Midas lights up for Christmas
MANILA, Philippines - Midas Hotel and Casino officially embraced the season with its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the hotel’s lobby. The Midas holiday tree is bejewelled with red and gold Christmas trinkets and ornaments that radiate happiness, love and compassion. A 5-foot nutcracker stands guard over the Nativity scene and gingerbread houses.
A celebratory toast was offered by special guests and Midas executives led by blogger Seph Cham, Erwin Dona III, JP Singson, Ballet Philippines president Margie Moran-Floirendo, Midas resident manager Aris Alcuaz, director of sales Cielo Ortega-Reboredo, Hotel Enterprises of the Philippines Inc. director Mylene Co, Rep. Emi Calixto-Rubiano, AJ Dee and Nicole Aguinaldo.
Manila’s tallest Christmas tree
Tutuban Center, Manila’s Christmas shopping capital, recently held its tree lighting ceremony to remind everyone that the Yuletide season is at hand. The giant Christmas tree is 50 feet tall, with materials coming from different provinces around Manila and designed by Tutuban Properties, Inc. (TPI) personnel. This year, Tutuban Center’s Christmas celebration carries the theme “Paskong Sulit sa Tutuban Center” to uphold the image of Tutuban Center as the place where Filipino families and friends can spend their Christmas shopping time and make it super sulit sa saya at sa oras. Photo shows (from left) actor Kyle Vergara; Daisy Parker, SVP of Prime Orion Philippines, Inc.; Councilor Obet Asilo; Flordeliza Villaseñor of the Manila Tourism and Cultural Affairs Bureau; David Go, president of TPI; Sylvia Tecson, VP for Marketing and Leasing of TPI; teen star Devon Seron.
Araneta Center belen lighting
Following the lighting of the giant Christmas tree, Araneta Center continues its celebration of Christmas with the lighting of the Araneta Center belen. Located at McArthur Drive, near Farmers Market, the life-size belen is a symbol of unity and love during the Christmas season. It is a yearly attraction since 1992. Present during the ceremony are Araneta Group vice chair Judy Araneta-Roxas (2nd from left) with Msgr. Alfonzo Bugaoan Jr., Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, Rep. Jorge Banal and Barangay Socorro chairman Joey de Guzman.