BALANGA CITY, Bataan – Six non-governmental organizations here showed different interpretation of the “belen” based on the way they serve people during a program held at the jam packed Plaza Mayor de Balanga Sunday evening.
The program was called “Gabi ng NGO” under a month-long celebration of Christmas in this city with the theme “Pasko sa Lungsod na BagongAnyo”.
The six participating groups were the Girls Scouts of the Philippines (GSP), Bataan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BACCI), Rotary Club, Knights of Columbus, Kabalikat and Couples for Christ; all based in Balanga.
City Administrator Rudy de Mesa said the program showed that children are involved in the desire of NGOs and the city government under Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III to help their fellowmen.
“Sa araw-araw na pagtulong ninyo sa kapwa, parang sinasabi narin ninyo ng mahal ninyo ang Diyos,” de Mesa told members of the non-governmental groups.
In a 15-minute presentation each, the “belen” characters were real people portraying Mary, Joseph, 3 Kings and Angels and some real babies as the Child Jesus.
In the presentation of GSP, some dressed as Filipino farmers in hats were included. The characters were like in “belen” replica, not moving as if glued to where they stood.
The 3 Kings in the “belen” of BACCI showed them carrying products under the One Town, One Product program of the Department of Trade and Industry. The newly-opened four-storey Galeria Victoria and city hall served as background for their “belen”.
The Rotary Club showed a homeless family inside a shelter box as their way of presenting the “belen”.
The Knights of Columbus had a well-choreographed production number starting from the visit of an Angel to Mary and to Joseph in his dream.
This was followed by Mary and Joseph looking for a house and then the plotting of the direction of the birthplace of the Child Jesus by three wise men. Finally, the 3 Kings presenting gifts to the baby in a manger.
Kabalikat, a women’s organization, showed an Angel looking over Mary in Filipina dress and Joseph in Barong Tagalog who were caring for a baby sucking milk in a bottle. The 3 Kings were dressed as a physician and teacher and businessman in polo barong.
The presentation of the Couples for Christ started with people building a house under their project “Answering the Call of Christ for the Poor” or ANCOP. Then, came the parents with the mother holding a baby.
Three men representing CFC, a donor and Local Government Unit portrayed as 3 Kings.
The participants made it clear that they did not use expensive materials but merely recycled ones and available in the community.
