An early Christmas treat for street children and orphans
MANILA, Philippines - It was a very early Christmas for some 600 orphans and street children of San Juan who were treated to a spectacular night of entertainment, magic show, games, food and loot bags at the Greenhills Shopping Center (GSC) at the recent inaugural opening of its animated Christmas Show.
Guests included former President Joseph Estrada, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez, and Rep. JV Ejercito who joined COD owner Alex Rosario and members of the Ortigas family in welcoming the GSC event’s 600 special guests, all seven years old and below, from the White Cross Children’s Home and the San Juan Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Representing the GSC owners Ortigas & Company Limited Partnership were Jaime Ortigas, Fernando Ortigas, and Ignacio and Marga Ortigas, all beaming at the happy faces of children digging into their presents.
The event seemed like a grand Christmas party for the children as they watched the opening of the 8th GSC Christmas Show with the theme “Christmas in Wonderland” and with TV hosts German Moreno and Arnel Ignacio as annotators.
COD owner Alex Rosario and former President Joseph Estrada lead the opening of the 8th GSC Christmas Show at Greenhills Shopping Center, which traditionally marks the official start of the Christmas season. The show’s opening is traditionally perceived as the official start of the country’s Christmas season.
This Christmas icon and tourism attraction first opened at the COD Department Store in Manila in 1957 before moving to Quezon City in the ’70s, and finally finding its home at GSC in 2003.
The show highlights the GSC’s popularity as a favorite Christmas shopping hub, night market and world-renowned bargain center, being the country’s pioneer in tiangges, or flea markets.
Situated in the heart of San Juan, Metro Manila, the GSC houses more than 1,000 stores and 2,000 tenants offering a wide variety of value shopping, dining, and entertainment choices. It is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and up to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
