‘Spend time with family this Christmas’

By Marc Cosep
Staff Member

Cebu City (December 17, 2022) — “Christmas is about spending time with your family.”

That is why Mayor Mike Rama last night reminded City Hall employees to spend more time with their family this Christmas, saying the “essence” of the holiday is about creating bonds with your loved ones.

“You have to spend more time with your family and cherish them because that is the essence of Christmas,” he said.

He gave the reminder during the City Hall’s employees’ Christmas party at the South Road Properties. He said that despite the trials brought by the CoViD-19 pandemic and super typhoon Odette, we must all continue to remain focused and do good deeds.

Vice Mayor Raymond N. Garcia, on the other hand, echoed the mayor’s sentiments and said that with the trials the city faced in the past two years, it is but fitting to learn from them and thank the Lord that we overcame them.

Vice Mayor Garcia. *(**PIO**/Ruel Rosello)*

“We have gone through so much, so many challenges yet we are still here. Let us learn from them and thank the Lord,” he said.

“This also proves that Cebuano’s are resilient,” he added.

Last December 16, 2021, Cebu City was among the areas in the Visayas hardly hit by Odette. The Department of Social Welfare and Development said over 2 million people were affected.

The mayor also reminded that while the city has eased up health restrictions, Cebuanos should not be complacent.

You have to spend more time with your family and cherish them because that is the essence of Christmas.
Mayor Mike Rama

“Tuman lang mo sa lagda sa simbahan. Tuman lang sad ta unsay lagda sa police, unya let’s enjoy Misa de Gallo,” he said.

“Dapat magpasalamat sab ta, dapat dili nato kalimtan pirmi ang Ginoo,” he added.

The winning performance of the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) employees during the Christmas Fellowship. *(**PIO**/Ruel Rosello)*

After the mayor and the vice mayor’s speeches, the Knapsack Dancers treated the Cebu City government employees to dance performances.

Employees from the various departments also participated in the “Sayaw at Awit Daygon Contest”, singing and dancing to Christmas songs while dressed in modern Filipiniana costumes.

The performance that won the Cebu City Medical Center second prize in the “Sayaw at Awit Daygon Contest”. *(**PIO**/Ruel Rosello)*

The winners were the City Treasurer’s Office (fifth prize); Office of the Mayor (fourth prize); City Health Office (third); Cebu City Medical Center (second place), and Department of Social Welfare Services (champion).

The Cebu City Medical Center, meanwhile won the Best in Belen category while the City Health Department won the Best Parol Decoration category.