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Shangri-La at the Fort.

Fairmont Makati.

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Shangri-La Plaza.

Edsa Shangri-La Hotel.

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How does one find happiness in a metropolis that’s constantly plagued by heavy traffic, in a country steeped in poverty and anomalies in government?

I get a kick out of taking photos of Christmas trees.

This is something I’ve been doing every holiday season since 2010—yes, even during the pandemic. Fourteen years later, I’m still at it. I’m the kind of person who picks a hobby and pursues it with a passion. I start taking photos of holiday decorations and Christmas trees around September each year because, really, our country is known for starting the Yuletide early, thus earning the distinction of celebrating the longest Christmas season in the world. Basically the malls begin to set up their dazzling holiday displays as soon as the ‘ber months start.

As a housewife, which I have been for the past 21 years, I’ve learned how to find ways to amuse and entertain myself to break the monotony of my everyday chores. I like going out once or twice a week on my own to dine out, just browse the bookstores or window-shop.

During Christmastime, my fascination with Christmas trees makes my “days off” even more exciting as I hop from one mall to another or from one hotel to the next. I’ve consistently taken shots of ornately designed trees and posted them on Facebook for all of my friends to see. As of this writing, my 14-year-old Christmas album on Facebook has more than 400 photos of holiday decorations taken in different parts of the metro.

It’s mainly for me, though, a personal project that has given me joy through the years and I’m just happy to share it with my friends online. Perhaps many of them don’t appreciate it, but there are some who really do—like my grade school and high school classmates who have been living in other parts of the world, and who feel a bit of sentimentality seeing the festive atmosphere in their home country.

Virtual tour

And then there’s my ever-beautiful mother-in-law, who, at the age of 93, cannot go out of her house as often as I do. She takes so much pleasure in looking at my photos and videos of Christmas trees on Facebook. She even told me that she is very thankful for the virtual tour of the places I visit.

Since I live in Parañaque City, I usually just go to the Makati and Pasay areas to check out the holiday decorations. One of my favorite places is Newport World Resorts in Pasay City. Not only is it close to where we live, it also gives me the opportunity to take so many shots of Christmas trees all under one massive complex. There’s the Newport Mall that’s connected to at least four luxurious hotels: Hilton Manila, Sheraton Manila, Hotel Okura, and Manila Marriott Hotel. All these places have fantastic Christmas trees that bring out the little girl in me. This year’s color motif is blue, my favorite!

In order to fully understand my obsession, let me put it in perspective. I grew up in Olongapo City, where there were no malls and no nice hotels until I was already an adult. So when I was a kid, on the rare occasions that we would go to Cubao in Quezon City to visit some relatives, we would be treated to an awesome animated Christmas display show at the COD Department Store, where moving mannequins told a Christmas story. For a child in the early 1980s, it was the most exhilarating show I experienced.

Fast-forward to the present: All the sparkling lights and towering Christmas trees in the metro still fill me with childlike awe, even though I am now 50 years old. I’m a habitué of the Ayala Center in Makati and I know Glorietta like the back of my hand even if it keeps on changing, always improving. So I’ve marveled at the Christmas displays in Glorietta, Rustan’s Makati, Greenbelt, SM Makati and The Landmark for many years. Now, there’s even a new addition called One Ayala.

Little tradition

Ayala Avenue is such a sight to behold at night during this season. Colorful giant lanterns with bright lights and rows of real poinsettias line the whole 2-km stretch. And let’s not forget the impressive lights and sounds show at the Ayala Triangle Gardens. It has become our little tradition to watch its captivating Festival of Lights every year since it began in 2009.

Still in Makati, I never miss taking photos of the delightful Christmas trees in Dusit Thani Manila, Ascott Makati, Discovery Primea, New World Makati Hotel, Raffles, Fairmont, and Holiday Inn & Suites Makati. They’re all fabulous! But the best display in the city for me can be found in Makati Shangri-La. Am I glad it reopened last year after a two-year closure due to the pandemic. Also, no Christmas season will ever be complete without a glimpse of The Peninsula Manila’s iconic Christmas tree. Its elegance perfectly complements the hotel’s celebrated lobby. Truly a classic.

Rockwell Center in Makati is another not-to-be-missed wonderland with its grand golden lights, a visual feast that has undoubtedly changed Makati’s skyline forever. It surely stands out amid the cityscape at night.

Power Plant Mall pulls out all the stops year after year with its lavish Christmas ornaments. It is definitely my favorite mall to visit at Christmastime.

Spectacular

SM Mall of Asia’s Christmas displays are also spectacular, and S Maison’s stunning tree is always enchanting.

Not to be outdone is Bonifacio Global City, with so many indoor and outdoor Christmas trees. People flock to its pedestrian-friendly streets especially this time of the year to admire all the wonderful decorations that evoke feelings of happiness and hope, even if only temporarily. Beautiful Christmas trees everywhere around! Of course, I’m drawn to the whimsical Christmas displays at Shangri-La at the Fort.

Whenever I feel a bit more adventurous, I take the MRT from the Ayala station and visit more unfamiliar territory like SM Megamall, Shangri-La Plaza and Edsa Shangri-La Hotel. The splendid Christmas trees make the trip worth it. Sometimes I even go all the way to Araneta Center just to take shots of the Christmas displays in Farmers Plaza, Gateway Mall, and now even the new Gateway 2 Mall. In the past, I’ve even gone as far as Trinoma, SM North Edsa and Ayala Vertis North just to take photos of their Christmas trees.

I have no talent in Christmas gift-shopping, so that part of my job description is quite stressful for me around this time, but the sight of glorious trees in malls gives me a sense of calm and cheers me up like nothing else.

I recently learned that the modern Christmas tree as we know it today traces its roots in Germany. Since I speak a bit of German, I would like to say, Ich bin dankbar dafür (I am thankful for that). Because wherever we are in the world, even in the face of darkness and challenges, there’s always a glimmer of hope and joy whenever we see a Christmas tree. (More photos of beautiful Christmas trees in InquirerPlus.)