Thousands of people gathered at the Plaza Rizal, on December 1, 2017 as they witnessed the official switching-on of Christmas lights followed by a grand fireworks display.

City Mayor Ignacio W. Zubiri led the ceremony along with the members of the City Council headed by City Vice Mayor Roland F. Deticio.

Mayor Zubiri said that this has been a tradition of the City for many years as we kicked off the activity.

The local chief executive also considered this season of Holidays to be the “month of Love.”

In the program, he announced that it was also the start of the month-long gift giving program that he started eight years ago dubbed “Pamaskong Handog,” by handing gift packs to our less fortunate families to different communities in our City.

This year, a total of 27,270 families benefit the pamaskong handog, said Mayor Zubiri.

The event was then followed by ribbon cutting in the formal opening of the “Kasadya Sa Freedom,” where people can dine, drink and have a great time spending with families and friends.