IN celebration of Christmas, select barangay (villages) from Pasay and Manila tested their ingenuity and skills in a friendly, sustainable, original Simbang Gabi-themed Belen creation contest.
The three-dimensional art depicts the birth of Jesus Christ using natural materials, such as twigs and branches, leaves, bamboo, fiber, wood, sinamay fabric, corn husks, and coconut shells. The entries included elements reminiscent of the devotional nine-day series of Masses, like the image of the church, “puto bumbong,” “bibingka,” and “banderitas” as design motifs.
The Center for Social Action (CSA) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) headlined the initiative in collaboration with the Benilde Industrial Design Program to foster inclusion and innovation within the community.
The Industrial Design Program’s masterclass provided the participants with design fundamentals. The learning session facilitated by faculty member Johann Kristian Mangussad guided them in transforming their concepts into tangible prototypes.
During the production process, each team was mentored by a selected group of student volunteers from the Community Service Program. The finished outputs, which stood at approximately 5 feet each, were paraded along the streets of Malate onboard pedicabs, tricycles and pick-up trucks.
Barangay 756 Manila emerged as the champion with “Silong ng Pag-asa.” The team underlined the representation of each natural material used in relation to the Christmas spirit and advocated the importance of family, faith and tradition, especially during trying times.
Second-placer Barangay 44 Pasay’s “Simbang Gabi sa Puso ng Lahing Pilipino” explored the significance and depiction of the devotional mass in the Filipinos’ national identity.
Barangay 752 Manila finished third with “Ang Belen sa Barangay, Simbolo ni Kristo ngayong Pasko,” with the image of Santisima Trinidad Parish of the Archdiocese of Manila, highlighting the role of Mary as the mother of Jesus Christ.
Barangay 46 Pasay earned the People’s Choice Award for “Natural Resources, Glorified, Symbolic, Ensemble.” This homage to the first Christmas featured a symbolic bell as a reminder of the hope, unity and peace that Jesus’ birth brings.
Trophies were awarded to the winners and cash prizes were granted to all participants.
The panel of judges was composed of CSA Director May Flor Artagame, industrial designer and homegrown talent Selena Placino, and architecture professor Dr. Maribel Tubera, who screened the projects based on resourcefulness, creativity and craftsmanship.
The event was made possible with the support of the Benilde School of Environment and Design and the Office of the Vice President for Lasallian Mission and Student Life.
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