Lighting the Belen Prepares PUP Community for Christmas
Jesusana S. Dejito, PUP Campus Observer, Volume 1, Issue 2, January 2012Lighting the Belen, a time-honored tradition of the PUP community, signals the start of a long and festive yuletide celebration at the University. This year’s lighting-of-the-belen ceremony was supervised by Laboratory High School (LHS) Principal Corazon C. Tahil.
The program started with everyone joining in the singing of Christmas carols, after which was John Paolo V. Bracia’s rendition of the doxology. Dr. Roland C. Viray, the overall chair of the 2011 University Christmas Celebration, delivered the opening remarks, which he capped with a wish that “... this Christmas bring peace, joy, and unity among us.”
The Christmas messages of Officer-in-Charge Estelita Wi dela Rosa, Executive Vice President Victoria C. Naval, and Vice Presidents Samuel M. Salvador, Juan C. Birion, and Pastor B. Malaborbor focused on this year’s theme “Pasko sa PUP 2011: Ipagdiwang nang may Pagmamahalan, Pagkakaisa, at Kapayapaang Pinapatnubayan ng Maykapal.”
With piped Christmas music, the LHS Entablado students portrayed a live nativity drama where they wore traditional costumes of Mary and Joseph and any other character present in Bethlehem.
Prof. Elmer G. de Jose and the PUP Banda Kawayan enthralled the audience with special numbers inspired by the season. OIC Dela Rosa, assisted by the Vice Presidents, did the honors at the much-awaited moment -- the lighting of the belen.
The program ended with Professor Tahil’s closing remarks and the PUP community’s highspirited singing of Christmas carols.