Positivity, joy to light up the season

MANILA, Philippines — It was a fitting celebration of the community, meant to foster joy and positivity to usher in this festive holiday season.

On Monday night, Ortigas & Co. officials, headed by their president Jaime E. Ysmael, and Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto led the opening of the Christmas Street Musical Light Tunnel—a yearly tradition in the Ortigas East estate, located along C-5 Road. The ceremonial lighting, aptly titled “Light Up,” also kicks off the highly anticipated activities that the company has lined up for the public over the next two months.

“We choose the title, ‘Light Up,’ for tonight’s festivities because we felt that it truly captures the message we want to send everyone this Christmas. It sends out a strong message of positivity and joy — a simple yet powerful sentiment that is fitting for the holiday season,” Ysmael said.

“Every year, the Ortigas East estate aims to light up everyone’s celebrations and hearts through the various activities we prepare for the community. We are proud to present once again the Christmas Street Musical Light Tunnel, a one-of-a-kind experience held annually to provide a delightful and memorable experience for the community during the holidays,” he added.

BEDAZZLED A shower of sparklers forms part of the Christmas Street Musical Light Tunnel, a holiday display formally switched on by Ortigas & Co. at Ortigas East estate along C-5 Road in Pasig City on Monday night. —EARVIN PERIAS 

Sotto, meanwhile, took the opportunity to thank Ortigas & Co. for this event.

“As someone who lives right around the corner, this light tunnel has been something we have grown to expect and enjoy. I would like to thank Ortigas & Co. for helping us build our community especially come Christmas time,” Sotto said.

Comprised of 74 arches with 9,216 bulbs, 5,130 flash pods and 1,200 pixel tube lights, the Christmas Street Musical Light Tunnel is an enchanting light display spectacle spread across a 213-meter stretch along Central Avenue of Ortigas East. The bright, flashing colorful lights are meant to inspire hope and joy for all during the yuletide.

To make the ceremonial lighting more exciting, Ortigas & Co. came up with a “fun and collaborative dance challenge that highlights the spirit of unity within the community.” Families and friends are encouraged to dance to the light and sounds of the Christmas Tunnel and post their videos online with the hashtag #OrtigasEastDance-Challenge. Those with the most creative dance videos stand a chance to win great prizes.

“It’s a challenge that symbolizes that it is through the coming together of everyone that the (Ortigas East) estate is able to light up and shine this stretch of Central Avenue, formerly Frontera Drive, (which would also serve) as our very own dance floor. Let’s light up the Ortigas East Christmas Street Musical Light Tunnel along with our community of families, friends, tenants and neighbors,” Ysmael added.

From Nov. 5 to Jan. 5, 2020, a series of activities will take place at Ortigas East including the unveiling of a mural advocating environmental awareness and to be designed by students from MINT College and the Gift of Wonders, a larger than life installation to awaken the Christmas spirit; the StrEAT Food night market, which will be open every night from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.; and a gift-giving rush at the Food and Pet Village, among others.

The 16-hectare Ortigas East, formerly known as Frontera Verde, is undergoing a P50-billion redevelopment plan which is being rolled out over the next 15 years. The first phase of the redevelopment will bring new residential, retail, and office developments to Ortigas East, which aims to seamlessly integrate a modern, bustling community with a lifestyle grounded on accessibility, community, and sustainability.