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Christmas with kids in Ormoc
On December 1, 2025, Ormoc lit a flower-shaped tree with a calachuchi on top while twelve pineapple fairies decorated the plaza. Years earlier, the city's big tree stood at the Cristo Rey Shrine and raised money by selling stars.
Christmas events for 2026 are coming in late November
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The story of Christmas in Ormoc
Light up a Star: the 2012 tree at Cristo Rey Shrine
Ormoc's Christmas lights have long centered on one big tree. In 2012 it stood at the Cristo Rey Shrine, where Lucy Torres-Gomez led the lighting. It was the third year she and Richard Gomez sponsored it with the St. Peter and Paul Parish and the Ormoc Festival and Cultural Foundation. The foundation started the giant tree project and sells stars to decorate it, raising money for cultural programs and giving part to the parish. In 2009 it persuaded Richard Gomez to support its Light up a Star Project.
Twelve pineapple fairies and a Parade of Lights in 2025
On Monday, December 1, 2025, thousands gathered at the city plaza as designer Kenneth Cobonpue unveiled his first Christmas artwork, made only for Ormoc. The layered petals in blue, green, gold and orange were topped with the calachuchi, the city's signature flower. Twelve pineapple fairies decorated the plaza to honor the Queen Pineapple and the June Piña Festivals. A Parade of Lights moved through the streets, the band Sessionistas played, and a fireworks show followed. The tree stayed up through the holidays.
Sea, land and sky: three layers on one tree
The 2025 Tree of Light has three layers. The base is the sea, with shapes from waves, corals and mangrove roots. The middle is the land, with plants and animals. The top is the sky, with airy forms like birds in flight. A city official said the tree is not just for celebration but a call to action. Another fact for kids: Ormoc became a city on October 20, 1947, under Presidential Proclamation No. 42, and celebrated its 75th Charter Day in 2022.
Traditions today
- Plaza tree lighting: The 2025 season opened on December 1 with a ceremonial lighting at the city plaza, and the tree stayed on display through the holidays.
- Parade of Lights: After the 2025 lighting, a Parade of Lights moved through the streets of Ormoc.
- Pineapple fairies: Twelve pineapple fairies decorated the plaza in 2025 to honor the Queen Pineapple and the June Piña Festivals.
- Light up a Star: The Ormoc Festival and Cultural Foundation sells stars to decorate the giant tree and uses the money for cultural programs, sharing part with the parish.
- Fireworks and a concert: The launch night ended with a Sessionistas concert and a fireworks show over the city.
A fact for kids
Ormoc's 2025 Christmas tree had twelve pineapple fairies around it, and a golden calachuchi flower sat on the very top!
Questions about Christmas in Ormoc
What was the Ormoc Christmas tree in 2025?
Ormoc lit a flower-inspired tree designed by Kenneth Cobonpue at the city plaza on Monday, December 1, 2025. Its layered petals came in blue, green, gold and orange, and the top carried the calachuchi, Ormoc's signature flower. Thousands of residents gathered for the lighting.
Who designed the Ormoc Christmas tree in 2025?
Kenneth Cobonpue, a Cebuano industrial designer, made the 2025 tree. Reports describe it as his first Christmas artwork and say he made it only for Ormoc. Rep. Richard Gomez and Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez were with him at the launch of the lights on December 1.
What do the layers of the Ormoc Tree of Light stand for?
The Tree of Light has three layers. The base stands for the sea, with shapes taken from waves, corals and mangrove roots. The middle stands for the land, with plants and animals. The top stands for the sky, with airy shapes like birds in flight.
What were the pineapple fairies at the Ormoc tree lighting?
At the December 1, 2025 lighting, twelve pineapple fairies decorated the city plaza. They honor the Queen Pineapple and the June Piña Festivals, so a local festival theme was brought into the Christmas decorations that night, alongside the tree itself.
What happened after the tree was lit in Ormoc in 2025?
A Parade of Lights moved through the streets after the lighting, and the band Sessionistas closed the evening with a concert. A fireworks show over the city followed. The tree was set to stay on display through the holidays.
Why is a calachuchi flower on top of the Ormoc tree?
The calachuchi is Ormoc's signature flower. In 2025 the tree designer placed it at the very top of the Christmas tree, over the layered petals. The design also nods to the city's sea, earth and sun and its natural and farm resources.
Where did Ormoc light its big Christmas tree in 2012?
In December 2012 the tree stood at the Cristo Rey Shrine. Lucy Torres-Gomez led the lighting on a Sunday night, and it was the third year she and Richard Gomez sponsored it together with the St. Peter and Paul Parish and the Ormoc Festival and Cultural Foundation.
How does Light up a Star raise money for Ormoc's giant tree?
The Ormoc Festival and Cultural Foundation started the giant tree project and sells stars to decorate it. The money funds cultural programs, and part goes to the parish. The foundation convinced Richard Gomez to back the Light up a Star Project in 2009.
When did Ormoc become a city?
Ormoc was formally inaugurated as a city on October 20, 1947, under Presidential Proclamation No. 42. The city marks Charter Day every October 20, and held its 75th celebration in 2022, well before the Christmas lights go up.
Besides the plaza tree, what can kids do at Christmas near Ormoc?
Nearby Carigara lit a sundang machete tree on November 30, 2025, with fireworks, loot bags for children and nightly movies at a themed tree area. For Ormoc itself, the plaza tree and its Parade of Lights opening were the 2025 highlights. Nothing is confirmed for 2026 yet.
Is there a Christmas parade in Ormoc?
A Parade of Lights followed the tree lighting on December 1, 2025, moving through the city streets after the ceremony at the plaza. No 2026 parade date has been confirmed yet. Check Rally Takes the Train's Ormoc Christmas events guide once the city posts one, or follow the city's announcements.
When does Ormoc light its Christmas tree?
The 2025 lighting was on Monday, December 1, which opened the Christmas season in the city. The 2012 lighting at the Cristo Rey Shrine was in the second week of December. No 2026 date is confirmed yet. The 2025 evening also included a parade, a concert and fireworks.
Are there confirmed Christmas events for kids in Ormoc in 2026?
Not yet. No 2026 date is posted on a host page or official city calendar, so no Ormoc event is listed as confirmed. The 2025 plaza lighting is the best guide to timing. Rally Takes the Train's Ormoc Christmas events guide adds events once dates are announced.
Where can kids see a giant Christmas tree in Ormoc?
The city plaza is the place to look. The 2025 flower-inspired tree stood there and stayed on display through the holidays. In earlier years the tree stood at the Cristo Rey Shrine, as in 2012. Dates for 2026 are not confirmed yet.
Where can I spend Christmas Day in Ormoc with kids?
No Christmas Day program in Ormoc has been confirmed for 2026. The 2025 plaza tree stayed up through the holidays, so a family walk to see the lights is the safest bet.
How do I explain the Ormoc tree to young kids?
Tell them the tree is a story of where they live. The bottom is the sea with waves and corals, the middle is the land with plants and animals, and the top is the sky with birds. Kids can look for the golden calachuchi flower at the very top.
Who leads Ormoc's Christmas lighting?
In 2025, Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez and Rep. Richard Gomez joined designer Kenneth Cobonpue at the launch. Lucy Torres-Gomez also led the 2012 lighting at the Cristo Rey Shrine. The couple has backed the tree for many years, with the parish and the Ormoc Festival and Cultural Foundation.
Who is the Queen Pineapple honored at the Ormoc lighting?
Queen Pineapple is tied to the June Piña Festivals, which Ormoc honored with twelve pineapple fairies decorating the plaza at its December 1, 2025 tree lighting. The fairies are a tribute to the Queen Pineapple, placed beside the new Christmas tree for the crowd of thousands.
What makes Ormoc's 2025 Christmas tree different from a usual tree?
It is not a pine-shaped tree. Cobonpue built layered petals in blue, green, gold and orange, capped with a calachuchi flower, and tied the whole design to the sea, earth and sun. Reports call it a first of its kind for the city.
Is Ormoc's Christmas tree lighting free to watch?
The reports on the 2025 lighting describe thousands of residents gathering at the open city plaza for the ceremony, parade and concert, and none mention a ticket. No 2026 details are available yet, so confirm with the city before you go and look for a newer date in Rally Takes the Train's Ormoc Christmas events guide.
Sources
- Ormoc City lights up giant Christmas tree, design hails from Kenneth Cobonpue, Brigada News
- Cobonpue masterpieces to transform Ormoc City, Daily Tribune
- Ormoc City lights up Christmas spirit, Balitang Huli
- Christmas switched on in Ormoc, Philstar
- PBBM to attend 75th Charter Day celebration of Ormoc City, Philippine Information Agency
- Leyte town lights Christmas tree, Manila Bulletin