In the Spirit of Hope, Love and Cheer; Christmas Officially Kicks Off at the Greenhills Promenade and Theater Mall

How does Greenhills Promenade and Theater Mall officially kick off Christmas? In this part of Greenhills, the Christmas lighting ceremony is a much-awaited annual tradition to spread love and cheer for the yuletide season.

This tradition which started in 2018 - the 20th year of Music Museum - was created by no less than the one and only Master Showman of the Philippines, German "Kuya Germs" Moreno. The very first Christmas lighting ceremony at the Promenade was enlivened by the presence of stars and entertainment personalities like Gloria Romero dazzled the ceremony. Through the years, young stars like Barbie Forteza, Bea Binene, Jake Vargas, Hero Angeles, and Ken Chan joined Kuya Germs in spreading Christmas cheer to shoppers and mall goers at the promenade.

To start the ceremony, invited celebrities will assemble at the site of the Christmas Switch, then put their hands together and press the switch. Immediately, the bright lights of Christmas will start to shine all over the place. This lighting ceremony resembles the stars of the entertainment world lending their sparkle to the holiday look.

This year, stars of the hit television show "Meant To Be," Ken Chan, Jak Roberto, and barbie Fortezza, including mark Manicad and John Nite carried on the tradition begun by Kuya Germs. At the flick of the switch, the Christmas lights inside and outside the mall and on the Christmas tree came alive in a blaze of big and little lights, punctuated by transparent Pinoy parols deftly put together by resident artist Francis Dano-og.

The ceremony was led by Music Museum Group president Precy M. Florentino and other MMG officials. It will touch off engaging Christmas activities at the mall highlighted by a Christmas Bazaar at the Missouri area that will go on until December 31.

The dining, shopping, and entertainment enclave are best known for its popular performance venues and the Music Museum and Teatrino, its state of the art Greenhills Cinemas that pioneered the Dolby Atmos Sound Technology, and its lively mix of shops and restaurants.

The MMG president recalled how Christmas lights are a traditional part of the Christmas celebration and how parols - the traditional Filipino symbols of Christmas - lit the way for country folk on their way to Simbang Gabi. "We want to show that the Christmas spirit of hope and joy are forever alive in us. We want these Christmas lights to provide hope and cheer to our surroundings. Pinoy Christmases are always bright,: Ms. Florentino added.