They say that Filipinos are among the people who hold the longest celebrations for Christmas. Part of the celebration is the much-awaited Christmas tree lighting in various malls in the country, especially SM Supermalls.
Annually, people look forward to what every SM Supermalls has in store for their customers regarding holiday decorations. Kicking-off this year’s celebration, SM Supermalls began the first of 84 Christmas Tree lighting ceremonies at SM Aura with “Ilaw at Ligaya” a modern Filipino spectacle featuring a Pinoy-themed fashion show set to Pinoy carols and beats by Pinoypela, ROFG, and Prestige Band.
The highlight of this event is the lighting ceremony of a giant Capiz parol and a bedecked 33-foot Christmas tree. Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, SM Supermalls President Steven Tan, and SM Engineering Design and Development President Hans Sy Jr. were present during this giant tree lighting.
In an interview, Steven said that this is a timely, meaningful celebration and treat for mall-goers, this will be the first time in three years that Pinoys can once again fully celebrate the holiday season without fear brought by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Our tree lighting is the start of the Christmas season for SM Supermalls. Here in SM Aura we made it a Filipino [themed celebration] because we really need to pay homage to Filipino Christmas,” he says. “That’s why every design and decor are sustainable and proudly-Filipino.”
He also said that since SM’s 65th anniversary celebration this year, customers can also look forward to more fun and exciting programs, sales, and events.
“This is really to give back to the Filipino people,” Steven tells Manila Bulletin Lifestyle. “We have a lot of promos that will execute toward the 65th, whether in the supermarkets or the department stores or even some of our tenants. This year is our 65th anniversary. That's why we also made our Christmas quite grand. Besides tapos na yung pandemic. It was a difficult three years, so this year we wanted to give joy to the Filipino people.”
Apart from the giant Christmas tree, eco-friendly ornaments incorporating rattan, raffia, abaca, and buri adorn the tree and mall décor, combined with the glittering curtain of LED lights that brighten the halls. During the same event, an all-Filipino fashion show featured products from the mall tenants, namely Rhett Eala, Kultura, Dona Lim, Frankie General Store, Plains & Prints, and Zarah Juan. This fashion runway show was directed by Runway Productions’ Joey Espino, which delighted the audience with its mix of Pinoy streetwear and formal pieces worn with whimsy and fun accessories.
SM Supermalls will continue to launch its much-awaited Christmas centerpieces nationwide until early November, with uniquely designed and themed trees and holiday installations that promise to delight kids of all ages in each of SM Supermalls' 84 malls.