Valenzuela City keeps the tradition alive even when faced by the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic – keeping the #PaskongValenzuelano Christmas spirit at heart to cap 2020 full of hope, generosity, and innovativeness.

Rocked by a health crisis, juggled through typhoon rescue efforts, battled a big corporation to fight for public welfare -- the City Government of Valenzuela has proven to have gone though “a lot”. Like other local government units, Valenzuela City will surely end the year with high hopes, and with the inspiration from its people, the City Government never forgets to take the time to gift Valenzuelanos with its annual holiday tradition.

One of the many projects sought after by Valenzuelanos – even the young and the old, is the Valenzuela Food Fiesta and Christmas Bazaar at C.J. Santos Street in Barangay Malinta just in front of the Old City Hall and across Valenzuela People’s Park.

Open from Thursdays to Sundays every December, the food fiesta has been a go-to event when one needs to satisfy their food cravings, with the street serving as a hangout place for families and friends complete with entertainment, food stalls and stores.

This year, the COVID-19 pandemic posed restrictions on how the City usually conducts its events. No tree lighting ceremonies, no big concerts and plays, no grand celebrations. Still, the local government found ways to innovate the annual food fiesta by making it digital to help its local entrepreneurs.  

“Unfortunately, the pandemic doesn’t allow us to do convergence or any type of event, pero, napapabilis yung digital migration natin -- going online... This is the first year that we will not be doing a food fiesta… But ang gagawin nating food fiesta this year ay digital edition,” Valenzuela City Mayor REX Gatchalian excitedly shares.

“Marami tayong mga mamamayan sa Valenzuela na nagsimula ng kanilang mga negosyo sa kanilang mga tahanan – nagbe-bake ng goods, nagluluto ng goods… Ang dami niyan. So inipon natin silang lahat and we will do a digital directory wherein we will now promote these homegrown businesses… Digital, delivered straight to your homes safely, and hindi kailangan mag-convergence,” Mayor REX added.

This digital directory is now integrated into an Online Food Fiesta platform at https://valenzuela.gov.ph/onlinefoodfiesta.

Wide selections categorized as Pizza and Pasta, Specialty Foods, Street Foods, Grilled Foods, Rice Meals, Burger, Milk Tea, Asian Foods, Desserts, and Breads and Pastries are now available online. By simply clicking the cart of choice, one can be redirected to the Facebook Page of the food seller who can accommodate orders online.

For its gift-giving tradition, Valenzuela City still continues the Pamaskong Handog para kay Lolo at Lola 2020 with a theme “Paskong Puno ng Pag-asa”, perfectly describing how Valenzuelanos can go on with the new year full of hope and with unrelenting support from the local government.  

From December 11 to 15, the City Government of Valenzuela was able to distribute 56,249 gift boxes filled with rice, spaghetti pack, and a variety of canned goods to every registered Valenzuelano senior citizen. For those who were not able to get their Pamaskong Handog on the designated venues and dates, registered senior citizens can still claim their gift boxes until December 29 (except holidays) based on the schedule and barangay posted at the Valenzuela City Facebook Page.

Valenzuela City, on the other hand, has a different take of Pamaskong Handog for its business community as it officially launches a series of Christmas gift surprises for Valenzuelano businessmen and taxpayers digitally.

The Pamaskong Handog para sa Business Community bundles the newly-upgraded Paspas Permit system to include the integration of the Zoning process, issuance of provisional Sanitary Permits, application of Health Certificates, and expanded payment options all available online at www.valenzuela.gov.ph.

Christmas may never be complete without the traditional holiday ornaments, public parks towering with Christmas trees, and local festive celebrations that bring people together to enjoy the season that is centered on the family. But in Valenzuela City, Mayor REX believes that Valenzuelano families must be safe first -- in a season that also attracts convergence as the normal Filipino tradition.

“Ayaw namin na ngayong kapaskuhan kami pa ang maging sanhi ng convergence… Minabuti namin dito sa Valenzuela na wala munang public display ng decorations… We want to be prudent in our spending and we also want to do away with convergence,” Mayor REX explains.

Mayor REX also added that COVID-19 is still a threat, saying that "Ang tunay na diwa ng Pasko ay hindi matatagpuan sa malaking Christmas tree sa People's Park namin, kundi matatagpuan ito sa pamilya, sa loob ng tahanan, kung saan magkakasama ang pamilyang Valenzuelano kung saan safe sila.”

With safety in mind, the City Government of Valenzuela still never forgets to light up the City not with its public parks but will all available means to keep the Christmas spirit alive, adorning the stretch of the City’s MacArthur Highway with bright lanterns – symbolizing the future that is ever bright and full of hope for every Valenzuelanos.

“Since we cannot do Christmas Trees in our parks dahil ayaw natin ng convergence... We lit our streets that way [with lanterns], pasko pero no convergence… Ang ginayakan namin ang MacArthur Highway natin, konting pailaw sa mga streetlights… Wala sa magarbong selebrasyon ng People's Park ang pag-celebrate ng pasko, ang simple at payak na celebration ng inyong mga pamilya ang magbibigay ng pag-asa sa atin sa pagdating ng 2021,” Mayor REX said.

In his statement, Mayor REX also reminds Valenzuelanos to stay vigilant and observe the minimum health standards this coming Christmas season. The local chief executive also boasts Valenzuelanos' cooperation, courage and strength as the eight-month community quarantine proved to be challenging to each and every one.

“Huwag natin sasayangin yung mga hirap… Lahat tayo nagsakripisyo nitong community quarantine. Huwag natin hayaan na mapawi ang ating mga tagumpay dahil lang sa kagustuhan natin na mag-celebrate ng panandalian…” Mayor REX reminded.

“Ang darating na 2021 -- magiging masagana, matiwasay, at maayos para sa Pamilyang Valenzuelano. Sabay sabay tayong magdasal para mapagpatuloy natin ang pagtaguyod ng isang mas makabuluhan at mas progresibo na Valenzuela City,” he concluded.