Season of Lights (Lanson Place Mall of Asia Manila, Pasay City, Metro Manila)

 

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 T. Sy (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).

 

Arman Ferrer

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. 

 

Imusicapella

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.”

 

Cocktails at Focus

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.