JOY TO THE WORLD! Yuletide carols reverberate across SM City Clark with the Angeles University Concert Chorus serenading mallgoers at the launch of the Winter Woodland themed Christmas display. Contributed Photo
IF A picture painted a thousand words, then a Christmas photograph draws out a thousand joys. As the weekend past well showed at the launch of the SM Sparkling Mallidays in the Christmas capital itself, and in nearby Angeles City.
Glitter-speckled red reindeer making like a carousel at the base of a giant Christmas tree is the centerpiece display at SM City Telabastagan. Its ceremonial lighting accompanied by ballet performances of young students of The Dance Conservatory and a Christmas medley by Kylene Alcantara.
Winter Woodland Forest at SM City Clark evokes cool, crispy, snowy air amid poplars and maples shorn of their foliage and, reindeer forlornly looking for grazing land. At the center, as though in a glade, rises a 35-foot, snow-laden Christmas tree.
The snow-effect heightened with the white confetti raining down on popular singer Darren Espanto and the Angeles University Foundation Concert Chorus alternately serenading the jampacked event center with Christmas carols.
More of reindeer, this time as though climbing up a giant Christmas tree at SM City Pampanga. Shrieks and the flashes of cellphone cameras adding to the festive airs as Idol Philippines grand winner Zephanie Dimaranan performed most-loved Christmas hits.
Finally, SM City Downtown – no one giant Christmas but a forest of them amid giant mushrooms, ladybugs, and butterflies and kids – real ones – dressed as fairies and leprechauns.
‘Twas not all tinsels and glitters in the Mallidays’ launches though, the reason for the season – the sharing of blessings – taking centerstage too.
Relaunched is the SM Bears of Joy program where mall shoppers can buy two teddy bears for P200, with one of the bears given to selected benefi ciaries while the other kept by the buyer. At SM City Telabastagan, SM senior vice president for mall operations Engr. Bien Mateo, AVP for North Luzon Junias Eusebio, regional operations manager Andrea Madlangbayan, and mall manager Bong Garcia were joined by San Fernando Councilor Tino Dizon in giving out gifts to Telabastagan Day Care Center pupils.
The SM executives with mall manager Jerwin Jalandoni reprised the gift-giving at SM City Clark with Angeles Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Kabigting and Mabalacat City Vice Mayor Geld Aquino in handing out Christmas bags to Aeta children.
At SM City Pampanga, children of the Autism Society of the Philippines-Pampanga Chapter received their gifts from the SM executives and mall manager Aaron Montenegro joined in by City of San Fernando Mayor Edwin Santiago, Mexico Mayor Teddy Tumang, and board members Rosve Henson and Cherry Manalo, along with celebrity couple Jimmy Alapag and LJ Mreno and their children.
Mayor Santiago along with mall manager Lana Erroba distributed Bears of Joy to chosen children of families enrolled in the 4Ps Program of the Deopartment of Social Welfare and Development.
In all the gift-giving, there present was Santa Claus, naturally.
Ah, that sparkle of SM Mallidays – sheer joy in the heart of the eternal kid in everyone.
