Pinoy Holiday Hotspots
Nikka Sarthou / December 21, 2011 / 0 comment | = Click on the star if it's the place you want to see or recommend
Are you feeling the Christmas spirit already? Well, Christmas is just around the corner and I can finally feel the December chill in the air. But if the Grinch is breathing down your neck and you’re still not in the jolly holiday mood, why not check out the following places to lift your spirits? I know I feel the Christmas high when I visit such places in the metro.
Ayala Triangle Gardens at night
The little row of restaurants in the Ayala Triangle Gardens becomes even more packed during the holiday season because of its fantastic light show at night. The bright and twinkling Christmas lights will make you stop and stare for a while, as the wonderful sights and sounds of the accompanying symphony mesmerize you. The light show will run until December 30, and it starts in the early evening around 6PM.
Dapitan Arcade
The Dapitan Arcade in Quezon City if full of all things Christmas during this time of the year. It’s a nice place to shop for affordable holiday décors and gift items, but be prepared to be one with the mad shopping crowd. The trip would be worth it though, as you’ll find unique items that are not necessarily found in the usual shopping malls. Life-size Santa figure, anyone?
The church
It has been my tradition to attend the Simbang Gabi every year and it makes the season even more special when I see a lot of people take time to hear mass early in the morning and celebrate the season. Of course, the traditional bibingka and puto bumbong being sold near the churches make the holidays more extraordinary.
The mall
Each and every mall in the metro becomes more festive especially during December. The decorations vary from one mall to another, and there are a lot of events that will definitely make you feel that Christmas is near. Most of the malls have some sort of meet-and-greet Santa event, and each place has its own gimmick. In SM Mall of Asia (MOA), for instance, there’s a Christmas set-up in the lobby of the main mall where you can go inside what I call a giant snow globe and have your picture taken while some make believe snowflakes fall on you. Also, MOA usually has fireworks display before the New Year so watch out for it as well.
Parol making in Las Piñas
The old town of Las Piñas features a street where parol making has been a tradition for years now. You can learn the art of making a parol or purchase one of those colorful Christmas lanterns, if you please.
Give yourself a treat and visit such places so your mind and body will feel that Christmas is truly in the air. Happy holidays!
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