A winter wonderland in Bacolod
Bamboo Tonogbanua’s artistry shines through in the miniature Christmas village he has lovingly built in his home in Bacolod City. He dedicated an entire room to his collection of mini Christmas houses and scenery. Instead of lining them up on shelves like a store display, he created stories with them.
One of the highlights of his display is how it builds up the excitement. White and silver garlands and ornaments adorn both sides of the stairs leading up to the room, setting the mood as you climb.
If you’ve just come in from the sun’s heat outside, your skin might still feel hot. Then, the door to the Christmas room is opened, and you feel it before you even see it—the freezing cold air from the air conditioner rushing out. Stepping inside, you are transported to a valley surrounded by snow-capped mountains, where ski lifts endlessly carry little people—no bigger than a pinkie finger—to the top.
At the center of the room stands a customized Christmas tree, decorated with dolls and mini houses cleverly arranged to hide the post beneath. No matter where you look, there’s something to captivate you. The display is a delightful mix of moving and nonmoving elements.
Santa Claus and his reindeer float near the ceiling, while a mechanical train circles a mountain. Couples in Victorian attire skate on a rink, a carousel spins with riders, and a Ferris wheel lights up as it rotates. The room isn’t quiet either—you can hear faint, jovial voices speaking inaudible lines, evoking the sound of merry-making and winter fun. It feels alive, as if you were Gulliver walking awkwardly among a world of miniatures.
The little things
“‘It’s the little things in life that give me pleasure; collectively, they bring me joy beyond measure!’ That’s my starting inspirational motto when I formally displayed my miniature collection on Christmas of 1996,” Tonogbanua, who’s an artist and Talentadong Atelier Awardee by UST Atelier Alumni Association, said via text.
His very first pieces came from a nurse in New York who had collected them but grew tired of the cycle of unpacking, displaying, and boxing them up again after just a few weeks.
“As a child, I was fascinated with Western Christmas cards—winter scenes, Santas, and snow-covered houses. [The nurse’s] gifts were like reliving my childhood dreams!” he said.
Tonogbanua began with a single plywood setup and added to it each year. Year-round Christmas stores in the United States became treasure troves for him. He admired how these stores embodied the saying, “We are open every day; we are closed on Christmas Day!”
“That’s where most of my early collections came from, until I discovered flea markets! One of my favorite pieces is one of my firsts—a church with miniature handcrafted stained-glass windows that still glow vividly when lit. My collection varied with my whims of inspiration,” he explained.
The displays are divided into themed zones: There’s a Dickens Village, a Mexican Village, a Chinatown, a Retro ’50s scene, and even a zone for Disney characters.
The Swiss cable cars zone showcases his European collection. His whimsical touch is evident throughout. At the ski slope, skiers tumble into the snow, Ariel sits on an icy rock, Cleopatra relaxes on a riverboat, while the Three Kings ride their camels in front of her. There’s always a delightful scene playing out when you get closer and when you move further.
Nativity scenes are thoughtfully interspersed. There are seven Belen hidden throughout the room. It becomes a delightful game for visitors to find them all. To be honest, we only spotted two when we visited.
Rather than knocking down walls to expand the room, Tonogbanua chooses to refresh the scenery by rearranging the figures and introducing new elements.
“Christmas is a feeling of joy,” he said. Sharing this joy is part of his community service. He especially enjoys watching the awestruck expressions of children seeing his collection for the first time.
