Christmas Tree lighting Shangri-La's Mactan Resort & Spa

CEBU, Philippines - Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa, led by its amiable General Manager Joaquim Schutte, ushered in the beginning of the holiday season with the traditional tree lighting ceremony with guest of honor Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza.

This year, the hotel’s five Christmas trees were adorned in silver and white, symbolizing purity of the season.  Surrounded by a mini white picket fence, the trees, likewise represent the Shangri-La family tradition of coming together to celebrate this most cherished time of the year.

For the second year in a row, individual merchants were invited to join the Christmas Village with more exciting and wonderful items. It is open to house guests, visitors and members of the hospitality industry.

The merchant partners include Premium Concepts by Melanie Ng, the intricate embroideries of Carmen Campbell, Asialuxe by Philippe Bouasse and Francis Allan Austria, Toys at Work by Chris  & Julie Tio and Francis Cutiongco, fashionable accessories by Butch Carungay, antique giftware and home accessories by Allan Gozon  and Noel San Pedro of Italkarat, and religious gift items by the Daughters of St. Paul.

Surely a must stop is the giant gingerbread house which is stocked with holiday cookies, sweets and chocolates. Not to be missed is the Christmas Santa centerpiece made from 10 kilograms of pure chocolate.

A new addition is the charity Christmas tree at the other end of the lobby. It is unadorned at the moment, but management and staff hope to encourage generous hearts to put life into it by buying decors. A portion of the sale will go to the Tingo Elementary Students coming from the resort’s adopted community.