Winnipegger’s bedazzled Christmas home reflects a Filipino tradition

Posted on December 1, 2024 by Peggy

More is more when it comes to Christmas decorations.

That’s the unofficial mantra inside and outside the home of Winnipegger Juliet Dayanghirang Francisco.

Her north Winnipeg front yard is festooned with twinkling reindeer, Christmas trees, stars, wreaths and ribbons. A Santa inflatable shares yard space with a large-scale electric nativity scene with a glowing Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus.

In a word: Wow.

Inside, the plentiful decorations continue with a Christmas tree loaded with 60-plus ornaments and a mini ceramic Christmas village that occupies half her living room. Spinning ceramic skaters take a turn on a decorative pond, mini carollers stand on sidewalks and the village homes are lit up and festooned with evergreen bows.

Santas, of various sizes and descriptions, also adorn the room. Red, gold, glitter and twinkling lights abound. A glowing nativity scene completes the decor.

“I feel very very great, with joy in my heart,” Francisco said of her passion for Christmas decorating.

The decorations and lights also remind people of the reason for the season, she said.

“Christmas is love, because in love you can give everything, you can share your blessings, you will be reminded of the birth of Christ and you will be good to people.”

Francisco said elaborate and extensive yuletide decorating is a Filipino tradition that often starts in September.

Khloe Dayanghirang, Juliet’s niece, agreed.

“We do a lot of big, big things, so I think it’s important for other cultures to see that and for them to learn what we do and what we believe in, and our spirit for it,” said Dayanghirang, who helps with the decorating.

Francisco’s story is the subject of a new short three-minute documentary by students in the Create program at Sisler High School in collaboration with CBC Manitoba. Sisler’s post-high program trains students in the creative digital arts, including filmmaking.

CREATE students Raiden Dumaran, Joseph Huntington and Ewan Webster produced the new short video.

Meet the filmmakers

A young man with short dark hair and glasses looks forward. He is wearing a light grey sweatshirt and has black-framed glasses. — Raiden Dumaran has been taking creative courses since Grade 9. He has a passion for motion graphics. Raiden also enjoys editing and working behind the camera. In his free time, he’s usually at the gym or sleeping with his favourite songs on repeat. (Focal Plains Studio)

A young man has spiky green hair and black glasses. — Joseph Huntington is an aspiring filmmaker. His interest in film originally began in Grade 11, when he made a film with his friend. He believes filmmaking can be used to inspire others and change lives. Editing is his favourite part of filmmaking. In his spare time, he also enjoys walks, going to the gym and playing video games. (Focal Plains Studio)

A young man with short dirty blond hair wears a grey hoodie in this head-and-shoulders portrait. He has sunglasses hooked on his front collar. — Ewan Webster started his career in film as a background actor in local productions at age 11. He started to learn how to edit film and audio in Grade 11 after years of behind-the-scenes experience on set. Ewan wants to become a prominent film and audio editor. (Focal Plains Studio)

More about Project POV: Sisler Create

CBC Manitoba’s Project POV: Sisler Create is a storytelling collaboration that partners filmmaking students with CBC Manitoba journalists to produce short docs. You can see past projects here.

The Winnipeg School Division’s Create program is hosted at Sisler High School and trains post-high students in the creative digital arts.

During fall 2024, CBC journalists taught storytelling to filmmaking students and led producing workshops at Sisler.

Create focuses on education and career pathways into the creative industries. Students can take courses in animation, film, game design, visual effects, graphic design and interactive digital media.