In Tarlac, December arrives not only with its cool breeze but with the glow of Belenismo, an annual showcase of giant, artistic nativity scenes that continues to captivate visitors from around the world.

A highlight of this year’s festivities is the Diplomatic Tour where ambassadors and diplomats of different countries visited Tarlac to see firsthand the creativity and cultural storytelling behind each belen.

One of the crowd favorites was the entry of Sto. Niño Parish of Bamban, crafted like a lantern and adorned with recycled materials and thousands of old toys. The design symbolizes the light of unity, hope, and goodness, especially for children.

Another attention-grabber was the CYG 2 belen, made entirely from PET bottles and featuring two giant moving birds.

Also popular was the Armor Division’s entry, which included a massive butterfly that appeared to dance in the wind. They said it represents transformation and new beginnings for Filipinos.

“I really love the colors and how everything here is respecting the culture and respecting the environment and using simple tools to make such beauty,” H.E. Nader Nabil Zaki, Ambassador of Egypt to the Philippines, said.

“It’s amazing the way Filipino people celebrate Christmas, it’s unbelievable, I’m so impressed… there is nothing like this in my country, this is exceptional,” H.E. Anna Ferry, Ambassador of Sweden to the Philippines, added.

Aside from the vibrant displays, diplomats also enjoyed Filipino cultural performances and even tried harvesting fruits and vegetables as part of the full Belenismo experience.

According to the Tarlac Heritage Foundation, Belenismo 2025 is more of a celebration of resilience and a gesture of hope for communities recovering from recent calamities, and less of a competition.

“Every belen is a story of a person, community, of an LGU. It shows that we have something to be proud of in the Filipino culture…. God is good. Let us use the Belenismo, the prayer before the belen, to pray for every affected family of Super Typhoon Uwan. Kami, nahulog din ang mga belen, nag-reconstruct kaming lahat,” Dr. Isa Suntay, co-founder of the foundation, said.