Season of Lights 2024 Christmas Tree Lighting Program |
Just 42 days before Christmas Day, Lanson Place Mall of Asia officially welcomed the festive Christmas Season with an enchanting display of festive lights, music, and holiday cheer via their enchanting Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony. Held at the Level 3 Lobby, they celebrated this joyous time and the magic of the season with valued friends and media partners.
The gaily decorated, Christmas gift-laden tree |
The
evening started with welcome remarks by Lanson Place General Manager Mr. Nils Rothbarth and Christmas messages
by Ms. Peggy E. Angeles (Executive
Vice-President of SM Hotels) and Lone District of Pasay Congressman Antonino Calixto. All three then joined
Ms. Elizabeth “Betty” T. Sy
(Chairperson and President of SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation) and Atty. Peter
Pardo (chief-of staff of Pasay City Mayor Imelda
“Emi” Calixto-Rubiano) in the jointly illuminating the huge, gaily
decorated Christmas tree which made the hall come to life with its radiance and
joyous colors as well as filled the air with warmth, bliss, wonder and
togetherness.
Sheila Valderrama-Martinez
The
highlight of the evening was a special Christmas concert by multi-awarded
performers Shiela Valderama-Martinez
(acclaimed musical theater artist known for her captivating performances and
exceptional musical prowess), Arman
Ferrer (musical theater performer, Aliw, Awit and Gawad Buhay awardee), Imusicapella (internationally acclaimed
church choir from Imus City, Cavite), and Bernie
Pasamba and the Music Masters (a most sought after music ensemble in the
country).
The
concert kicked off with Bernie Pasamba and the Music Masters’ orchestral
rendition of veteran composer Robert Longfield’s Turning Point, a bold overture-style original work for strings.
Imusicapella then followed this up with master choral music arranger and
composer Tom Fettke’s You Are the Light,
an elegant acapella song glorifying the living, loving God.
Arman
Ferrer debuted on the stage with his soulful rendition of British composers
Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley’s ’s PureImagination, an inspirational ballad originally performed by Gene Wilder in
the 1971 film Willy Wonka and theChocolate Factory. Shiela
Valderama-Martinez then made her grand entrance with American composer StephenFlaherty’s The Human Heart, an
earthly ballad from the 1990 contemporary theater-crowd favorite musical Once on This Island.
Bernard Pasamba and the Music Masters
Together,
Shiela and Arman then sang composer Alan Irwin Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater’s
lovely and simply gorgeous love ballad I
See the Light (watch video here), a romantic duet, filled with mystical allusions and symbols,
from the Walt Disney animated 2010 film Tangled. Imusicapella returned to the stage to perform
the Christmas staple Joy to the World. Written by English minister and hymnist IsaacWatts, it is a celebration of Jesus Christ’s role as king of both his church
and the whole world, intended to show his return rather than his birth.
Honored guests at the Christmas tree
All
four performers capped the evening Christmas concert with 19th century Scottish
poet and hymn writer James Montgomery’s beloved and captivating hymn Angels from the Realms of Glory (watch video here). Based
on the French carol Angels We Have Heardon High, it focuses on each of the key players in the Christmas story
(angels, shepherds, the Wise Men, all nations and all the people).” Their thrilling and dynamic carol
arrangement, beginning with a hush, slowly built up in momentum to a joyous
invitation, from wherever they are, calling them to “come and worship Christ,
the newborn King.”
Following
the tree lighting ceremony and concert, guests proceeded to the nearby Focus (the hotel’s co-working space)
where they indulged in a delightful, expertly prepared spread of international
gourmet dishes from Cyan Modern Kitchen,
traditional madeleines and exquisite mini cakes from Madeleine High Tea and refreshing, specially crafted cocktails, to
toast the season, from BLK 12 Café/Bar. It
truly was an unforgettable evening of great food, wonderful music and festive
cheer, filled with holiday joy and togetherness.
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