Just like other institutions, it has been a tradition for Pines City Colleges (PCC) to open the celebration of Christmas with the Christmas lighting ceremony. This year, it carries the symbolic message for everyone to embrace and spread the spirit of hope, love, and unity, which reflects the essence of Christmas for Filipinos.
On November 30, 2023, at 6 o’clock, when darkness kissed the surroundings with peace, PCC lit its campus with Christmas lights. Students, teaching, and non-teaching personnel, and the rest of the PCC community were filled with joy as they witnessed their Christmas trees and lanterns gleam at the PCC Main Building Open Grounds.
The gathering culminated with simple refreshments prepared by the administration while students, faculty, and staff enjoyed the lighting event.
PCC Christmas Cantata
The yearly PCC Christmas Cantata showcased the different talents of the students that portrayed the meaning of Christmas. Themed “Diwa ng Pasko: Pag-asa, Pagmamahalan, at Pagkakaisa,” the PCC Cantata brought the community together in various competitions that reminded them of the story of the birth of Jesus. These competitions were joined by the different colleges in PCC, where students demonstrated unity, dedication, and passion in their outputs.
The competitions started with the Christmas Trivia Quiz Competition. Students were tested on their knowledge of the story of Jesus and of Christmas in different areas, such as music, Christmas delicacies, and more. Aside from being a competition, it has also provided additional knowledge for the students and viewers on Christmas. The College of Respiratory Therapy had won first place in the competition.
CHRISTMAS TRIVIA. Not about Science or Mathematics, the College of Respiratory Therapy got the highest points in the PCC Christmas Quiz Bee competition.
CHRISTMAS TRIVIA QUIZ COMPETITION | |||
| Champion |
| College of Respiratory Therapy |
| First Runner-Up |
| College of Dentistry |
| Second Runner-up |
| Senior High School |
The Christmas Tree, Belen, and Parol Making Competitions showed the creativity of the students in using recycled materials, cleanliness, and sturdiness. The art pieces, embellished with Christmas decorations and their colleges, were displayed on the ESBC open grounds and lobbies visible to the students and visitors on the campus. The winners are:
PAROL MAKING COMPETITION |
| |||
| Champion |
| College of Respiratory Therapy |
|
| First Runner-Up |
| Senior High School |
|
| Second Runner-up |
| College of Physical Therapy |
|
BELEN MAKING COMPETITION |
|
|
| |
| Champion |
| Senior High School |
|
| First Runner-Up |
| College of Dentistry |
|
| Second Runner-up |
| School of Medicine |
|
CHRISTMAS TREE MAKING COMPETITION |
| |||
| Champion |
| Senior High School |
|
| First Runner-Up |
| College of Respiratory Therapy |
|
| Second Runner-up |
| College of Pharmacy |
|
CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS. We feel the Christmas spirit most when surrounded by Christmas carols and decorations displayed everywhere. With papers and seeds, the College of Respiratory Therapy made an attractive Christmas Parol (left photo) embellished with symbols of their profession. The Senior High Department used natural pine leaves and cones for their Belen (right photo) and Christmas Tree (center photo) which, won both competitions.
The most awaited competitions in the PCC Christmas Cantata were the Nativity of Jesus in Art and the Chorale Competitions, which brought the viewers through the story of the birth of Jesus. The best student artists and singers represented their colleges on the stage. This year, the Chorale Competition’s contest piece was “Pastol, Pastol Gumising” by Fr. Timoteo Jose M. Ofrasio, SJ, and Jhan Curt S.S. Fernandez. The Pines City Doctors Hospital Amphitheater, where the event was held, was filled with students and viewers’ joy and excitement, especially when winners were asked to the stage. Special awards were also given to the colleges that portrayed the best in their movements and interpretation.
BEST OF BEST. The College of Nursing best portrayed and choreographed the Nativity of Jesus (upper photos). The College of Dentistry won the Chorale Competition and received special awards (lower photos).
Judges of the PCC Cantata competitions were Mr. Kyronne Amiel D. Peneyra (left photo), Ms. Loribel M. Martin (center photo), and Janice M. Pingi (right photo), all experts in the music and theatre industry.
NATIVITY OF JESUS IN ART COMPETITION | |||
Champion | College of Nursing | ||
First Runner-Up | College of Respiratory Therapy | ||
Second Runner-up | College of Dentistry | ||
CHORALE COMPETITION | |||
Champion | College of Dentistry | ||
First Runner-Up | College of Respiratory Therapy | ||
Second Runner-up | College of Nursing | ||
SPECIAL AWARDS | |||
Best Interpretation of the Contest Piece | College of Dentistry | ||
Best Entertainment Piece | College of Dentistry | ||
Best in Choreography | College of Nursing | ||
The PCC Cantata 2023 will not be completed without the overall champion for all the competitions. The College of Respiratory Therapy won the title, surpassing the Senior High Department and the College of Dentistry.
OVERALL CHAMPION. As a tradition in PCC, a big Cantata trophy was awarded to the overall champion and will be passed on to the next overall champion when another college claims the spot. The College of Respiratory Therapy was also awarded the Overall Champion for both 2018 and 2019.
The PCC Christmas Cantata 2023 was truly an event of hope, love, and unity. It is always an experience of togetherness and celebration of Jesus’ birth, which is the main reason for Christmas.
A wonderful Christmas to everyone! #Adela Wayas
