An uplifting sense of renewal marks the spirit of the holidays. When the lights start twinkling and the bells start jingling, all the darkness and difficulties of the year seem to pass, replaced by a spark of bright hope that kindles among us.

To celebrate the warmth and optimism this festive season brings, five-star serviced residences Joy~Nostalg Hotel & Suites Managed by Accor ushers in the Philippines’ favorite holiday with stories of hope and celebrations of time-honored Filipino family traditions.

Joy~Nostalg Hotel & Suites Managed by Accor lights up its locally-inspired Christmas Tree with a meaningful event that featured hand-crafted parols by San Juan City Jail Persons Deprived of Liberty, sold for the benefit of their families. (From left to right): DOT-NCR Supervising Tourism Operations Officer Ivan Dmitriv Agote; Brgy. San Antonio, Pasig City Captain Raymund Lising; Joy~Nostalg Hotel & Suites Managed by Accor General Manager Odette Huang; and San Juan City Jail Officers JO1 Angeline Silencio and JO1 Ervic Feruelo

“The parol has always been a symbol of hope, and the theme that we have chosen for this year’s festivity, ‘All Aglow,’ is anchored on this,” said Joy~Nostalg Hotel & Suites Managed by Accor General Manager Odette Huang. “In these challenging times, we see hope as a desire to make things better. We also want to celebrate the Filipinos’ resilience and belief in what is good and what is ahead of us.”

Ceremonial tree lighting

The Ateneo Chamber Singers delivers an awe-inspiring performance during the event as Joy~Nostalg kicks off its Christmas celebration

Launching Joy~Nostalg’s holiday festivities was a grand Christmas tree lighting ceremony, which featured locally-sourced design materials like banig, rattan, and capiz shells. It was a night of smiles and cheers as guests were serenaded by the Ateneo Chamber Singers and delighted with Filipino Noche Buena offerings.

Joy~Nostalg Christmas — As a pet-friendly establishment, Joy~Nostalg also welcomed fur babies at its Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, dressed as iconic holiday delights, including puto bumbong and bibingka

This Christmas season, Joy~Nostalg has prepared an exciting line-up of events and promotions for the weeks ahead. Every effort is designed to celebrate the season and to create magical holiday moments for all.

Lending a helping hand

The holidays being the season of giving, Joy~Nostalg’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony was made extra meaningful as the group incorporated into the celebrations crafty parols made by Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) of San Juan City Jail.

Proceeds from these hand-made parols benefit the families of PDLs, allowing them to somehow partake in the celebration of Christmas. At Joy~Nostalg, located at the heart of the Ortigas Central Business District, these special Christmas lanterns are showcased in the hotel’s lobby.

“Sometimes, I think, we’re less forgiving of people who have gone astray, but it’s part of our responsibility to help them get back on the right path,” said Ms. Huang. “If we continue to believe them, they will find it in their hearts to believe that they can do it and make a difference when they move on with their lives.”

Giving back to the community

What’s Christmas without gifts? Joy~Nostalg understands the importance of presents during this season, which is why heart-warming holiday gift baskets from local shops and artisans are now made available on the hotel’s recently-launched E-Shop website.

According to Ms. Huang, this is their way of giving back to the community and supporting small and medium enterprises.

“These people make beautiful, delicious products, but they don’t have the right distribution network to market themselves,” she said. “We take pride in sharing these discoveries with others so that they, too, can share it with the people closest to them.”

Among the products available for purchase are great finds from The Seven Pantry, a collection of homegrown food items made in humble kitchens. There are also gifts worth the look from JIM Weaver Designs, a retail brand that specializes in unique designs for modern men and women.

For more information on Joy~Nostalg Hotel & Suites Managed by Accor, visit https://www.joynostalgmanila.com/ or contact +63 2 5318 7888 and HB2D6- RE[email protected]. Follow the premier lifestyle destination on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/JoyNostalgManila/), Instagram (@joynostalgmanila), and Twitter (@joynostalgmnl).