The Municipality of Ipil in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay in Mindanao has been dubbed as “Little Disneyland” for its annual celebration of Festival of Lights which culminates on February 28, 2019.
The 3-month long celebration which started November 2018 showcases the creativity of 10 participating local government units, agencies, and local cooperatives to transform the provincial capitol grounds into a large collection of internationally-anticipated theme parks including the well-known home of Mickey Mouse, the Disneyland.
After its successful first launch in 2017, Zamboanga Sibugay pushed further their efforts to bring the biggest and brightest festival into their 2019 celebration as it challenged the competing agencies to bring home the replicas of the world’s best theme parks.
Zamboanga Sibugay Festival of Lights 10 theme park replicas featured includes:
- Australia’s Luna Park
- Florida’s Minnie Mouse’s House
- Florida’s Hollywood Pictures
- Hong Kong Disneyland’s Disney Castle
- Hong Kong Disneyland’s Astro Blasters
- Hong Kong’s Ocean Park
- Japan’s Harry Potter Castle
- Japan’s Hello Kitty Park
- Malaysia’s Legoland
- Paris Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle
Awards are categorized from major awards to minor award from Facebook choice award, best in lights, creative replication and architectural design and ideas. The participating groups entries’ went through three rounds of judging based on criteria of lights artistic combination, creativity, interpretation, workmanship quality, and attractiveness.
The 2019 Festival of Lights Major Awards are being given to the following groups:
- 1st Placer: Japan’s Harry Potter Castle from PEO & PLGU Employees
- 2nd Placer: Paris Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle from Contractors Association
- 3rd Placer: Hong Kong Disneyland’s Disney Castle from 2nd District Cooperatives
Minor Awards are given to the following groups:
- Facebook Choice Award: Japan’s Hello Kitty Park from LGU Buug & Liga ng mga Barangay Provincial Federation
- Best in Lights: Paris Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle from Contractors Association
- Best in Architectural Design and Ideas and Best in Creative Replication:
Japan’s Harry Potter Castle from PEO & PLGU Employees
The Zamboanga Sibugay Festival of Lights is open daily and will culminate on the 18th founding anniversary of the province on February 28, 2019.