Conrad Manila recently welcomed the holiday season with the annual lighting of its Christmas tree. This year, the hotel opted for a more traditional tree, as compared to last year’s “Celeste Yule,” an art piece created by sculptor Impy Pilapil.

The 16-foot holiday centerpiece is not an art installation, but it wowed guests with its dazzling silver-white light display.

“Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for inspired hospitality at Conrad Manila, where warm display of lights, mouthwatering holiday feasts and shimmering décor spark a deeper sense of caring and love for one another,” said Conrad Manila general manager Laurent Boisdron in his welcome speech.

Ballet Philippines perform the waltz from “Swan Lake” Act 1.

Boisdron also mentioned the achievement of the hotel in the past year: It was named one of Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers Choice Awards’ Best Hotels in the World. It ranked first in the Philippines, third in Asia and 45th in the world.

Present at the celebration was SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. president Elizabeth Sy and executive vice president Peggy Angeles, SM Prime executive committee chair Hans Sy, US Ambassador Sung Kim, Japan Ambassador Koji Haneda, France Ambassador Nicolas Galey, Thailand Ambassador Vasin Ruangprateepsaeng and Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto.

Conrad Manila staff reenact the Nativity scene.

The Nightingales’ Bianca Camille Lopez and Ma. Rhina Paula Palma-Cruz, Imusicapella Chamber Choir and Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra perform a holiday-theme concert at the tree-lighting ceremony.

After the tree lighting ceremony, guests watched a Christmas concert headlined by the Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra, the Imusicapella Chamber Choir, Rhina Paula Palma-Cruz, Bianca Camille Lopez, along with conductor Jeffrey Solares and choirmaster Tristan Ignacio.

For the holidays, Conrad’s Brasserie on 3 will offer a lunch special Dec. 24, with a menu by executive chef Daniel Patterson.

China Blue by Jereme Leung will have its own holiday promo, with a festive set menu curated by executive Chinese chef Eng Yew Khor for a table of 10 persons, available Dec. 20 to 25, and Dec. 27 to Jan. 1.