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Manila Bulletin devider Lifestyle devider Luminaries and Life devider Venice Grand Canal Illuminates Christmas with art, harmony, and hope

Venice Grand Canal Illuminates Christmas with art, harmony, and hope

By MBrand
Published Nov 20, 2025 03:35 pm
The Christmas season shone bright at Venice Grand Canal at McKinley Hill with the unveiling of “La Dolce Natale,” a celebration that captured the elegance and artistry of the Italian-inspired mall in a spectacle of light, music, and meaning.
At the heart of the evening was the tree lighting ceremony led by Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, featured artist and environmental advocate Kai Pobre, and Megaworld Lifestyle Malls executives, including Cluster General Manager Tyrone Tan, FVP and Head of Megaworld Lifestyle Malls Graham Coates, EVP for Sales and Marketing Noli Hernandez, and Venice Grand Canal General Manager Beda Cabanos, marking the official start of the township’s holiday festivities. Families, friends, and visitors gathered by the grand canal to witness the illumination of the magnificent 40-foot floating Christmas tree, followed by a breathtaking fireworks display that lit up the night sky.
This year, the celebration draws inspiration from nature and the art of renewal. In collaboration with artist and environmental advocate Carol “Kai” Pobre, “La Dolce Natale” transforms Venice Grand Canal into a canvas of sustainability and creativity. Centered on a floating tree that symbolizes balance and harmony, the installation is adorned with handcrafted masks made from recycled glass, bamboo shavings, and resin—each designed by Pobre as a reflection of strength, grace, and the beauty of rebirth through conscious creation.
“Venice Grand Canal has always been more than a destination, it’s a community that celebrates creativity, connection, and care,” said Graham Coates, First Vice President and Head of Megaworld Lifestyle Malls. “This Christmas, Kai Pobre’s handcrafted masks remind us that the season is not only about celebration, but also reflection—about finding renewal, harmony, and hope in the beauty we create together.”
“My hope is that when people walk through these bamboo-based designs and my art installations, they pause, take a breath, and feel that connection again. My designs are not just decorations, they’re invitations to reflect, to find calm in the middle of movement, yet remembering that we’re all part of nature,” shared Kai Pobre.
UP Singing Ambassadors
UP Singing Ambassadors
The evening came alive with captivating performances by Biñan Kawayan Music Ensemble and the UP Singing Ambassadors, who filled the air with festive melodies and classical Christmas renditions that echoed across “the most romantic mall in the country.”
As part of its continuing mission to celebrate creativity and community, Venice Grand Canal invites guests to take part in its La Dolce Natale festivities all season long—from the Santa Claus Meet and Greet and Christmas Melodies from the Children’s Choir, to the Christmas Village featuring festive attractions and a holiday fair, and the dazzling Fireworks Shows lighting up the grand canal on select evenings.
Biñan Kawayan Music Ensemble
Biñan Kawayan Music Ensemble
Adding even more excitement to the season, the Grand Christmas Parade makes its much-awaited return on December 6. Known as one of the city’s most spectacular holiday attractions, this year’s parade promises a magical procession of floats, performers, and surprises that will fill the streets with color, music, and the true joy of Christmas.
“La Dolce Natale” at Venice Grand Canal reminds everyone that the sweetest joys of the season flow not just from beauty and celebration, but from the harmony we create — between art and nature, tradition and renewal, and the shared spirit that makes Christmas truly dolce. For updates, visit megaworld-lifestylemalls.com or call (02) 8462-8888.

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leisure CHRISTMAS Venice Grand Canal Megaworld Lifestyle Malls
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