10 Cheery Sights In and Around the Metro to Visit During the Holidays
Most of these attractions are free to visit.
(SPOT.ph) Filipinos take Christmas seriously. Having the best Christmas decorations and being the holiday sight to see in your area is like the Olympics to most Filipinos. So much so that our cities are turning into holiday wonderlands with twinkling lights and Christmas carols on loop. In case you're feeling the Christmas blues, we've rounded up some of the best sights to keep you from going full Scrooge. From dazzling parols to Insta-worthy displays, here are the must-see spots for your dose of holiday cheer.
Also read:
10 Christmas Bazaars You Need to Visit This Holiday Season
10 Gorgeous Christmas Trees in Metro Manila Malls
Here are 10 Christmas attractions to visit to get into the holiday spirit:
Ayala Triangle Gardens Festival of Lights
If there's one Christmas display that's a must-see every year, it's the Ayala Triangle Gardens' Festival of Lights. Even before and during the pandemic—when it had to be moved online—this Makati City staple amazed and dazzled crowds of all ages with its dancing lights timed to upbeat tunes and Christmas jingles. Dubbed the "Christmas Night with Countless Lights," this year's lights and sounds show has three parts. One features lights dancing to the beat of local Christmas tunes; the second highlights fun and electrifying tunes from marching band renditions of classic Christmas carols, like "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" by Andy Williams and "A Jolly Christmas" by Frank Sinatra; while the last is a display timed to a mash-up of the most popular K-pop songs of the year. But aside from the usual lights show, on its 15th anniversary, the Festival of Lights also has two additional art installations—including one by Filipino artist Leeroy New—making the experience more interactive than it has ever been.
Festival of Lights is on display at the Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati Avenue corner Ayala Avenue, Makati City. The show runs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. until January 14, 2024. For more information, visit Make It Makati's Facebook page.
Nuvali Fountain of Lights
Southies are in for a treat as the Nuvali Holiday Fountain of Lights Show is back. Catch a dazzling display of light projections and dancing water fountains, timed to the beat on Fridays to Sundays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Nuvali Lakeside until January 14. Dubbed "Seaside Serenade: Muses and Creatures," this year's holiday fountain show is taking on the majestic world under the sea. Catch animated projections, dance, and light up screens of water with the mysteries and wonders of the sea.
The Nuvali Fountain of Lights runs until January 14, 2024. The show is from Friday to Sunday, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Nuvali Lakeside Grounds, Evozone Avenue, Don Jose, Santa Rosa, Laguna. For more information, visit Nuvali's Facebook page.
SM Mall of Asia's Night of Lights
If you're looking for the backdrop of your holiday greeting card or are hoping to brighten your feeds for the holidays, you've got weeks to soak in the holiday cheer and get those Instagram likes rolling in at this free display in the Mall of Asia. The Night of Lights is SM Mall of Asia's yearly Christmas display and this year they've really upped the ante by decking out their new rooftop space with over three million lights and some seriously groovy tunes. Explore pop-themed areas that will make your inner child squeal with delight like the dazzling tunnel of lights, gift box-themed swings, and a giant Christmas tree on a Field of Holiday Lights. There's no shortage of whimsical, out-of-this-world feels when touring around this good-for-all-ages display.
SM Mall of Asia's Night of Lights is at 3/F, South Entertainment Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City. Lights open at 5:30 p.m. daily until the mall closes. For more information, visit SM Mall of Asia Official's Facebook page.
Meralco's Liwanag Park
If you're in the Pasig-slash-Ortigas area, you can get your dose of holiday cheer at Meralco's Liwanag Park. This free-to-visit park is open daily, even on holidays, until January 6. The Christmas-themed park features colorful lights, a train ride around the area, a larger-than-life belen, and a slew of vibrant displays that are perfect backdrops for your next holiday profile pic.
Meralco Liwanag Park is at Meralco Main Office, Ortigas Ave, Pasig. It is open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Mondays to Thursdays and 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays to Sundays and public holidays until January 6. For more information, visit Meralco's website.
Taguig City's Christmas By the Lake
Christmas by the Lake is a free, family-friendly outdoor attraction at the Lakeshore Area in Barangay Lower Bicutan. The six-hectare park is surrounded by Instagram-worthy attractions like the Walkway of Lights, Hand-heart light installations, vibrant light displays, a food park, IG-worthy murals made by local painters, and a lot of holiday shebang. The attraction is open to the public daily until January 14 from 5 p.m. until 12 a.m. Christmas by the Lake also has live Christmas-themed shows like the Ang Regalo ni Kaimana which runs every 30 minutes starting at 6 p.m. Pro tip: plan your trip on a Saturday and you'll also get to catch a special fireworks show at 8 p.m.
Christmas by the Lake is at the TLC Park, Lakeshore area along Laguna Lake Highway in Barangay Lower Bicutan, Taguig. The attraction is open until January 14. Gates open at 5 p.m. For more information, visit Christmas by the Lake- TLC Village's Facebook page.
Bonifacio Global City's Unboxing Christmas
If you think BGC is just a cold and unfeeling business district then you better think twice. Every year, the area takes on a new life during the holidays when it sports bright decors and extra cheer. For 2023, BGC has upped its game by not only having a giant Christmas tree and decorations scattered around but also launching a second 400-square-meter-screened 3D billboard along 5th Avenue. The billboard is set to display Christmas-themed images and serve as the perfect background for dramatic fireworks photos during BGC's pyrotechnic displays on Fridays.
Unbox Christmas at BGC at BGC's Christmas tree along 7th Avenue; and their new 3D LED billboard located along 5th Avenue. For more information, visit Bonifacio Global City's Facebook page.
Eastwood City's Lightscapades
Not to be outdone by its neighbors in the South and the East, the North also has its own lights, fountain, and music show to watch the entire month of December. Head over to Eastwood City Park between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. until December 30 and catch dazzling displays of holiday cheer from lights, Christmas trees, dancing water fountains, and more for free. Eastwood's Holiday Lightscapades is an immersive lights and sound show by Filipino lighting designer John Batalla. The show features a dazzling display of colors, music, and lights with over 2.5 million sparkling bulbs centered around a 20-foot Christmas tree sculpture created by Batalla and Ohm David. Aside from the lights show, guests at Eastwood City can also stay and marvel at the fountains around the area as they dance and light up to the beat of Eastwood Holiday Lightscapades.
Eastwood Holiday Lightscapades is at Eastwood Mall Open Park, Eastwood City, Quezon City. The Fountain and Lights show lasts from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. in 20-minute intervals. For more information, visit Eastwood City Mall's Facebook page
University of the Philippines-Diliman
Every year, the University of the Philippines-Diliman decks out its campus in full Christmas regalia. They also hold many activities like carol festivals, band competitions, and the famous Lantern Parade to get everyone on the campus (and its neighboring areas) in the holiday spirit. This year, UP's theme is Panibagong Lakas, an ode to the role the university played at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and the years after. At the centerpiece of the celebration is the familiar UP Oblation Statue, but this time, even Oble is dressed for the occasion. Surrounding the Oblation is a bike-themed installation by renowned Filipino visual artist Toym Imao. His design plus the colorful lights and fountains surrounding the Oblation's home in front of Quezon Hall light up daily as soon as the sun sets, giving the university an extra special glow for the holidays.
Toym Imao's sculpture is on display at The Oblation Plaza, Quezon Hall, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.
Vermosa Ayala Malls' Holiday at Play
Holiday at Play is divided into seven installations: Technicolor Beats, Shapes of Harmony, Pipes of Positivity, Drums of Vibrance, Skates of Play, Bells of Playfulness, and the Firefly Garden. Among all the sections—which are all beautiful in their own way—the crowd-favorite is usually the Firefly Garden, which is actually an installation by renowned Dutch artists Castor Bours and Wouter Windershoven of Studio Toer. This area looks like an enchanted forest illuminated by hundreds to thousands of lights that look like fireflies. But generally, you can tour the different installations and expect not just your usual photogenic displays but also interactive and immersive activities that tickle your senses.
In case you want to visit Holiday at Play, plan accordingly. The site is only available until January 14. Holiday at Play is open every day, with two specific timeslots. Entrance is free from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., while it costs P200 per person if you visit from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. During the second timeslot at night, a Lights and Sounds show happens in 30-minute intervals until closing time. Tickets can be purchased online at Vermosa's Holiday at Play website.
Vermosa is at Daang Hari Road corner Vermosa Boulevard, Imus, Cavite. Holiday at Play For more information, check out Vermosa's website.
Baguio Country Club's Christmas Village
Head over to the Baguio Country Club and visit their Christmas Village for 2023 called the World of Fun. Don't miss out on this limited-time-only Christmas fair every day from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. when you're in the City of Pines. Baguio Country Club's yearly Christmas Village takes on a carnival theme for this year. It features several light displays and circus-inspired booths and installations. As with the years before, the display also puts on a snow show set to envelop all the displays in a layer of fake snow. Yup, this is your best chance at having a white Christmas without traveling abroad.
Baguio Country Club's Christmas Village is open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily. For more information, visit Baguio Country Club's Facebook page.
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