Christmas is indeed a season filled with bright lights, merry melodies, and of course happiness spread the whole season round. We absolutely revel in the holidays because of well-observed Filipino traditions such as the Simbang Gabi, Christmas caroling, and the Noche Buena.

Right in the heart of the bustling metropolis, another well-loved tradition is the lighting of the Giant Christmas Tree at the Araneta Center, which signals the start of the holidays in the city. Loyal shoppers troop over to the pioneer lifestyle center to be enthralled by the magnificent tree which embodies everything to love about the yuletide season, complemented with the best of shopping and dining, of course.

Since 1981, the Giant Christmas Tree at the Araneta Center has been serving as the metro’s most popular Christmas icon, as inspired by the Giant Christmas Tree in the Rockefeller Center in New York. This year’s Giant Christmas Tree stands almost a hundred feet of stars and balls. This year’s tree is set to be more impressive with colorful giant ribbons and decadent gift boxes serving as accents.

According to Cecile Marvilla, Marketing Head of the Araneta Group, the Giant Christmas Tree Lighting is an annual tradition and a treat to loyal patrons, being the most unforgettable Holiday event every year. “We take pride in producing the biggest Christmas event every year that everyone wouldn’t want to miss. Everyone has fond memories of the Araneta Center Giant Christmas Tree, and it’s a great tradition that we want to continue year after year as it gets better.” She adds that their team combines all their efforts to produce a great show to complement the star appeal of the Giant Christmas Tree. “We just want to produce a Christmas spectacular like no other for our shoppers.”

And true enough; the Giant Christmas Tree was lighted amidst an enthralled crowd, gasping in awe at the marvelous sight. Once again, it’s officially Christmas in the city!

This year, the Araneta Group together with brand partners Biogesic and Coca-Cola teamed up for yet another unforgettable Christmas extravaganza, working together with the local government of Quezon City, led by honorable Mayor Sonny Belmonte Jr. The hottest stars from ABS-CBN highlighted the event with a star-studded show top billed by Gary Valenciano, Kim Chiu, Gerald Anderson, Rachel Ann Go, Erik Santos, Nikki Gil, Jake Cuenca, along with the cast of the funniest sitcom this season – Betty La Fea, and more.

The Giant Christmas Tree Lighting also became the venue for the launch of exciting Christmas promos to delight the whole family, with Coca-Cola’s Christmas Smile Glasses and Araneta Center’s Home Free Home promo, where you get a chance to win a unit at the Manhattan Garden City with a Php.500 purchase at any Araneta Center establishment.

As the night ended, families went on to shop around at the Araneta Center, ready to discover great Christmas finds and different treats and delicacies in true Filipino tradition. Now that the Giant Christmas Tree is lit, the spirit of Christmas can definitely be found right at the heart of the metro.

For more of shopping, dining and fun like no other for the holidays, visit www.aranetacenter.net.

Coca-Cola Lights Up the Filipino Christmas!

The dawn of the Christmas season is without a doubt the most anticipated and the most celebrated time each year for Filipinos. Now that it is fast approaching, we can’t help but think how we could make this most cherished of holidays as festive as those of the past years especially when we come to think about how tough times can get nowadays

But despite this situation, there is really nothing that can stop us from enjoying the warmth of the Christmas season. Because more than the all delightful food, the elaborate decors and the grand celebrations that we are wont to have during the holidays, there is something that is truly at the heart of the Filipino’s celebration of Christmas—the importance of the family’s smiles. No one knows this more than moms, the keepers of the family bonding spirit. Despite the difficult times, moms possess an unwavering sense of fortitude and determination in upholding the family’s togetherness, looking at the situation in a positive light and finding gems of happiness in even the littlest of things. They inspire their families to enjoy simple and yet happy holidays.

With Coca-Cola, the world-renowned beverage that remains mom’s faithful partner in uplifting mealtime bonding moments, the family is able to smile back at life. Coca-Cola’s sweet, bubbly taste makes meals more flavorful and appetizing, thus creating family mealtimes that fill every member of the family with genuine, hearty smiles.

This year, Coca-Cola gives Filipino families more reasons to smile, with the Coca-Cola Christmas Smile Glasses. These glasses, which come in five beautiful colors, celebrate a Christmas that does not compromise on the family’s happiness. By exchanging seven caps of any 1 liter, 1.5 liter or 2 liter Coke, Coke light, Coke Zero, Sprite or Royal Tru Orange in redemption centers nationwide, every family member can have a Coca-Cola Christmas Smile Glass. Simply by drinking your favorite Coca-Cola products, you get a bonus that would set this year’s celebration apart from those before. The Christmas festivities may not be as grand as the previous year’s, but what is important is that the members of the family are all together to enjoy one another’s company and to share their smiles.

Last November 7, 2008, Coca Cola jumpstarted the Christmas season by hosting the lighting of one of the country’s most famous holiday landmarks – the Araneta Center Christmas Tree. Hundreds of guests gathered at the Araneta Center grounds to witness and to take part in the year’s biggest Christmas celebration.

Beginning with the lively renditions of well-loved Christmas songs, the Cardona Youth Coral and Music Ensemble entertained the guests with their unique performances, leaving the audience astounded with their amazing use of improvised instruments made out of Coca-Cola bottles which produced beautiful musical arrangements of popular Christmas carols.

After this wonderful number, event hosts Ogie Diaz and Christine Bersola-Babao welcomed all to the event, animatedly highlighting the significance of a Christmas that sees the value of the family’s togetherness, how one should not set aside things that make tem smile during the holidays, such as Coca-Cola.

And as pledge to a Christmas spirit with smiles, Kandy Anand, the Coca-Cola Export Corporation’s Philippines Business Unit President, and David Lyons, Chief Executive Officer of Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, invited all to take part in the Coca-Cola Christmas Smile Glass Ceremonial Toast. The toast is symbolic of the guests’ partaking in a Christmas that does not compromise on the importance of bringing out smiles in everyone. It honors the heart of the Filipino Christmas season amidst the difficult times, keeping the value of the family’s smiles at the core of the holiday spirit.

With the multi-hued collectible Coca-Cola Christmas Smile Glasses in hand, Mr. Kandy Anand and Mr. David Lyons joined the event hosts and gamely raised their glasses for the ceremonial toast.

At last, the moment for the lighting of the Araneta Center Christmas Tree arrived, which has been bedecked in shiny Coke Smile baubles and dazzling bright Christmas lights. At 80 feet, the tree is the Philippines’ tallest Christmas tree and its yearly lighting has been a well-loved tradition, famous all throughout the country. The tree lighting was headed by Mr. Anand and Mr. Lyons, together with Araneta Center’s Chief Operating Officer Rene De La Cruz, QC local government officials, 2008 Bb. Pilipinas Worls Danielle Castano, 2008 Binibining Pilipinas Universe Jennifer Barrientos and 2005 Binibining Pilipinas World Carlene Aguilar.

The guests cheered as the giant tree was lit, illuminating the entire venue. The tree will stand for the rest of the ling holiday season to bring smiles to everyone who beholds it.

In the coming days, the celebration continues as Coca-Cola lights up the Christmas trees of major cities, staying true to its commitment of keeping the Filipino Family bonding spirit alive and ushering in the holiday season with the brightest of smiles. That’s more reason why this Christmas, you can continue to smile back at life with the entire family. Mag-smile sa buhay, mag-Coke araw araw!

Tags: christmas

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