the SM Mall of Asia complex, and the simultaneous switch-on of Christmas lights and decors at the City Hall and other key areas in the city.
“We prepared all these activities to enable our residents to have a meaningful enjoyment of our foundation and of the yuletide season even with this pandemic which continues to affect all of us,” said Mayor Imelda Rubiano.
She assured that city participants and spectators will comply city ordinances and observe health and safety protocols imposed by the government to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease.
“Amid these festive activities, we have put in place the necessary measures to ensure everybody’s compliance with basic health and safety protocols such as physical distancing, temperature check, sanitation and the wearing of face mask and face shield,” she added.
Rubiano said the fireworks display was approved by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and is considered as the first such event to be allowed while Metro Manila is placed under general community quarantine status.
The mercato, on the other hand, will feature a bazaar and various stalls selling specialty items.
At the City Hall, a grand decor with a pink-colored Christmas tree will light up the whole façade of the city government’s building along F.B. Harrison Street.
Among the major events include the Virtual Dance Challenge; Essential Medicines Initiative (EMI) or distribution of medicines to barangays; Night Market along Roxas boulevard service road; first-ever virtual job fair; Istorya ng Buhay Mo nitong Pandemya essay writing; Recognition and Awards for notable city government offices and employees, and E-commerce market investment promo.
The local government is also offering free processing and issuance of certified true copies of birth, marriage and death certificates, and E-Trike Ride Libreng Sakay from Dec. 2 to 30.
City officials will also hold the simultaneous parochial blessing; the launching of the Pasay E-business Go Live; and distribution of Christmas gifts to thousands of underprivileged families.
