CABANATUAN CITY – Less than 50 days before that much-awaited time of the year, SM City mall here unveiled its Christmas centerpiece with a big bang at the stroke of 6 p.m. Sunday.
The 35-ft tall cup cake-inspired Christmas tree towered over the mall’s event center aa part of SM’s long-standing tradition of creating yearend treats to mall goers, particularly children, said Ian Ezekiel Balao, SM regional manager.
Balao also expressed his appreciation of the people’s resilience and ability to rise and enjoy the season after the devastating typhoons.
“This signals the start of the holiday season – the most wonderful time of the year,” Balao said, saying SM brings the “best Christmas in every possible way you can imagine – festive, bright, and magical and the sweetest for Cabanatuan City.”
Brigida Pili, provincial director of the Department of Trade and Industry, said spending less during the time of inflation should never mean less in spreading love during the Christmas season.
The launch that turned to be an instant Christmas party for children was also graced by the Armando Giron of the provincial tourism office, city police chief Supt. Ponciano Zafra. and the Bureau of Fire Protection.
Balao also announced the Bears of Joy campaign where an indigent child from Sitio Bacao, Barangay Doña Josefa, Palayan City will receive a bear for every P200 worth (two pieces of bears) that a client buys.
The donations will be given to charities along with personal notes from the shopper.
“We want every Christmas memorable for every child,” Balao said.
Santa Claus joined the fun with kids from Amazing Grace Christian School and shoppers delighted in dazzling sights, joyful sounds, festive tastes, holiday finds, and all the Yuletide feels through this celebration.
