AT THE HEIGHT of the holiday season, a unique Christmas tree in Negros Occidental is capturing attention — and sparking conversations.
Dubbed the “Muffler Tree,” the Sagay Component City Police Office’s (SCCPO) holiday centerpiece is no ordinary tree. Beyond its flickering lights at night, it proudly displays 250 seized noisy mufflers and 100 counterfeit driver’s license cards as decorations — items confiscated over the past year from police checkpoints, traffic operations, and vehicular accidents.
While unusual, the tree carries a purposeful message. It reflects the police’s commitment to road safety, noise pollution prevention, and enforcement of Sagay City Ordinance No. 2015-002, which regulates vehicles with modified mufflers.
“The tree sends a strong signal: these confiscated items will not be recycled or secretly sold. Instead of destroying them, we created something meaningful,” said Lieutenant Alvimar Flores, SCCPO chief and an artisan himself.
Lit on December 1, the 15-foot tree quickly caught public attention, turning into a provincial talking point. Its design combines bizarre, eye-catching aesthetics with a serious message about law enforcement and community responsibility.
The display also complements Sagay’s reputation as the home of world-renowned visual artist Nunelucio Alvarado, a socio-realist icon whose works depict the lives and struggles of hacienda laborers, or sacadas. The SCCPO tree embodies a similar philosophy: merging creativity with social relevance and purpose.
Mayor Leo Rafael Cueva praised the initiative, calling the tree “an astonishing creation adorned with meaning and essence” that highlights the city’s commitment to both art and law enforcement.
In turning seized items into a public symbol of awareness, the SCCPO demonstrates that holiday displays can carry powerful messages, proving that even unusual materials can inspire reflection and civic pride./PN
