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Christmas with kids in General Santos
General Santos has a tuna-shaped lantern in its Christmas lineup, which fits a city that calls itself the Tuna Capital of the Philippines. Its Pasko has long been built around the Oval Plaza, school-decorated trees and barangay parols. This page traces where those traditions came from and what your family can talk about with kids.
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The story of Christmas in General Santos
Eight castle pavilions on the Oval Plaza in 2008
Pasko sa GenSan turned the Oval Plaza into a fairytale kingdom in 2008, the festival's sixth year. Mayor Jun Acharon conceived it, and public and private schools built eight Castle Pavilions that competed for Best Fairytale Kingdom. One was Santa's Kingdom, with Santa, reindeer and a sleigh.
By 2013 the program ran under the name Paskuhan sa GenSan. A lantern parade led by the UP Alumni Association took place on December 15, and the grand opening followed on December 17. A fireworks contest joined the line-up on December 21 to 23, 2014.
Lanterns shaped like Pisa and a tuna in 2025
GMA News reported on December 22, 2025 that Paskuhan in GenSan was "merrier than ever." The city's 26 barangays made lanterns inspired by world landmarks, among them Brazil's Christ the Redeemer, a replica of Russia's St. Basil's Cathedral and Italy's Leaning Tower of Pisa. One lantern was shaped like a tuna.
On December 1, 2025, MSU-GenSan held its Sidlak Kalinaw tree lighting on Centennial Lane in Fatima, with performances, raffle draws and fireworks. In 2023, the plaza had a tunnel of lights and a 3D video mapping show at city hall.
A Blaan name, 62 settlers and the Tuna Capital
The Blaan people were the first to live in the area, and their name for the area is Dadiangas, after a tree. General Paulino Santos led 62 settlers from Luzon in 1939, and the place took his name on June 15, 1954. It became a city on July 8, 1968.
By 1970 it was already nicknamed the Tuna Capital of the Philippines. The 2024 census counted 722,059 residents. In 2011, students in a parol contest had to build lanterns between 3 and 5 feet tall from indigenous materials.
Traditions today
- Paskuhan sa GenSan at the plaza: The city's December festival has centered on the Oval Plaza grounds, with nightly lights, shows, a carnival, a food strip and a bazaar in past years.
- Barangay lanterns: In 2025 the city's 26 barangays made lanterns inspired by world landmarks, plus one shaped like a tuna.
- Light-a-tree contests: In 2017 each plaza tree was assigned to an elementary school to decorate, and the 2018 program listed a Light-a-Tree Contest too.
- Fireworks competition: The first one ran on December 21 to 23, 2014. In 2023 nine teams from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao competed.
- Campus tree lighting at MSU-GenSan: Sidlak Kalinaw is the university's yearly tree lighting, held on December 1 in 2025 with performances, raffle draws and fireworks.
- Lights along Pioneer Avenue and city hall: Coverage of the city's lights has named city hall, General Santos Park and Pioneer Avenue, where a live band played for sing-alongs in 2023.
A fact for kids
In 2025, one of General Santos City's Christmas lanterns was shaped like a tuna, and the city is the Tuna Capital of the Philippines.
Questions about Christmas in General Santos
What is Paskuhan sa GenSan?
Paskuhan sa GenSan is General Santos City's December Christmas festival. In past years it brought lights, nightly shows, a carnival, a food strip, a bazaar and fireworks to the city oval plaza grounds. The city government funded it, and the Department of Education city division led the 2017 and 2018 editions.
When is Paskuhan sa GenSan in 2026?
No 2026 dates for Paskuhan sa GenSan have been announced. In earlier years it opened between December 1 and December 9: December 1 in 2019, December 6 in 2013, December 7 or 8 in 2018 and December 9 in 2017. Check the city government's announcements before you go.
Where is Paskuhan sa GenSan held?
The main site has been the city oval plaza grounds, also called Plaza Heneral. In 2013 the grand opening lit the Oval Plaza, the areas around the government center and Plaza Heneral Santos together. Lights have also lined city hall, General Santos Park and Pioneer Avenue.
Who organizes the Christmas festival in General Santos?
The city government pays for it. In 2017 and 2018 the Department of Education city division led the preparations, and the budget was PHP 4.5 million each year. In 2014 the Gensan Tourism Council chair, Jane Gollon-Rivera, organized the first fireworks competition.
How long did Paskuhan sa GenSan run in 2018?
The 2018 festival had a soft opening on Friday, December 7, opened on Saturday, December 8, and ran until December 22. The flea market and carnival stayed open until January 6. The theme was Paskong May Pantasya, a fantasyland.
What were the barangay lanterns at Paskuhan 2025?
GMA News reported that the city's 26 barangays made lanterns inspired by world landmarks. They included Myanmar's Buddha, Brazil's Christ the Redeemer, a replica of Russia's St. Basil's Cathedral and Italy's Leaning Tower of Pisa. One lantern was shaped like a tuna.
Why is there a tuna lantern in General Santos?
The tuna lantern ties to the city's nickname, the Tuna Capital of the Philippines. General Santos is the biggest producer of sashimi-grade tuna in the country, with seven tuna processing plants. GMA's 2025 Paskuhan report showed the tuna lantern and a tuna skin chicharon snack.
What was the Enchanted GenSan theme in 2008?
The 2008 festival, the sixth Pasko sa GenSan, used the theme Once Upon a Yuletide Season, An Enchanted GenSan. Mayor Jun Acharon conceived it. It ran the whole month of December and turned the Oval Plaza and main streets into a fairytale kingdom at night.
What did kids see at the 2008 castle pavilions?
Eight pavilions built by schools included Fairyland, Magicland with magic shows, Santa's Kingdom with Santa, reindeer and a sleigh, Toyland, Circus Land with a carousel, Galaxy Land and Safari Land. The plaza also had a children's playground, a giant Magic Wands tree and free haircuts.
When was the first fireworks competition in General Santos?
The first Paskuhan sa Gensan Pyrotechnic Competition ran on three nights, December 21 to 23, 2014. Six contestants took part, two each night, and the fireworks were launched from the MSU high school campus next to the Oval Plaza. The Manila team won PHP 80,000.
How big has the fireworks competition grown?
In 2018 at least seven entries from the city, Bulacan, Metro Manila and North Cotabato were listed, with PHP 100,000 for first place. In 2023 the city organized a National Pyrotechnics Competition with nine teams from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
What is a Light-a-Tree contest in General Santos?
In the 2017 festival each tree at the plaza was assigned to an elementary school, which decorated it, and the trees were judged. The 2018 program also listed a Light-a-Tree Contest. The Oval Plaza trees were part of a plaza that also had nightly shows, a carnival and a food strip.
When was the Paskuhan lantern parade in 2013?
The 2013 lantern parade was on December 15, led by the UP Alumni Association. The Christmas bazaar and carnival had opened softly on December 6, the grand opening was on December 17 and Paskuhan sa Barangay followed on December 24. A New Year countdown with fireworks closed the month.
When does MSU-GenSan light its Christmas tree?
MSU-GenSan held its Sidlak Kalinaw Grand Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 1, 2025, on Centennial Lane in Fatima. The program had messages, performances, raffle draws and fireworks before the tree was lit. It was the university's annual start to the holiday season.
What was General Santos called before?
The area was the municipality of Makar from October 29, 1903. Buayan became a municipal district in 1914 and a municipality on August 18, 1947. It was renamed General Santos on June 15, 1954, and became a city on July 8, 1968.
What does Dadiangas mean in General Santos?
Dadiangas is the Blaan name for the city, taken from the Ziziphus spina-christi tree. The Blaan people are the original inhabitants of the area. Residents once rejected a proposal to rename the city Rajah Buayan, and it kept the name of General Paulino Santos.
Who was General Paulino Santos?
General Paulino Santos led 62 Christian settlers from Luzon to the area in 1939, and more settlers from the Visayas and Luzon followed. He was the settlement's leading pioneer, and the city was named after him. Kids can think of him as the leader of the first big group of newcomers.
Where did kids see lights on the Oval Plaza and Pioneer Avenue?
In 2023, GMA showed a tunnel of lights at Plaza Heneral Santos, a 3D video mapping display at city hall and a live band for sing-alongs on Pioneer Avenue. MSU-GenSan also lit its campus tree on December 1, 2025. For this year's dates, see Rally Takes the Train's General Santos Christmas events guide.
Besides the Oval Plaza lights, what can kids do at Christmas in GenSan?
Families in past years headed to the Oval Plaza grounds for a carnival, a food strip and a bazaar, or to Pioneer Avenue for sing-alongs. Kids could also see the barangay lanterns in 2025, including the tuna one. The MSU-GenSan campus has its own tree lighting. Confirmed plans for this season are in our guide to Christmas events in General Santos.
Is anything on in General Santos on Christmas Day itself?
No program has been announced for Christmas Day itself. The Paskuhan festival closed on December 22 in 2018 and December 23 in 2017, but in 2018 the flea market and carnival stayed open until January 6. Check the city's announcements for this season's plans before you go.
Sources
- General Santos, Wikipedia
- GenSan all set for 'merrier, grander' Christmas fest (2017), PTV News
- All systems go for 'Paskuhan sa GenSan 2018', PTV News
- Enchanted GenSan to cast her spell on the Tuna Capital this Christmas, GenSan Today (gensantos.com)
- 1st Pyrotechnic Competition brightens Paskuhan sa Gensan, GenSan Today blog
- Paskuhan 2025 in GenSan showcases lanterns inspired by iconic world landmarks, GMA Integrated News
- Tunnel of lights, Christmas 3D video mapping showcased in General Santos, GMA News Online
- MSU-GenSan Illuminates Campus with Sidlak Kalinaw Grand Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, MSU-General Santos
- This Week's Festivals: Dec. 15-21, 2019, Philippine Daily Inquirer
- Paskuhan sa GenSan 2013 Schedule of Activities, GenSan Today (gensantos.com)
- The Christmas Star: SunCity Suites parol making contest, GenSan Today (gensantos.com)
- Annual Paskohan sa GenSan launched, The Manila Times