1. Mayor Rolando “Klarex” Uy with members of the City Council during the launch of “Pasko de Oro” on December 10, 2025. CIO photo
TheMonitorMindanaoToday.com | Carols, marching bands amp up ‘Pasko de Oro’
By: Uriel Quilinguing
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To live up to decades-long Christmas tradition, caroling contest popularly known as “Bangga sa Daygon” and marching band competition were held late last week, accentuating the city government-led “Pasko de Oro” celebration that was launched at the Mayor Segundo Gaston Park on Wednesday, December 10.
Mayor Rolando A. Uy led the launch of “Pasko de Oro” in the presence of City Council members, city government personnel and hundreds of city residents, capped by the lighting of the “Pasko de Oro” logo, the dancing colorful fountain, and fireworks display.
Thirteen choirs and nine drum and lyre corps from various elementary schools competed in the two crowd-drawing events in the next two days, with over P300 thousand total cash prizes at stake for top three winners, special awardees, and assured P10 thousand consolation prize for each participating contingent.
In the past, carol singing contests used to be opened to organizations and barangays, not exclusive to elementary schools, and these were held in full public view — either in a mall, at the city bandstand or at the old city amphitheater.
“Paskorela” event, where 15 units of motorela were adorned with Christmas colorful decors, offering free rides afternoon of December 10 and 11 to the commuters was still included in this year’s “Pasko de Oro,” unlike the lantern-making (Indigay sa Parol) and Christmas village competitions that were shelved. These is ‘Pasko de Oro’ Night Market at Rio de Oro Boulevard.
All “Pasko de Oro” events are being coordinated with various departments and offices at City Hall by the City Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office.
FAIR AND SQUARE
Chief of Staff Shiela Bello Lumbatan of the Office of the City Mayor, who co-chairs the “Pasko de Oro” organizing committee, said in her welcome remarks that “Bangga sa Daygon” has been a “cherished tradition” during Christmas in the past 28 years.
She said they make sure results of the competitions will be “fair and square” with a panel of judges with proven integrity, competence, and professionalism in the field of music.
This time, the judges in the “Bangga sa Daygon” were Xavier University Music Director Vic Angelo Atilano, chairperson; Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology’s Ernesto Zaldua Jr., member; and Bukidnon State University’s Ivana Arboladura, member.
At the City Tourism Hall, 13 choirs, composed of 25 to 40 members, took turns in performing acapella and choreographed style, of two musical compositions of their choice within 10 minutes.
TOP 3 WINNERS
Corpus Christi School, the only privately-owned educational institution in the contest represented by its children’s choir that was formed 11 years ago, emerged as the champion and got a trophy and the P60 thousand top prize.
Conductor Paul Salipong, CCS’s music teacher who made the choral arrangement of the two musical pieces his singers performed, was adjudged best conductor, outscoring 12 others. These songs were “The Bells of Christmas” by Greg Gilpin and “Ilang Tulog Pa Ba” (Music by Moy Ortiz and Lyrics by Edith Gallardo.
Salipong, who holds a masteral degree in music on choral conducting from the Philippine Women’s University, arranged “The Bells of Christmas” for SSA (soprano 1, soprano 2, alto) acapella, and “Ilang Tulog Pa Ba” for SSA.
Iponan Elementary School’s Glee Club and Cagayan de Oro City Central School ranked second and third placers and received trophies as well P50 thousand and P30 thousand cash prizes, respectively.
Defending champion West City Central School (WCCS), who was also the 2022 grand winner, failed to make it to the top three. Kauswagan Central School was the champion in 2023 edition.
In the “Marching Band” competitions that enticed nine schools, the drum and lyre corps of Lumbia Central School was a major attraction, not only for their renditions of four all-time Christmas music favorites but also for their attractive of deep blue drum major outfit for boys and gold-colored majorette dress for girls with coco-husk wigs.
Lumbia CS got the P60 thousand top prize, as well as the P5 thousand Best in Musicality Award for Ray Conniff’s “Ring Christmas Bells,” Filipino classic “Pasko Na Naman,” Jose Mari Chan’s “Christmas in Our Hearts,” and Ryan Cayabyab’s “Kumukutikutitap.”
East City Central School’s Blazing East Drum and Lyre Corps was second with P40 thousand prize and also took the Best Band Major and Best Band Majorette special awards with P5 thousand prizes each.
Kauswagan Central School was third with P30 thousand prize while six other schools received P10 thousand as consolation prizes.
“The victory is something I will always be thankful for, not because of the award itself, but because of the people who made this journey meaningful and memorable,” Corpus Christi School’s Salipong said in social media post. [Uriel Quilinguing]
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