128-foot tall symbol of resilience lighted

Lights from the vehicles add color to the 120-foot high Lhuillier Christmas tree at the Fuente Osmeña rotunda that was lighted on Saturday night, Dec. 1, 2018, by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, businessman Michel Lhuillier and wife Amparito, together with some city councilors led by the mayor’s wife, Margot Osmeña, to mark the start of the Christmas festivities in the city.
CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA

M. LHUILLIER CHRISTMAS TREE OF HOPE

Rudy Berame and his two sons were among the thousands of park goers who waited for hours and braved the chilly weather to witness an annual Christmas tradition unfold again last night.

At exactly 6 in the evening on Saturday (December 1) the Fuente Osmeña Circle reverberated with applause as the 128-foot tall M. Lhuillier Christmas Tree of Hope was officially turned on by the Lhuillier family and Cebu City officials.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and businessman Michel Lhuillier with wife Amparito and some city officials headed by Councilor Margot Osmeña applaud as the 128-foot high M. Lhuillier Christmas tree of Hope is being switched on at the Fuente Osmeña rotunda.
CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA

It was a fulfillment of another Christmas spectacle that has regaled Cebuanos and Cebu visitors for 18 straight years now.

“Since my wife and I were still unmarried, it has become a part of our life to see the tree light up,” Berame, a 35-year-old government worker said as he watched with awe the colorful lights dazzle in front of his eyes.

This year’s tree is 13 feet taller than the one erected last year which only stood at 115 feet.

It is adorned with giant lanterns and at least 20,000 LED lights.

Wires curled to form hearts became its leaves, and an image of the Señor Sto. Niño, Cebu’s beloved patron, surrounded by angels blowing trumpets, can be found on its base.

Police estimated the crowd who jammed the historic circle at 3,000 people.

The tree is sponsored by businessman Michel Lhuillier who was accompanied by his wife Amparito, and Cebu City officials led by Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

Cebu City Councilor Margot Osmeña, Mayor Tomas Osmeña, socialite Amparito Lhuillier and husband Michel Lhuillier (from left) pose during last night’s ceremonial lighting of the 128-foot high Christmas tree. The event also marks the start of the month-long Pasko sa Sugbo celebration.
CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA

Giving back

M. Lhuillier President, Michael Lhuillier, told members of the media that the tree is the 18th their family has set up in celebration of the holiday season.

“We’ve been doing this since the year 2000. So, it’s 18 years. And it has become a tradition for us here in Cebu to give this tree to the city of Cebu, and to the people of Cebu,” Michael said.

“For us, it’s a way of giving back. We’re thankful for all the blessings our family received. And we’re from Cebu, this is our little way of giving something back,” he added.

Pasko sa Sugbo

The ceremonial lighting of the M. Lhuillier Christmas Tree of Hope last night also marked the culmination of the city government’s Pasko sa Sugbo.

The Cebu City Youth Local Development Office (CCYLDO) is the lead agency for this year’s Pasko sa Sugbo.

Aside from having nightly entertainment gigs, CCYLDO director Jess dela Cruz said Fuente Osmeña Circle will also serve as a food park where different products and delicacies from the city’s barangays are showcased.

“This is also one way of promoting small-scale and medium enterprises,” said dela Cruz.

Pasko sa Sugbo is a month-long event, and is open to the public.