DAVAO CITY—The city government is tapping the skills and creativity of Dabawenyos in a family-themed array of contests and festivities in the Yuletide season to encourage residents to stay at home while the Covid-19 pandemic remains a threat.
The contests, from Christmas card-making and family portrait to a TikTok-like dance competition and caroling, the Davao City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) has designed the DavaoPaskOnline Fiesta (DPF) to be done online and to be a family activity.
“We want to encourage people to stay at home for Christmas and [stay on side of caution]…because Covid-19 [is still here]. But we want also to have [some] special time with our family and we hope to help the people on how they can celebrate Christmas,” said Generose Tecson, head of the CTOO.
The city would start the DPF early to give Dabawenyos “more time to prepare their entries for the online activities. These include Himig ng Paskong Dabawenyos [an online family caroling competition]; Family TikTok Ngayong Pasko [an online family dance competition]; Christmas Cards of Hope [a family Christmas card-making competition]; and Paskong Litrato ng Pamilyang Dabawenyo [a family Christmas photo contest].”
There are also the Pamilyang Dabawenyo Pasko Serye; Himig Davao Pasko Fiesta Online Caroling, Misa De Gallo; Lanang Holiday Weekend Market; Davao Paskonsierto Online ng Smart/PLDT; Metro Davao Family Film Festival (MDFFF); and Smart/PLDT Torotot Online Festival.
Residents who want to join the competitions may visit the official Facebook page of the DavaoPaskOnline Fiesta (DPF) for more information.
The city government’s month-long Christmas festival offers more than P200,000 worth of cash prizes and other gifts. The DPF was launched with the media on Wednesday. It has the theme, “Buong Pamilya Sama-sama Magsasaya Punong-puno ng Pag-ibig at Pag-asa.”
“We started it early this year because we have lined up several activities for all even if its online, we want to go back to the roots in celebrating Christmas, which is the family,” Tecson said.