Angelito Idea Dedace’s fascination for the Belen began about two years ago at the library of the now co educational San Beda High School campus in Taytay, Rizal where he is an English Literature teacher. Accordingly, the whole place was a cheer – filled Yuletide affair and everyone commended the librarian for the beautiful decorations, except for one thing…..there isn’t any Belen among the pre dominantly Santa – inspired embellishments. With that, the school librarian hurriedly fashioned a Belen from various decorative colored papers…..and that made an impression on him.

That week end in Sariaya, Sir Gello saw the clay Belen given by a paternal cousin from Bacolod a few years back with a different eye and suddenly thought of having another one to complement it. Before the following week was over, he had already bought a Belen made of “Palo China” from Manila. For the Christmas of 2006, he purchased another two sets and thus had four Belens on display at home. Of course, he was so pleased with the different kind of Christmas cheer that they generated! What started as a new found appreciation and admiration for the Belen turned into a desire of seeing more of them displayed in their living room for the next Christmas. And the feeling intensified further with the departure of his ageing parents for the US last October for a six - month vacation with his younger brother who lives in Sacramento, California. It strengthened his resolve to add even more Yuletide cheer to compensate for his being home alone for a while…

Whenever and wherever, the Star of Bethlehem struck Belen - lover was always on the look – out for those miniaturized nativity scenes to buy… from department stores to trade fairs, malls in the big city and even in SM and Metro Lucena. He likewise bought cute Christmas accessories like a mini Christmas tree, Frosty Snowmen, silver bells, angels, boughs of holly, wreaths, decorative lights, small Parols, even a few Santa Claus, which brightened their house in and out. However, it is still the Belens that caught his fancy, fashioned from various materials like ceramics, wood, a recent prized Nativity acquisition made from discarded tin cans, and others. Soon, he had ten of them, on display and told himself that such was enough for the moment. However, the very first inter town Belen making competition of the “ Paskuhan sa Sariaya 2007 “ was opened at the park by the Sariaya Tourism Council on December 15th and before he knew it, he had bought Belen number eleven already! And wonders never cease because come December 23, nephew and niece Al J and Angelica gave him their Christmas present, his twelfth Belen, a mechanical one with characters moving with the twist of a key! Truly overjoyed, the child within the 48 - year old Uncle could only give them hugs and kisses as his heartfelt token of appreciation. Each Belen is highlighted and illumined by a Christmas candle for emphasis.

On Christmas eve, while preparing Embotido for the traditional Noche Buena, we suddenly thought of featuring this simple yet joyful Sariayahin Christmas story for Jubert’s sariaya.net/portal. Momentarily at a loss for a suitable title, Genii, another niece suddenly exclaimed “Gello de Belen!”, and the house roared with approving laughter and amusement!