Araneta City unveils a well-loved Christmas tradition
Christmas is a months-long holiday that Filipinos greatly anticipate. Besides being the season for gift-giving, it’s also a time when people enjoy the festivities with their loved ones through good food or memorable experiences. As a relevant event in the Philippines, the public follows several traditions ingrained in faith or fun that are worth the wait.
Some examples include opening Christmas fairs with activities that cater to everyone’s preferences or remind them about the true meaning of the holiday. With Araneta City’s Christmas On Display (COD), guests can enjoy doing both.
For decades, Christmas On Display has become a holiday tradition that aptly represents the Filipinos’ love for bright lights and flashy ornaments whenever and wherever it was.
“Araneta City is a place of many firsts and memorable experiences. By bringing back the Christmas on Display, we want to offer an exciting treat to children and make the adults relive their fun holiday memories,” said Marjorie Go, AVP for Marketing of Araneta City.
“Through this attraction, we take pride in the distinct holiday tradition we have in our country. We celebrate the fact that Christmas celebration in the Philippines, more so in Araneta City, is like no other in the world,” she added.
It was a lively opening with several notable personalities in attendance. Among them were Binibining Pilipinas 2022 winners, who also showed their hosting abilities.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte also graced the event. Belmonte shared that as a child, she would look forward to the Christmas On Display during the holidays. She added how glad she is that the tradition remains alive throughout the decades, allowing the next generation to form core memories at the attraction.
Belmonte also jested about how happy she is that Christmas On Display returned to Quezon City this year.
Also in attendance at the opening of the Christmas On Display were Melai Cantiveros-Francisco and her daughters, Mela and Stela. They gave a bubbly performance that lifted the audience’s spirits. Melai and her family were happy about the invitation as they got to experience the festivities of the highly-anticipated holiday event.
Like its earlier versions, the Christmas On Display show maintains its theatrics with a coherent use of lighting, voiceovers, and other theatrics that captures the attention of kids and kids-at-heart alike.
The opening of the Christmas On Display show also signaled the start of the Mini Fiesta Carnival attraction, which featured games, rides, and other activities that visitors will enjoy. It opens daily from 2:00 to 11:00 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Christmas On Display Show is open from Sunday to Thursday, 6:00 to 10:00 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. Entrance fee is at P50, with free food redeemable from the nearby food park. Visitors can also witness the Grand Fireworks Display every Friday to Sunday in November and December, starting at 7:00 p.m.
With Araneta Center’s Christmas On Display a constant presence during the Philippine Christmas season, Filipinos can enjoy the festivities with their loved ones and be reminded of the true meaning of the holiday according to their faith.