The Samar provincial government has lighted 400 Christmas lanterns at the capitol grounds in Catbalogan City on Monday night.

The Christmas lanterns are made by teachers and students from various school districts of the Department of Education in Samar, said John Michael Cristobal, Samar tourism operation officer, in a phone interview Tuesday.

The yearly event of transforming trees inside the Imelda Park into colorful and well-lighted Christmas-themed park was suspended this year due to the ongoing construction of concrete food stalls, Cristobal said.

Instead, Christmas lanterns are hung around the capitol grounds to light up the area every night.

Christmas lanterns are used by Filipinos to decorate their homes as a reminder of the star of Bethlehem that guided the Three Wise Men on their way searching for the Child Jesus.

“This also uplifts the spirit and instills pride and hope as we celebrate Christmas amidst problem on calamities, disaster, and present problem on health pandemic,” Cristobal said.

The local government also erected a 34-foot Christmas tree at the capitol grounds.

He added that decors around the capitol ground aim to make the people feel the spirit of the Yuletide season despite the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

The local government also reminded onlookers to observe minimum health standards while at the capitol grounds to prevent the spread of infection in public places.

As of Nov. 18, Samar has the most number of confirmed Covid-19 cases among six provinces in the Eastern Visayas region with 2,468 infections, including 2,337 recoveries. (PNA)