Several local government units across Cebu province have made the difficult decision to cancel or dramatically scale back their annual Christmas celebrations for employees, choosing instead to redirect resources toward recovery efforts following recent natural disasters that battered the region.
Cities Prioritize Rehabilitation Over Festivities
The cities of Cebu and Lapu-Lapu, along with the Municipality of Cordova, made simultaneous announcements on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, confirming they would forego their traditional grand holiday parties. This coordinated response comes after Cebu was hit by a series of calamities including Typhoon Tino, Typhoon Uwan, Tropical Depression Verbena, and a magnitude 6.9 earthquake.
In Cebu City, Mayor Nestor Archival explained that the decision to cancel the city's traditional grand Christmas party was necessary to keep funds focused on rehabilitation work following Typhoon Tino's devastation. While the large official celebration is canceled, individual departments may organize small, low-cost gatherings funded voluntarily by employees themselves. The city is also working to finalize a modest annual bonus for its workforce.
Disaster Response Takes Priority
Lapu-Lapu City Government confirmed the complete cancellation of its Christmas Party due to the compounded impact of multiple disasters. Mark Anthony Bautista, head of the City Public Information Office, emphasized the severity of the situation, noting significant damage to homes and livelihoods throughout the community.
"Allocating resources to disaster response and ensuring we have the funds to assist our constituents is the most responsible and necessary course of action," Bautista stated. The city is prioritizing emergency preparedness and direct assistance to affected residents over festive celebrations.
Mixed Approaches to Holiday Spirit
The Municipality of Cordova has canceled its Inter-Barangay and Inter-School Christmas Village and Lighting competition, following directives from Malacañang and the Department of Budget and Management that urged LGUs to redirect savings to calamity-hit communities. Despite the cancellation, Mayor Cesar "Didoy" Suan confirmed the town will still install a giant Christmas tree to maintain tradition and serve as a symbol of hope during challenging times.
In contrast, Mandaue City will proceed with its annual Christmas lighting ceremony scheduled for November 28, 2025, though Mayor Thadeo Jovito "Jonkie" Ouano confirmed the event would be significantly simplified with reduced expenses. The city is foregoing its grand employee party and will instead distribute simple food treats, acknowledging the impact of Tropical Depression Verbena and Typhoon Tino on community resources.
Archbishop's Call for Meaningful Celebration
The LGUs' decision to scale back festivities aligns with an appeal made by Cebu Archbishop Alberto "Abet" Uy on Tuesday, November 25, for a simple and meaningful Christmas season. The religious leader urged families and institutions throughout Cebu to avoid lavish festivities in light of recent hardships.
"The world does not need a noisy Christmas. The world needs a compassionate one," Archbishop Uy stated, encouraging a focus on charity and community support rather than extravagant celebrations during this recovery period.
The collective scaling back of Christmas celebrations across multiple Cebu LGUs demonstrates a unified approach to disaster response, putting the needs of affected communities ahead of traditional holiday extravagance while still preserving the spirit of the season through simpler gestures and symbols of hope.
