52 entries join Belenisimo sa Tarlac this year

A total of 52 entries are participating in this year's Belenisimo sa Tarlac, an annual Christmas event which features nativity scenes or Belens as the main attraction.

According to Mark Salazar's report on "24 Oras," the entries will compete in five categories, including the church category and the grand municipal category.

"Ang singular meaning ng Belen isang pagbibigay ng kahalagahan sa simpleng kapanganakan ni Kristo sa sabsaban at ang importance ng prayer before the Belen," said Dr. Isa Cojuangco-Suntay, Head of the Tarlac Heritage Foundation.

Each Belen entry comes with their own themes or designs. One of the entries this year, the Belen of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Camiling, Tarlac, is a nativity scene on a boat.

"We thought of this concept kasi iniisip namin dito sa Pilipinas kontrobersyal ngayon ang corruption sa flood control so one of the symbols by which we can overcome flooding is through boats," said Fr. Hector Pamintuan Jr., the parish priest.

Tarlac is the Belen Capital of the Philippines. —MGP, GMA Integrated News