MAKATI, Philippines—This year’s Christmas celebration in Makati, the country’s leading city for business, lifestyle, entertainment and culture, brings us back to life’s simple joys.
It is best signified with the premiere of the much-awaited “Lights and Sound Show” at the Makati Ayala Triangle Gardens, which opens on Wednesday night.
Ayala Land, together with HSBC, brings back the “The Festival of Lights” every 30 minutes from 6 pm to 10 pm every night until January 4, 2015. For the fifth year in a row, Makati gives back to the community by spreading holiday cheer that only the city that makes bright things happen can offer.
It is one of those spectacular and highly-anticipated occasions when Makati comes to life with flashing lights and vibrant music. Makati denizens and visitors alike take time to witness and appreciate the unique combination of colors and carols.
“We wanted our Lights and Sound Show this year to be something new and different, the way we always anticipate Christmas because it marks the promise of bright things to come,” says Mel Ignacio, Assistant Vice President of Ayala Land.
Voltaire De Jesus, award-wining lights and sound director of the Ayala Symphony of Lights team shares that this year’s Lights and Sound Show is a complete departure from previous editions.
This year, the country’s most competitive city outdoes itself by taking inspiration from the Rio De Janeiro Carnivale and its festive vibe and vibrant rainbow colors, translating this into an audio-visual feast using custom-made LED string lights, LED meteor lights, flash pods, laser lights, and moving heads.
To come up with the music that accompanies the Lights and Sound show, Makati collaborated with the acclaimed musicians and composers of Watusi Manila, namely Anna Piramide, Jazz Nicolas and Mikey Amistoso.
To offer something unique, the trio switched genres, and even mixed foreign Christmas songs with Filipino carols, making everything seamless because Christmas, at its very root, is a universal celebration.
Indeed, the Ayala Triangle Gardens is transformed into the brightest spot in the metro courtesy of this well-loved holiday tradition where a spectacular play of lights harmoniously dances to beloved Christmas carols.
“Putting a Carribean feel to ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ is odd,” says Piramide of Watusi Manila, “because there is definitely no reindeer or snow on those islands. But it makes a fresh and interesting image.”
That is exactly what this year’s Christmas celebration in Makati is all about—upholding traditions and making them relevant by creating something unique out of the familiar.
Christmas celebration will continue to grow more festive and joyful in the city with the biggest outdoor Christmas Bazaar coming to Circuit Makati, the city’s entertainment district, with more than 200 merchants from November 28 to 30.
There will be amazing finds under the sky from kidpreneurs, instagrammers, celebrities, Wellworth, and many more.
Also, people will get to savor al fresco dining from Mercato and Family Mart and enjoy various activities such as concerts and workshops. The festivities go all the way to December when Makati high school students compete in the 5th Makati Inter-High School Christmas Caroling Competition on December 16 at the Ayala Triangle Gardens. Lastly, the celebration carries on with special Thanksgiving Masses from December 15 to 23 also in Ayala Triangle Gardens.
Be sure to Make Makati part of your Christmas tradition.
“The Festival of Lights” is brought to you by Ayala Land in partnership with HSBC.
For more information about the city that makes it happen, visit www.makeitmakati.com or like and follow makeitmakati on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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