La Castellana 16th Year of Bailes de Luces

BAILES DE LUCES (Dances of Lights) is a street dancing merrymaking of the people of La Castellana, Negros Occidental in the Christmas season of the year.

They believe that this occasion is a humble way of thanksgiving and hope for the best in the following year.

Christmas season is usually enhanced and made alive by lights all over the houses, the towns and cities which illuminated the trees in their plaza. Thus, festival of lights is being held by those municipalities and other municipalities.

The government of La Castellana finds it appropriate to highlight the Christmas season by this dances of light or in Spanish - "Bailes de Luces" which started in 1997.

Dancing to the Max in DepEd Night

La Carlota DepEd Night 2013 shows the best of the best of teachers' talents on singing, dancing in a one-night stand.

The small division of La Carlota City, Department of Education joined the city in her annual festival of lights and music to celebrate Christmas.

The three districts and various secondary schools and their extensions showed their best talents in singing, dancing and in one-act play depicting the true spirit of Christmas.

As the schools division superintendent puts it, this year's DepEd night is celebrated in the other side of glitteriing, shimmering Christmas night of that the other year.

Kalbaryo 2009: Drama in Real Life (Last Part of 3)

Jesus at Calvary with the multitude

This is the last part of 3 of Kalbaryo, a drama portrayed by talented youths and adults of a local Catolic Church in Brgy. La Granja, La Carlota City, Philippines to have the Christians a second experience on how Jesus suffered, died to atone for their sins.

They dramatize it from Jesus's capture, verdict to death, and crucifixion. The drama started 2 in the afternoon from the public plaza. Then after the scene of Jesus' capture, and sentence, the partakers would have to pass the 14 stations, till they reach the "Kalbaryo" or the Calvary in a hill part of the place. The devotees would have to walk with the actors 3 kilometers under the scorching heat of 3 in the afternoon.

Kalbaryo 2009: Drama in Real Life (Part 2)

Jesus at Pilate's palace

This is the second part of 3 of Kalbaryo portrayed by the talented youths and adults of the local Catholic church here in our place, Brgy. La Granja, La Carlota City, Philippines.

If you were there in Jesus' Crucifixion, how do you feel?

Catholic devotees have their own way of celebrating Christ's passion. They dramatize it from Jesus's capture, verdict to death, and crucifixion.

In our locality as mentioned, I personally witnessed how this was done by a talented youths and adults. It was very touchy, not to the point of entertainment. It was well enhanced by a good sound effects.

Kalbaryo 2009: Drama in Real Life (Part 1)

Jesus' arrest by the soldiers

If you were there in Jesus' Crucifixion, how do you feel?

Catholic devotees have their own way of celebrating Christ's passion. They dramatize it from Jesus's capture, verdict to death, and crucifixion.

In our locality, I personally witnessed how this was done by a talented youths and adults. It was very touchy, not to the point of entertainment. It was well enhanced by a good sound effects.

The actors were dressed to depict the real-like situation. Their dialogue in local dialect, Ilonggo was pre-recorded.

School Pupils Trained in Kali-Arnis Defense

Demonstration on defense

Kali-Arnis or popularly known as Eskrima is a Filipino native type of weaponry effective for combat defense against aggressor.

The Department of Education has recently declared this as the national sports, replacing Sipa..

When I was the school principal of Nagasi Elementary School, Division of La Carlota I introduced this stick-defense to our grade four, five and six pupils under the instruction or training of Kali Master Jun de los Reyes.

Baston or 29-inch-rattan stick is used for training. This training usually takes 2 to 3 months and it is free of charge since the school principal is also a graduate of this training and he could be one of those masters.