Meet Mary and Joseph in the Christmas musical “Journey to Bethlehem,” showing exclusively in SM Cinemas December 6, in time for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception

This Christmas season, sing along to the story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus with Journey to Bethlehem, a live-action Christmas musical adventure for the entire family that stars Fiona Palomo, Milo Manheim and Antonio Banderas as King Herod. The film, which weaves classic Christmas melodies with humor, faith, and new pop songs in a retelling of the greatest story ever told, will be shown exclusively in SM Cinemas starting December 6, just in time for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. 

Joyful Christmas Stores light up the holiday season

Filipinos have always eagerly anticipated Christmas and most consider this as their favorite time of the year. In fact, the Philippines is known as the country with the longest celebration of Christmas!

To further make the holiday season more joyful, Jollibee launched its Christmas campaign last October. With the theme of “Make it Christmas with Jollibee Joy” – it highlights how everyday moments can be occasions to celebrate the joy of the season.

“We want to make sure our customers feel the warmth and joy of the season, be it through our delicious food or their delightful experiences whenever they go to a Jollibee store. We want to remind everyone that even the simplest of joys can make this Christmas extra meaningful and wonderful if it is shared with loved ones”, says Dorothy Dee-Ching, VP - Marketing of Jollibee.

Jolly Snaps: Make it Christmas with Jollibee Joy in Metro Manila!

When it comes to spreading holiday cheer, Jollibee knows how to do it in style. They recently pulled off a “Jolly Snaps” Christmas surprise activity in different malls that had people all around town buzzing with excitement.

Jollibee made surprise appearances at popular spots such as SM City North Edsa and SM Megamall. Families and friends couldn't believe their eyes as they spotted the iconic bee, giving away some of their Jollibee favorites: Crispylicious, Juicylicious Chickenjoy, Sweet-Sarap Jolly Spaghetti, Langhap-Sarap Yumburger, and Beefy-Saucy Linamnam Ulam Burger Steak, which they delightfully enjoyed with their families and friends.

The Manila Hotel Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony

The Manila Hotel ushers in the holiday season with a festive celebration steeped in Filipino traditions, as they held their annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on November 9. 

The focal point of the festivities was the splendid Christmas Tree, meticulously adorned with opulent golden Ilang-Ilang blooms, a nod to the official flower of the Grand Dame. The color palette featured a harmonious blend of gold, natural hues, and vibrant red, creating a visually stunning display that resonated with the essence of the season. The concept and execution of this holiday décor were the brainchild of Mr. Rachy Cuna, The Manila Hotel Creative & Design Director.

Joshua Garcia celebrates Christmas Magic as the new face of GCash for the holidays

There are still several days until Christmas, yet the season is already very much alive everywhere in the country. While the last few years may have been a little less jolly, GCash, the country’s leading e-wallet app, is bringing back the magic to the holidays with a little help from Philippine entertainment’s new leading man. 

Joshua Garcia has been heating up televisions across the country with his starring role as Brian Robles in “Mars Ravelo’s Darna” and an upcoming landmark deal for Dreamscape production’s “Unbreak My Heart”.  Adding to his already impressive list of milestones is his new role as the face of GCash to celebrate a Merry G Christmas and uphold what truly warms his heart – traditions with his family and friends. 

“The family tradition I look forward to every Christmas is our family reunion wherein my family spends Christmas together,” he said. “We take advantage of the time we can have our bonding during this season when we are not too busy with work with some games and a simple feast for the whole family.” 

Enjoy Christmas Better with PLDT Home’s biggest Holideals

Smart home gadgets and up to P5 Million cash up for grabs!

Get ready for a merrier and better Christmas season as PLDT Home brings back Holideals!

Starting November, PLDT Home subscribers can enjoy exclusive deals on Fiber plans, chance to win smart home devices,and raffle prizes of up to P5 Million in cash.

Maya spreads Christmas joy with Merry Money Holiday Promo

Guaranteed cash and raffle prizes up for grabs! 

All-in-one money and digital banking app Maya is giving its users an early Christmas treat with its Merry Money Holiday Promo! With a total of PHP 2,000,000.00 worth of cash prizes at stake, you can join in the merriment by simply paying with Maya from November 23 to December 20, 2022. 

Every week, there are 2 ways you can win with Maya’s Merry Money Holiday Promo: 

Make at least 10 qualified transactions and win a share of the weekly cash prize pool starting at PHP 100,000.00. 

Send money to a unique user via the new @username feature or pay via QR, online, or Maya Card, and get the chance to be one of the ten weekly winners of PHP 10,000.00, or ten weekly recipients of the MAYA VIP PASS – which offers free InstaPay transfers and ATM withdrawals for one year, and Lifetime Maya Card Renewal!

GCash shares how we can make Christmas more magical for our Lolos and Lolas this season

Directed by Tonet Jadaone, heart-tugging film featuring Joshua Garcia inspires sharing the gift of magic to the elderly

There are many ways to bring back the magic this holiday season – from honoring traditions in new ways, spending quality time with the people we hold dear to us, and even extending the Christmas cheer to the ones who need it most.

This year, GCash brings back the magic to Christmas for the Lolos, Lolas and the whole family we missed through the short film ‘Akap’, reuniting the start tandem of Writer-Director Antoinette Jadaone, better known as Direk Tonet, and leading man, and new GCash member, Joshua Garcia.

Tagaytay Highlands remains to be discerning Filipinos’ top “destination estate” for the holidays

Tagaytay Highlands continues to top discerning Filipinos'
wish lists as it lines up special holiday festivities for its
residents, their families, and their guests. In this premier
mountain resort community and go-to destination south
of the metro, there will be a lot of family get-togethers
amid scenic Taal Lake yet following stringent
minimum health standards and safety protocols.

This time of the year is what Filipinos consider as the happiest. Spending the holidays away from the stressful vibe of the big city, and finding peace and serenity in the countryside, easily comes to mind. Surely none proffers this prospect more delightfully than Tagaytay Highlands, the country’s go-to holiday destination south of the metro. 

The premier mountain resort community is primed to let its residents, their families, and their guests enjoy a relaxing holiday break. Whether ensconced in cozy log cabins or in luxurious, close-to-nature dwellings located in the Highlands’ exclusive residential enclaves, grownups and children will look out, not on smog-shrouded cityscapes but on stunning vistas of tranquil Taal Lake, the legendary Mount Makiling, and Canlubang Valley shimmering in the horizon.

Bea Alonzo Joins The OPPO Family To Bring Joy this Christmas

Just in time for Christmas, OPPO is getting ready for theholidays with treats and surprises. One of them is introducing the Start Up PH actress and superstar Bea Alozo. Known for her beauty, charm, and talent, she is indeed a perfect pick as the endorser of the popuplar phone brand which remains one the best selling ones in the country.

Bea is revealed alongside with her commercial shoots and behind-the-scenes as she is being prepared to be formally welcomed into the OPPO family. She also shares that in her recent trip to Europe, she shared a lot of memories and captured moments with the help for the OPPO A Series phone she has.

Along with her introduction also comes with a seasonal promo that OPPO is promoting, perfect for Christmas and a great item to consider when making gifts for the holidays. OPPO is proud of the recent line up which is the OPPO A Series that has various features and styles that can work with the budget one would have.

BLASTER essays the profound sadness and grief of celebrating the holidays on new song “PASKO’Y HINDI NA MASAYA”

Listen to BLASTER’s “PASKOY’ HINDI NA MASAYA”: https://BLASTERSILONGA.lnk.to/PHNM

Filipino experimental/alternative artist BLASTER redefines the Christmas tune canon with a new single that essays the profound sadness and grief of celebrating the holidays in the time of pandemic.

His latest offering “PASKO’Y HINDI NA MASAYA,” out today via Island Records Philippines, is dedicated to countless of people whose lives were hit hard by unfortunate circumstances, and are dreading of how challenging the days might be—be it experiencing Christmas with the loss of a loved one or abandoning expectations at least for this season’s run as a way of coping.

“This one is not really about celebrating Christmas,” says the eclectic singer-songwriter and producer. “It’s more of a tribute to those that we’ve lost, and a nostalgic yearning of how Christmas used to be.”

SM Supermalls Start 100 Days of Caring and Giving

September kicks off the start of the countdown until Christmas day on December, and being Filipinos, the season already starts with sounds and sights seen in decorations on the first day of the month. SM Supermalls also has a yearly tradition of bringing a yuletide ambiance and advocacy to also reach out to communities all over the country where SM Malls are also located.

As we are still in a challenging period of limited movement and essential shopping, it does not hinder the opportunity to bring the spirit of Christmas with the 100 Days of Caring and Giving. This event not only celebrates the upcoming holiday but also brings together all the SM Supermalls from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

TV5 Launches Longest Christmas Celebration on Philippine TV

The "BER months" are upon us once more, and thus begins the world's longest Christmas season we Filipinos are most known for. By tradition, Christmas carols will be heard on the radio and in shopping malls at this time, not to mention the myriad of colors that will soon light up the streets everywhere. Indeed, as any amused foreigner or OFW pining for home will say, iba ang Pasko sa Pinas. 

The pandemic may have changed the way we celebrate the holidays, but the Pinoy Christmas spirit cannot be locked down. TV5 enjoins all Kapatid viewers to celebrate this Christmas journey despite all the challenges we face together.

TV5 recognizes that Christmas cannot be taken away from the Filipinos.  The fun and happiness we look forward to this Yuletide season will find its home in the Kapatid Network’s longest and biggest celebration – dahil Ikaw, Ako, Tayo, atin ang Pasko! Atin Ang Paskong Ito, Kapatid! Following the uniquely Pinoy tradition, on TV5, Christmas begins on the very first day of the very first BER-month.

B. Braun Avitum set to start Make-A-Wish Christmas campaign

Leading renal care provider and dialysis center, B. Braun Avitum, announced the resumption of its annual Christmas campaign, this time in partnership with Make-A-Wish Foundation Philippines.

Founded in 1980 in the U.S., the Make-A-Wish Foundation helps fulfill the wishes of children with critical illnesses.

It was established in the Philippines on January 2000.

During the holiday season, B. Braun employees reach into the kindness of their hearts and “adopt” (i.e., buy) a customized B. Braun Bear. This program contributes to the Foundation’s cause of granting a wish for children currently afflicted with critical illness. 

Medical research and doctors agree that a wish can help improve a child’s quality of life and serve as a catalyst to better health: when a wish is granted, a child replaces fear with confidence, sadness with joy, and anxiety with hope.

Healthier Alternatives For Traditional Filipino Christmas Dinner

This Christmas we will cook and eat a lot of food. With a lot of choices, flavors, and textures it is really a season of feasting on many treats. And for Filipinos, we would go all-out in preparing a lot of dishes.

Since it is a special occasion, we usually whip out the best dishes we usually have every year.
With some new dishes introduced to keep up with the times. But since we are now eating a lot, we are now noticing the effects after the holidays. Weight gain, mild illness, and other side-effects come out after days of partying.

Though we did enjoy those days, we are now more conscious of our health. For us to achieve living a healthy lifestyle, we are now considering new alternatives that can still keep the festive mood with food that are less oil, salt, sugar, and fat.

One great alternative is to cooking with an Air Fryer. This uses less to no oil when cooking which is also an effective cooking them effectively and quickly. Another alternative is to mix in more vegetable dishes to the table like salads, vegetable rolls, and fruits are highly recommended.

Get in the Christmas spirit with Lilystars Records’ compilation album, IN REVERIE

Philippine indie music label Lilystars Records brings festive warmth to music listeners all around the world with the release of IN REVERIE: A Lilystars Christmas Compilation. 

In keeping up with the tradition of spreading Holiday cheers, the 11-track album offers heartfelt music that evokes the reassuring comfort of home and togetherness even in the unlikeliest of circumstances.

According to Clem Castro, the CEO of Lilystars Records, the compilation release is more than just a reflection of longing, hope and love. “It’s a call to keep our spirits alive no matter what we are facing. There are also tracks about celebration, optimism, loneliness and even dismay.” 

While Christmas can mean a lot of things to different people, IN REVERIE: A Lilystars Christmas Compilation isn’t afraid to explore themes that indirectly address the current pandemic situation. “We can’t say if this release will have an impact for those who are having a difficult time with the pandemic, but we are hoping it does make a difference, Clem shares. “This serves as our gift to music fans this holiday season.”

What To Get Your Dad This Christmas

No idea what to get him this year? From December 14 to 20, Shopee is offering discounts up to 65% off on the best gifts for dad!

Dads are notoriously difficult to shop for—after all, what gift is good enough for the man who has provided for you after all these years? This Christmas, it’s time to show your appreciation for everything your dad has done for you, with thoughtful presents tailored to his interests. 

Whether your dad is into exploring the outdoors, tinkering with new gadgets, or fixing things around the house, these are Christmas gift ideas he will surely appreciate. From December 14 to 20, Shopee is offering discounts up to 65% off on the best gifts for your dad!

Safe at Home for Christmas at Tagaytay Highlands

With the country still in the grip of the pandemic, most of us feel that we are missing out on the thrill and excitement of the holiday season. We continue to heed health protocols, foregoing traditions in order to stay safe. Forget glammed-up partying this year—large gatherings are not in our agenda. Our families are scrapping plans for grand reunions, settling for small and intimate get-togethers instead. 

Indeed, while Christmas 2020 in the Philippines is fast shaping up to be low-key and understated, celebrating it simply and quietly may actually be the best way to take a break from the aggravations of the past months.

Nicole Asensio Hopes To "See You This Christmas"

 

The rhythms of each passing day have lulled, pushed, pulled and shaken us each into our new (I won’t say normal) courses. Over months, we have taken to new realisations and revelations of the soul. Some who had never touched a wooden spoon before have now become masters of the oven. Some have noticed that office hours have multiplied as work extended far past cubicle confines. Blazers paired with boxers have become a fashion statement, Some slept and slept and slept cashing in on years of sleepless nights from once working tirelessly. Some, a brave few, our front-liners have stayed on, fighting for us. After all, it was like we were in a backwards war, where the enemy was invisible and constantly around us and the only way to care for those we loved was to keep our distance and wear masks that hid our smiles from them.

I couldn’t help thinking— But what of those who have gone all these long months without holding the ones they loved? What of those who have gone many nights expressing their innermost desires and intimate moments through lenses and screens? What of those who had to bid a loved one farewell through an I-pad? What of wearing a mask under a shield, inside a car? —bubbles within bubbles removed from the life we knew? What of those who lost everything they once owned and were left with how’s and why’s? What about those of us who sat here waiting this whole time for someone to return and bring back a sense of the holiday spirit we were used to somehow?

The Christmas Spirit Endure At SM Supermalls

Despite this year that has been challenging for all of us, the spirit of Christmas continues to live with SM Supermalls. As every year we look forward to the colorful and fun decorations that brings out the festive ambiance of the malls, shops, stores, and amenities, the pandemic has greatly affected most of our lives and might have expected things to be less magical. But SM wants to continue to tradition and wants to make the public feel that Christmas continues and their locations nationwide will also show that vibe.