Typhoon-resilient Christmas tree set up in Fuente

Bernardino “Nonoy” Adiong puts finishing touches on one of the reindeer at the base of the Christmas tree in Fuente Osmeña Circle in Cebu City. (CDN Photo/Lito Tecson)

Cebu City officially starts  its Yuletide season tomorrow with the lighting of the giant Christmas tree in Fuente Osmeña.

This year a “typhoon-resilient” design of steel and wood will dominate the park.

The 120-feet tree will resemble the pine trees  of Baguio City, only that it will have white leaves, Bernardino “Nonoy” Adiong told Cebu Daily News.

Adiong, a native of Bais City in Negros Oriental has  been working on the park’s   M. Lhuillier-sponsored  Christmas trees for Cebu City for the past 15 years.

It’s 97 percent complete and ready for tomorrow’s lighting ceremony, he said.

“I am making sure that this year’s Christmas tree is sturdy because I don’t want strong winds to topple it or blow it away,” he said.

Supertyphoon Yolanda uprooted last year’s Christmas tree in the park.

Adiong said he had to redesign the tree and reduce its height by 10 feet to make  it lighter.

Tree designs

This year, Adiong said, he placed locks to make sure that the tree is securely pinned to its wooden base.

He also used nylon screen for the  leaves to allow wind to pass through  the mesh, reducing the chance of the tree getting blown down.

M Lhuillier pawnshop allocated a P1 million budget for the project.

Adiong said he usually starts developing  his design in the third quarter of the year.

He  would go online to view giant Christmas tree designs around the world.

Work  started in the last week of September with a crew of 10 people which increased to 20 as they started working on the more intricate parts.

The tree will be adorned with stars, poinsetta and buri fans.

Reindeer figures will  surround the wooden base.