It was a matter of pride and joy for all Cabuyenos when the city government led by Mayor Dennis "Denha" Hain inaugurated its "Bagong Cabuyao Wonderland" Christmas fair last November 29.
The Christmas exhibit, located near the site of the Cabuyao Athletes' Basic School (CABS), once again offers Cabuyenos a chance to fully experience the magic of Christmas and share the joy of the holiday season among family and friends.
But more than that – and, of course, in line with Mayor Hain's IHELP (Industry, Health, Education, Livelihood, and Protection) platform – the Bagong Cabuyao Wonderland also offers locals a chance to showcase their entrepreneurial skills and contribute to the city's booming economy.
Family affair
The Christmas fair at the CABS site was started early on during Hain's first year of office in 2022, when the Philippines was just emerging from the worst effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Christmas, after all, is for the children, as Jose Rizal once noted, and for Hain, the Bagong Cabuyao Wonderland, with its sights and sounds, aims to bring families together at a time when family connections have become increasingly fragile.
“Nakakatuwa nga po na nagiging regular na ang pagpunta ng mga bata, lalo na ng kanilang mga magulang,” the city mayor said in an interview with OpinYon Laguna.
Sharing blessings
But for Hain, the yearly holiday event wasn't just an opportunity to bring back to Cabuyenos the fun and laughter they had all missed during the pandemic, but also the perfect venue to revitalize the local economy after two years of economic downturn and hardships brought by the global crisis.
"Alam naman natin na dito sa Pilipinas, ang Pasko ay sumesentro sa pagbabaha-bahagi ng biyaya," Hain related. "Pero siyempre, paano ka magiging masaya kung hindi ka kumikita at kulang ang iyong panggastos?"
As had already been explained by city officials to OpinYon Laguna, what the city government under Mayor Hain has been aiming for is inclusive growth and employment – business and investment that will, in turn, generate even more jobs and livelihood opportunities.
This year, aside from the highly popular Bagong Cabuyao Wonderland at the CABS site, the city government has also set up two additional venues for its Christmas displays: one at the old City Plaza in Cabuyao’s downtown area, as well as in the plaza fronting the Cabuyao City Hall.
“That way, kung medyo nababagot na sila dito sa City Hall, pwede silang pumunta sa City Plaza, o kung di man, doon sa CABS. At sinisigurado natin na sa lahat ng mga sites na iyon ay mag-eenjoy ang ating mga bisita,” Hain added.
Multiplier effect
For Mayor Hain, the crowds of people who troop to the Christmas fair also serve as a multiplier effect: more opportunities for vendors to sell their products, which in turn translates to more earnings not just for them but for the city government as well.
Over 500 small entrepreneurs were able to sell their products – mostly foodstuff – at the Bagong Cabuyao Wonderland, according to data provided by the city government.
“Since mas malaki na po ang ating Bagong Cabuyao Wonderland, mas marami na pong manininda ang ating natulungan. Ngayon, dahil may laang pwesto na po para sa ating mga manininda, mas marami na po ang kumikita sa Cabuyao,” he explained.
And since there are now three sites for locals and tourists to visit, the city mayor sees it as even more opportunities in generating livelihood for those who sell their products at these sites.
Stable values = stable growth
Not only that, Hain views the Bagong Cabuyao Wonderland in more than just the material growth it brings, but more on the beneficial effects it brings to the family.
In his interview with OpinYon Laguna, the city executive highlighted the core importance of the venues in bringing back the old Filipino values of family love and brotherhood, which he believes is a vital component of socio-economic growth.
“Sa aking palagay, sa pamamagitan po ng ating Bagong Cabuyao Wonderland, nakikita ko po na mas mapapalakas natin ang pamilyang Cabuyeno, ang core institution sa ating lungsod,” he emphasized. “At kung maayos po ang pamilya, maayos rin po ang pag-aaral ng mga anak, na siya namang magiging daan para sa kanilang maayos na kinabukasan. At sa maayos na kinabukasan po ng ating mga kabataan ay tiyak na mararating natin ang ating hangarin na maunlad na komunidad.”
Effect on tourism
While Cabuyao City was once hailed as one of Laguna province’s richest municipalities (before it became a component city in 2012), Hain acknowledged that its tourism sector in particular has lagged behind other neighboring cities in the first and second district of Laguna.
Through the Bagong Cabuyao Wonderland, Hain hopes to put Cabuyao City firmly on the map not just for its economic opportunities but also for its tourist spots.
“Ang direksyon po ng ating administrasyon ay makilalang muli ang Cabuyao City bilang isang ‘sentro’ sa lalawigan ng Laguna, partikular na sa turismo,” he explained. “Noon po, kapag sinasabi ng ating mga kababayan na taga-Cabuyao sila, ang sunod laging tanong ay ‘Saan ‘yon?’ Ngayon, ako naman po ay natutuwa dahil unti-unti na pong nakikilala ang ating lungsod.”
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