Rally is researching the season
Christmas with kids in Tarlac
Tarlac has a reputation as the Belen Capital of the Philippines, and its festival of Nativity scenes has run every year since 2007. In 2025 the 18th Belenismo sa Tarlac had 52 entries, and mall lightings add reindeer and Christmas villages.
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The story of Christmas in Tarlac
Nativity scenes since 2007 and the Belenismo sa Tarlac
Tarlac's best-known Christmas tradition is the belen, the Nativity scene. Belenismo sa Tarlac was launched in 2007 by the Tarlac Heritage Foundation. It began as a small celebration of the birth of Jesus and grew into a province-wide festival. The Department of Tourism accredits it and lists it on its calendar. The festival is also a member of the Federacion Espanola de Belenistas. Organizers call it a voluntary initiative by the people of Tarlac, meant to keep the religious and cultural meaning of the belen alive. Reports also credit the province with a reputation as the Belen Capital of the Philippines.
52 belens, six embassies and a November 29 awards day
The 18th Belenismo sa Tarlac opened on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, with 52 entries, many built from recyclable materials. The entries split into five categories: 20 community, 12 monumental, 10 grand municipal, 7 church and 3 grand non-municipal. On Saturday, November 15, diplomats from Norway, Egypt, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland and Slovenia toured the displays. Awards followed on Saturday, November 29, presented by co-founder Dr. Isa Cojuangco-Suntay. The Grand Municipal prize went to Pura and Moncada, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines won Grand Non-Municipal. A Jollibee branch on the Tarlac highway was among the community winners.
A 32-foot herd of gold reindeer at a Tarlac City mall
Malls add their own lights to Tarlac City. On Sunday, November 10, 2019, SM City Tarlac unveiled a 32-foot Christmas herd centerpiece with gold reindeer, a sleigh and a tunnel of lights for photos. A light show started at 8 PM at the East Parking Drive, Santa Claus joined the launch and the San Pedro Chorale, a church choir from Tarlac City, sang carols. In 2021 the mall held a ceremonial lighting for its Grand Christmas Village on October 30, with chandeliers made of Christmas trees. Gretna Vicencio of the Tarlac City Tourism Council spoke at that lighting. These are past seasons, not 2026 dates.
Traditions today
- Belenismo sa Tarlac: A province-wide belen-making festival launched in 2007 by the Tarlac Heritage Foundation. The 18th edition in 2025 had 52 entries in five categories.
- Belens from recyclable materials: The Daily Tribune reported that the 2025 entries were made from recyclable materials, so many displays look like big art projects.
- Municipal belens: Municipalities enter the grand municipal category. Pura and Moncada took the prize in 2025, and other businesses, churches and homes also set up belens.
- Mall Christmas villages: SM City Tarlac has held centerpiece lightings, including a 32-foot herd display in 2019 and a Grand Christmas Village in 2021.
- Church choirs at lightings: At the 2019 SM City Tarlac launch, the San Pedro Chorale, a church choir from Tarlac City, sang Christmas carols.
- Visiting diplomats: In 2025, diplomats from six countries toured the belens, a sign of how widely the festival is known.
A fact for kids
In 2019, a Tarlac City mall put up a Christmas centerpiece 32 feet tall with gold reindeer pulling a sleigh, and you could walk through a tunnel of lights.
Questions about Christmas in Tarlac
Is there a Christmas events guide for Tarlac City?
Yes. Rally Takes the Train keeps a Tarlac Christmas events guide for families. No 2026 family event with a confirmed date has been added yet, so the page is a coming-soon page for now. Read the Tarlac history first, then check back for dates once hosts post them.
What is Belenismo sa Tarlac?
Belenismo sa Tarlac is a province-wide belen-making festival. The Tarlac Heritage Foundation launched it in 2007. A belen is a Nativity scene. The Department of Tourism accredits it, and the 2025 edition had 52 entries in five categories, from community belens to monumental ones.
When did the 18th Belenismo sa Tarlac start?
The 18th Belenismo sa Tarlac opened on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. The same report said 52 participants joined and that the entries were made from recyclable materials. No closing date was given. Dates for the 2026 edition have not been announced.
Who organizes Belenismo sa Tarlac?
The Tarlac Heritage Foundation organizes it. Its co-founder, Dr. Isa Cojuangco-Suntay, presented the awards for the 18th edition on Saturday, November 29, 2025. Organizers describe the festival as a voluntary initiative by the people of Tarlac to preserve the religious and cultural meaning of the belen.
How many belens joined Belenismo sa Tarlac in 2025?
There were 52 registered entries in 2025. By category that was 20 community, 12 monumental, 10 grand municipal, 7 church and 3 grand non-municipal. Businesses, organizations, churches, private homes and municipalities also set up belens, which spread the festival into neighborhoods and public spaces.
Why is Tarlac called the Belen Capital of the Philippines?
Reports credit Tarlac with a reputation as the Belen Capital of the Philippines because of Belenismo sa Tarlac. The festival has run every year since 2007 and, in 2025, drew 52 entries. The Daily Tribune also calls it an iconic symbol of unity within the province.
What is a belen, and how can I explain it to a young child?
A belen is a Nativity scene that shows the birth of Jesus, usually with Mary, Joseph, the baby and animals. Belenismo sa Tarlac was started to mark that birth, and the foundation says it wants to keep the religious meaning of the belen alive for families.
What are Tarlac belens made of?
Many of the 2025 entries were made from recyclable materials, the Daily Tribune reported. Entries came in five categories, including monumental belens and church belens. For young kids, it can be fun to guess which everyday materials were reused to build each scene.
Which towns won the Grand Municipal prize in 2025?
The municipalities of Pura and Moncada won the Grand Municipal category at the 18th Belenismo sa Tarlac. The Daily Tribune reported the awards on December 1, 2025. In the Grand Non-Municipal category, the Armed Forces of the Philippines took the prize.
What happened at the November 29, 2025 Belenismo awards?
The Tarlac Heritage Foundation awarded the winners of the 18th Belenismo on Saturday, November 29, 2025. Co-founder Dr. Isa Cojuangco-Suntay presented the awards. Pura and Moncada took the Grand Municipal prize.
Did foreign visitors see the Tarlac belens?
Yes. On Saturday, November 15, 2025, diplomats from Norway, Egypt, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland and Slovenia toured belen displays from participating municipalities and cities in Tarlac province. The Daily Tribune described the displays as colorful and showing local craftsmanship and creativity.
Is Belenismo sa Tarlac recognized by the government?
The Department of Tourism accredits Belenismo sa Tarlac and lists it on its official calendar of events. LiCAS News adds that the festival is a member of the Federacion Espanola de Belenistas.
What does SM City Tarlac do for Christmas?
Past reports describe two mall launches. On November 10, 2019, SM City Tarlac unveiled a 32-foot herd centerpiece with gold reindeer, a sleigh and a tunnel of lights. On October 30, 2021, it held a ceremonial lighting for its Grand Christmas Village. Those are past seasons, not 2026 dates.
Is there one big Christmas tree for kids in Tarlac City?
Past reports describe mall displays rather than one city tree. SM City Tarlac had a 32-foot reindeer centerpiece with a tunnel of lights in 2019 and a Grand Christmas Village with chandeliers made of Christmas trees in 2021. Both are past seasons, so check the mall's own page for any current display and hours.
What was at the SM City Tarlac Christmas launch in 2019?
The 2019 launch on Sunday, November 10 had a ceremonial lighting, dancers from Little Steps Ballet School, a visit from Santa Claus and carols from the San Pedro Chorale. A light show started at 8 PM at the East Parking Drive. Shoppers could also buy SM Bears of Joy for charity.
Who spoke at the 2021 SM City Tarlac lighting?
Gretna Vicencio, vice chairman of the Tarlac City Tourism Council, spoke at the ceremonial lighting on October 30, 2021. SunStar quoted her saying that despite the challenges, there was still a lot to celebrate and be thankful for. Shoppers could take photos at the village.
Can families see Belenismo sa Tarlac or a mall display with kids in 2026?
Only past displays are confirmed, not a 2026 plan. The belens of Belenismo sa Tarlac go up each November in the province, and SM City Tarlac has staged mall Christmas villages in past years. For confirmed 2026 dates, check the Tarlac Heritage Foundation and the mall's own pages later in the season.
Where should we go for Christmas Day in Tarlac City?
No Christmas Day program in Tarlac City is named, so none is listed. What is documented are the belens that go up in November and run into the season, the winners announced on November 29, 2025, and the mall launches. Check the host's own page for current hours.
Besides the belens, what else can kids see at Christmas in Tarlac?
Past mall launches at SM City Tarlac included a tunnel of lights for photos, gold reindeer, dancers, carols from the San Pedro Chorale and a Santa Claus visit in 2019. In 2021 the mall had a Grand Christmas Village with chandeliers made of Christmas trees and photo spots.
When is Belenismo sa Tarlac in 2026?
The 2026 dates have not been confirmed yet. The 18th edition opened on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, and the awards were on Saturday, November 29, 2025. Rally Takes the Train's Tarlac Christmas events guide will add dates once the Tarlac Heritage Foundation or the Department of Tourism publish them.
Sources
- Daily Tribune: 18th Belenismo sa Tarlac, Daily Tribune
- Tarlac Heritage Foundation crowns 18th Belenismo winners, Daily Tribune
- Belenismo sa Tarlac returns with 52 entries as province lights up for Christmas, LiCAS News
- Diplomats tour 18th Belenismo sa Tarlac, Daily Tribune
- SM City Tarlac unveils Christmas herd display, SunStar Pampanga
- SM City Tarlac unveils grand Christmas village centerpiece, SunStar Pampanga
- 18th Belenismo sa Tarlac kindles artistry, culture, Christmas spirit, iOrbit News