Great Plains Health tree decorations celebrate Filipino culture
Contact: Mary Roberts
North Platte, Neb., December 24, 2021 – When staff in the medical/surgical unit at Great Plains Health heard about the annual Christmas tree decorating contest, the team instantly decided to decorate a tree inspired by the Filipino culture, a culture that many of the unit’s staff share.
“It’s great that we are able to share what Christmas is for us in the Philippines and how it brings us joy. It reminds us of home,” Helen Maizo, RN and one of the creative minds behind the decorations, said. “This brought us all closer together.”
The tree decorating contest, hosted by the Great Plains Health Care Foundation, had a special theme: a season of joy. While many departments entered the tree decorating contest, the medical/surgical unit’s tree won the top prize.
Mazio says that the shimmering tree topper, known as a parol, is an iconic symbol of the Filipino Christmas season and pays homage to the star of Bethlehem that led the wise men to the newborn Baby Jesus in the Christmas story.
“We’re happy that this tree shows how festive, colorful and bright our Filipino Christmas season is,” Eli Salarda, RN, added.
Mazio, Salarda and Mark Gante, RN, all say that they appreciate the teamwork from across the unit that brought the vision of this tree to life. Gante also says the friendly competition brought some holiday cheer to the staff.
The traditional Filipino decorations offer a piece of home to Filipino staff who are spending the Christmas season in North Platte, Neb. The tree has been a popular place for Great Plains Health staff to visit over the holidays.
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About Great Plains Health
Based in North Platte, Nebraska, Great Plains Health is a fully accredited, 116-bed acute-care regional medical center serving western and central Nebraska, northern Kansas and southern South Dakota. With 90 physicians representing nearly 30 medical specialties, the Great Plains Health system offers advanced health care, including heart and vascular, cancer, and orthopedic surgery services. Great Plains Health is a Level III trauma center, and all of its emergency department physicians are residency-trained and board-certified in emergency medicine. The system employs approximately 1,200 employees and serves a geographic area spanning approximately 16,000 square miles.
The hospital is accredited by the Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality (CIHQ) and is home to an American College of Surgeons-accredited cancer center and Level II bariatric surgery program. For more information, visit gphealth.org.