Santa Claus has Come to Town!

The Baliwag Municipal Employees’ Christmas Party 2017

BALIWAG, BULACAN - The employees of the Municipality held their annual Christmas Party on December 21, 2017 at Baliwag Star Arena, Pagala, Baliwag, Bulacan. Some 1,250 municipal employees of all statuses (permanent, temporary, co-terminus, contractual, job order, consultants, etc.) gathered together to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year. With the theme Santa Claus is Coming to Town participants dressed up in variant red and white clothes a la Santa Claus and capped themselves with santa hats or reindeer antlers.

Dressed a la (witch) Santa Claus, the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office personnel showed unity in their costumes.
(Photo credit: Willie Pascual Domingo II)

Mayor Ferdinand V. Estrella spearheaded the merriment and the generous gift-giving. He was joined by honored guests and officials including: Board Member Enrique V. dela Cruz, Jr., Vice Mayor Christopher F. Clemente, Councilors Marie Claudette P. Quimpo, Jose Noel S. Pascual, Emmanuel T. Balicanta, Lee Edward V. Nicolas, Erlene Luz V. dela Cruz and Generoso S. Ligon. Also present are Municipal Administrator Enrique V. Tagle and the Department Heads.

Local officials participated in the annual Christmas Party! 
(Photo credit: Willie Pascual Domingo II)

Mayor Ferdie V. Estrella led the extravaganza and gift-giving.
(Photo credit: Willie Pascual Domingo II)

The featured entertainment for the night was a talent search dubbed as Baliwag Got Unusual Talent. The event gave bold municipal employees a venue to show off their hidden talents. Thirteen (13) acts of different caliber ranging from the extraordinary, to the hilarious and even to plain stupidity were performed! Eventually, Kikay Angels from the Sanitation Services took home the bounty (PhP 30,000.00) as the night’s unusual talent winner. Stick Hero of the Human Resource Management Office placed second (PhP 20,000.00) while Dance Exotica of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office placed third (PhP 10,000.00).

It looked like they're floating. Kikay Angels from the Sanitation Department bagged the grand prize for Baliwag Got Unusual Talent
(Photo credit: Willie Pascual Domingo II)

The other Baliwag Got Unusual Talent Contestants are:

1. Kambal Karibal Duo

2. Tinidora Explorer

3. BTECH Tutelage

4. Mommy Fairy

5. Normita Hugotera

6. The Singing Maeng

7. AJ The Master of Lights

8. Brian the Great

9. The Impostores

10. MISS-TER-YOH

The highlight of the party was the distribution of gifts sourced from different donors and sponsors. The lucky recipients were drawn by lots. Appliances (refrigerator, LED television, etc.), gadgets (cellphones, tablets, etc.) and cash (ranging from PhP 500.00 to PhP 1,000.00) were given away to lucky employees.

And true to the party’s theme, it was indeed a night overflowing with gift-giving and generosity, fun and surprises. Representative Gavini “Apol” C. Pancho, via his sister Madam Tina Pancho, gave away 20 cellphones and 5 tablets plus PhP 50,000.00 in cash. Mayor Ferdie V. Estrella gave away cash gifts amounting to more than PhP 400,000.00. Santa Claus has, indeed, come to town! Almost everyone went home with gifts on their hands.

Local Celebrity Hosts Mr. Edwin Bautista, Ms. Laarnie Vera-Lauro and Michael Flores did the talking ad nauseam.
(Photo credit: Willie Pascual Domingo II)

Mr. Edwin Bautista (Consultant, Baliwag Tourism Office), Mr. Michael Flores (Head, Public Assistance Action Center) and Ms. Laarnie Vera-Lauro (Head, Baliwag Tourism Office) served as masters of ceremonies of the annual municipal employees’ Christmas Party. Oh what a party that was!

Party Animals. Employees from the Mayor's Office enjoyed the night to the fullest.
(Photo credit: Willie Pascual Domingo II)

Maxine Santos Crowned as Baliwag Gay Queen 2017

Ms. Maxine Santos (seated), Baliwag Gay Queen 2017 and her court.

BALIWAG, BULACAN - Maxine Santos, 26 year-old freelance model, was crowned Gay Queen of Baliwag 2017 during a coronation night held on December 17, 2017 at Baliwag Star Arena, Baliwag, Bulacan. She bested 22 other hopefuls in the battle of talent, interview, swimsuit and evening gown, to become this year’s winner.

The coronation was a night not only of glitz and glamour but also of fun and laughter. The contestants were all beautiful and they put their whole hearts into the competition. This made the competition stiff and the judges have difficulty choosing the rightful winner. The competitions lasted until the wee hours in the morning of December 18. The witty and talky host, Ms. Matrica Matmat Centino (Hall of Famer, ABS CBN It’s Showtime’s Ms. Q & A), cracked tactless jokes here and there sparking loud guffaws among the audience. She was complemented by her equally vibrant co-host, Mr. Joseph Tapic (Founder, Baliwag Elite Models).

The other winners with subsidiary titles are:

Queen of Festival 2017 - Ms. Jad Victorino

Queen of Tourism 2017 - Ms. Alodia Montecarlo Barbeyto

Queen of the Environment 2017 - Ms. Coleen Abarrientos

Queen of Youth 2017 -  Ms. Bitu Orihinal

Gay Queen of Baliwag 2017 1st Princess - Ms. Kim Gc Arcache

Gay Queen of Baliwag 2017 2nd Princess - Ms. Aicee Salazar Gonzales

Baliwag Councilor Pechay dela Cruz attended the coronation night and publicly announced the passage of the Baliwag Gender Fair ordinance under her authorship. It is an ordinance which prohibits all acts of discrimination and abuse directed against the LGBT community in the town. The ever-supportive and multi-awarded Mayor, Ferdie V. Estrella, and Councilor Dingdong Nicolas also graced the occasion.

Baliwag Gay Queen 2017 is a project of BGBT Community (Baliwag Gay, Bi-Sexual, Trans-Gender Community) under the leadership of Ms. Lhet-Lhet Baluyot Velasquez.

Some of the Judges, from the left, Atty. Robert John I. Donesa (BTECH President), Paolo Fernandez

(Malolos-based freelance model) and Ms. Zeinah Al-Saaby (Ms. Bulacan 2017).

(Photo credit: Paolo Fernandez).

Baliwag Students Painted the Town Rainbow during Pasakalye 2k17

Students of all levels colored the town rainbow as they danced on the streets to celebrate the Christmas season

One of the best group. Although STI College Baliuag did not win in the actual competition, they won the hearts of the online viewers.

Kumukutikutitap, bumubusibusilak, ganyan ang indak ng mga bumbilya. Kikindat-kindat, kumukurapkurap, pinaglalaruan ang iyong mga mata. The beat of this joyous Ryan Cayabyab Tagalog Christmas song filled every nook and corner of Baliwag, Bulacan, as students of all levels invaded the streets with their electrifying dance moves. It’s December 13, 2017 and it’s Pasko sa Kalye 2017 (Pasakalye 2k17), one of the most awaited holiday events in Baliwag, Bulacan.

Hundreds of locals crowded the sidewalks of Benigno Aquino, Sr. Avenue at Barangay Bagong Nayon to witness the students as they painted the town rainbow in merriment. Office personnel temporarily stopped their concerns and joined the mardigras. Others watch from the second floor windows and verandas of their houses. Indeed, it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas in Baliwag.

Eight (8) Elementary Schools and nine (9) High Schools and Colleges participated in this year’s street dance competition known as Pasakalye 2k17. The mardigras started at the New Frontier Subdivision at Bagong Nayon. The students danced their way through the Benigno Aquino, Sr. Avenue towards the Plaza Naning. By 5:00 P.M., the group dance competition commenced at Glorrieta park.

Mayor Ferdinand V. Estrella, greeted everyone a merry christmas and a happy new year. He congratulated all the participants for their well-done performances.

Mayora Jonnah Nubla-Estrella, the Chair of Baliwag Tourism Council, expressed joy as she watched the performances. At the end of the event, the following schools emerged victorious:

Elementary Level

1st Place - Baliwag North Central Elementary School

2nd Place - Tiaong Central School

3rd Place - Dr. Nicolas V. Rustia Memorial School

Secondary and College Level

1st Place - Teodoro Evangelista High School

2nd Place - Santo Nino High School

3rd Place - Mariano Ponce National High School

Pasakalye 2017 is part of the annual Christmas festivities dubbed as Paskong Pasko sa Baliwag. It is by far the only street dancing competition in the Philippines held during Christmas. It is carried out by the Municipality of Baliwag, Bulacan through the Municipal Tourism Office headed by Ms. Laarnie B. Vera-Lauro. Mr. Edwin Bautista, the Baliwag’s Tourism Consultant, is behind the resounding success of the event.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year in Baliwag, Bulacan!

Baliwag, Bulacan opens the season of joy with a ceremonial Christmas tree lighting at the Heroes' Park.  

The Municipality of Baliwag, Bulacan kicks-off the Christmas Season with the lighting of a giant Christmas Tree today, December 1, 2017, 6:00-7:30 P.M. at the Heroes' Park. The tree, propped up a la white Christmas, is Bulacan's tallest Christmas tree constructed primarily out of recycled materials. The tree remains lit and may be viewed until January 2018.

The festive lighting of the Baliwag Christmas Tree is one of series of Christmas activities in town dubbed as Paskong Pasko sa Baliwag 2017 - a tradition that was started during the time of Mayor Romy Estrella. The event was made more lively with musical performances by Vox Anime and other local artists. Hundreds crowded the park and sidewalks to witness event.

The lighting ceremonies were spearheaded by Baliwag Municipal Mayor, Honorable Ferdinand V. Estrella and witnessed by the members of Sangguniang Bayan and the Municipal Department Heads.

Other events to watch out for during season are: Munting Pangarap Concert on December 10, Pasakalye on December 13 and Paskong Paslit on December 14, among others. This event was made possible through efforts of the Local Government Unit of Baliwag, Bulacan, especially, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) and Baliwag Tourism Office, among others. 

BTECH Staff joins the celebration in red.

BTECH members of the administration, faculty and staff painted the town red as they enjoyed the puto bumbong and bibingka at the Heroes' Park, Baliwag, Bulacan.

The tree is made up of recycled materials especially plastic spoons and forks from local fast foods courtesy of the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO).

Creating something beautiful out of the plastic garbage of local fast food chains. 

Dr. Emiterio L. Tiburcio (BTECH VPAA), Mr. William O. Ortega (DEPED Supervisor), Hon. Joel Pascual (Sangguniang Bayan Member, Baliwag, Bulacan) and BTECH President Atty. Robert John I. Donesa witnessed the festive Tree Lighting Ceremonies at the Heroes' Park, Baliwag, Bulacan.

The man of the hour, Baliwag Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer, Edgar Luna.