Each decoration is a product of hard work, the bayanihan spirit and a team of experts from the local government.

Did you know it’s still Christmas time in Tangub City? In this Misamis Occidental city, Christmas is a 60-day celebration that starts on the first week of December and ends on the first week of February.

The city, up to now, has the 25- to 30-feet high arches and lanterns lavishly decorated with lights and natural materials. The arch is lighted from 6 p.m. until midnight and revellers simply stand in awe, viewing the lights. 

They say that depending on the budget, each arch is usually composed of 100-250 bulbs. A team of designers, electricians, carpenter and even an architect makes sure that the city is well-lit until February.

As a first-time visitor to Tangub City, I honestly found myself transported to another world. The chilly breeze adds to the holiday feeling.

“Wherever we are, we always look forward to visiting Tangub City. We are known to celebrate the longest holiday season with huge merry-makers coming in to town. You may guess that the lavish adornments are suggestive of a revenue-driven city. On the contrary, we pool our resources to be able to come up with these delightful decorations,” says Ester Mulchand, a Tangub native who now lives in Manila.

 “It’s the bayanihan spirit at work here. We all come together as friends to celebrate Christmas, reunite with long-lost family members even those averse to the idea of a long Christmas. It is basically people moving towards a common direction,” Mulchand added.

The result?  Picnics in the streets known as salu-salo.

It might be a good idea to try and experience Tangub City. Dock off either in Cagayan de Oro (CDO) or Dipolog City, depending on where you would be coming from.

The CDO route starts by flagging a cab from Lumbia city airport to West bound terminal in Barangay Bulua where you can board any of the buses bound for Ozamiz City. From there, another jeepney ride to Tangub.

The Dipolog route, on the other hand, is guaranteed to be scenic. It’s a three-hour refreshing ride on a transport van.

But it doesn’t matter much where you would be coming from; my suggestion is to try the City during the 60-day Christmas celebration and find out for yourself. I may have been tamed by her lures, divested myself of the frantic and frenetic moods of urban living, and still mystified and speechless. Tangub City is totally uplifting.

Towards this end, I pack my bags again for Tangub City!