Most town plazas in the 11 towns and one city of the province are adorned by Christmas decorations with some already lighted and some still undergoing finishing touches.
The Spanish-themed Plaza Mayor in Balanga City, for example, recently opened its Christmas lights simultaneous with those of the four-storey commercial buildings – Galeria Victoria, Plaza Hotel and Center Mall, the city hall and the Saint Joseph Shrine and Cathedral.
These business establishments and other buildings of the same façade color sandwich the plaza. As the lights were turned on, attractive lights from some 30 ten-feet Christmas trees flooded the Plaza Mayor.
Life-size letters of the word Balanga stood out while at its back came out drops from the multi-colored fountain.
Small and tall Christmas trees adorned the perimeter of the plaza and the center island of the road.
Dwarf Santa Claus figures seem to guard big lighted Christmas boxes. Nutcrackers more than man-high between two high Christmas trees stand at the entrance of the cityhall.
In Abucay town and Balanga City, bibingka and puto bumbong are already available and saleable. Bibingka and puto bumbong cost P40 – P65 each with free hot tea made from mango leaves and anis.
In Samal town, caroling by both children and adults started. While the adults used guitar to accompany their singing, the children used twigs and cans and sang to the top of their voices “Thanks you, ang babait ninyo” after receiving a few coins.
