Ayala Land: Your home for Christmas

You know Christmas is just around the proverbial corner when early mornings get a bit nippier and you stay in bed a bit longer, the queues in the supermarkets are a lot longer, traffic is a lot worse, the air is suddenly filled with good old Christmas carols and people’s hearts are full.

You know it’s Christmas when Ayala Land lights up to put a glow in our lives this holiday season.

Fact is, Christmas gives Ayala Land that precious opportunity to get more creative and make its estates more inviting as part of its nation-building efforts and the goal to provide venues that bring the community together through bonding activities that family members, neighbors, and friends can enjoy.

“At Ayala Land, we are inspired by our vision to enrich lives,” says Cathy R. Bengzon, head of corporate marketing at Ayala Land. “The Christmas season is always a great opportunity for us to express how grateful we are to our customers, stakeholders, and the Filipino people. We are delighted to give people access to one-of-a-kind shows and experiences that they can share with their friends and families.”

Christmas came early to Makati as the vibrant streets of Ayala Avenue were lighted up last Nov. 5 to spark the holiday spirit.

Ayala Land brings to everyone the magic of Christmas from North to South as it lights up key estates -- Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, Ayala Center in Cebu, Centrio in Cagayan de Oro, Abreeza Mall in Davao, and Capitol Central in Bacolod.

LET THERE BE LIGHTS AND SOUNDS

For me and assorted holiday revelers, Christmas in Makati CBD just isn’t complete without the spellbinding spectacle that is the Lights & Sounds show at the Ayala Triangle Gardens. Now in its 11th enchanting year, it has become a cherished tradition Makati residents and visitors, including foreigners, look forward to Christmas after Christmas. Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, it’s guaranteed to put a sparkle in your eyes. This year’s show, entitled “Gallery of Lights” and designed and directed by Voltaire de Jesus and Luther Gumia, features Tivoli and laser lights, polygon clouds forming a canopy of lights, and bright-colored noodle lights lining tree trunks and branches.

To wash away the stress of the holiday rush, this dancing lights and sounds show will have music composed of three lovely medleys, starting off with the techno-inspired number by Tris Suguitan, followed by the Big Band medley by Mel Villena consisting of jazz-inspired tunes featuring brass instruments, and finally, a Filipino medley by Von de Guzman showcasing popular Pinoy Christmas tunes with a mix of cheerful and sentimental melodies.

Launched last Nov. 12, the annual Lights & Sounds show will run until Jan, 12, 2020. Catch it from 6 to 10 p.m.

This Christmas, spectators get a Christmas bonus as they witness the first-ever Carol of Lights, a 3D video mapping show made possible by Epson Philippines with light projections designed by G.A. Fallarme and conceptualized by Henk-Gert Lenten. Be right under where all the magic happens as the images are projected at the dome of Tower One and Exchange Plaza on Ayala Avenue, for a truly immersive show.

Sure to delight kids and the kids-at-heart, Carol of Lights is inspired by the church ceilings and stained glass windows from select Filipino and churches abroad, combining a bit of whimsy with technology for a heartwarming visual feast.

Of course, prepare to be dazzled even more as Ayala Land endeavors to bring something bigger and better every Christmas.

CHRISTMAS IS FOR FAMILY BONDING

From lights and sounds shows to fireworks displays -- all this and more are designed for family bonding activities that Ayala Land estates have thoughtfully lined up for families this festive season.

Over the past many Christmases, we’ve enjoyed watching the free concerts by some of our world-class Pinoy artists at Ayala Malls. This Christmas, we’re in for a “Halu-Halong Pasko” treat featuring Filipino music through song and dance performances by music icon Joey Ayala, theater actor-turned-singing idol Gian Magdangal, livewire vocal group The CompanY, Sofia Zobel-Elizalde’s Steps Dance Studio, with special guest artists like pop diva Yeng Constantino, Fil-Canadian singing sensation Darren Espanto, and soul, pop, and jazz singer-songwriter Aicelle Santos who sings with a lot of soul.

Meanwhile, at Bonifacio Global City, residents rediscover the reason behind the season with the Community Simbang Gabi at Bonifacio High Street Amphitheater. Makati CBD and Circuit Makati residents troop to Tower One and Exchange Plaza fountain area for the Masses.

Yes, kiddos, you can likewise see the most-loved jolly old guy from the North Pole as he descends on Bonifacio High Street for the Santa Meet-and-Greet on all Sundays of December.

NUVALI’S FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND WATER SHOW

A water show at Christmastime? This you’ve got to see! All roads lead to Nuvali, an idyllic eco-city development by Ayala Land in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Ayala Land has partnered with world-renowned art collective teamLab to present the Nuvali teamLab Water Interactive Show, the first of its kind in the Philippines (ongoing year-round at the Globe Lakeside in Nuvali, Friday to Sunday, 6-9 p.m.).

Be mesmerized as this unique water show brings artworks projected on larger-than-life water screen displays that span 100 meters wide and 15 meters high. Some of these artworks are interactive, co-created in real time by visitors through the teamLab smartphone application. As guests participate in the artworks, working with one another to create a new world together, an interactive relationship between the viewers and the artwork is forged and each becomes an integral part of the art.

The show offers four digital art experiences: "Born from the Water, Loving and Beautiful World"; "Water Scrolls: Genpei Yashima Battle"; "teamLab Interactive Fishing Party: Spin your Fishing Reel"; and
Reversible Rotation in Water."

All these Christmas event offerings among the Ayala Land estates (29 in 57 growth centers) contribute to the fulfillment of the company’s commitment to society.

This Christmas, Ayala Land gives back to the community by supporting local entrepreneurs and merchants. For instance, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf brings the Dapitan Arcade to the Balintawak community via Little Dapitan, a bazaar that brings together quality products by local traders, mostly specializing in holiday decor, wooden and steel handicrafts, and furniture.

Open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. until the end of December, Little Dapitan at Cloverleaf will likewise have various activities for children and adults alike, such as weekend workshops on flower arranging, Christmas basket assembling, Christmas wreath-making, and acoustic sessions.

For the past six years, ALI has also been involved in the Hero Foundation, an organization that helps families of fallen Filipino soldiers. Every Christmas, ALI takes part in Hero’s Christmas Card campaign, where for every Christmas card it gives, P500 is set aside for the educational stipend of orphaned children of Filipino soldiers.

 So, lights up at Ayala Land and let the glow of Christmas shine in our hearts!