As we all know, Christmas is utterly a much-anticipated holiday in the Philippines. Come November 23, 2023, Bayview Park Hotel Manila will commence the joyous season with its annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony to usher the Yuletide carols this year. The event will be led by Mr. Eugene Yap, General Manager of Bayview Park Hotel, with special guests from the local government of the City of Manila, headed by Mayor Honey Lacuna, Vice Mayor Yul Servo, and DOT-NCR Director Ms. Sharlene Zabala-Batin and other key government officials. This year the management decided to celebrate the authentic Filipino convivial spirit with the theme “Maligaya ang Pasko sa Bayview”. Entertainment galore will abound in the morning festivity with employees participating in the event. Guests will be served the traditional staple “simbang gabi” breakfast treat, like, puto bumbong, bibingka, and other loal delicacies paired with the aromatic flavor of the “kapeng barako” (brewed coffee).
Today, as you visit and enter the main lobby of the Bayview Park Hotel Manila (located along Roxas Blvd. cor. UN Ave.), the area is fully adorned with the “parols” (star-shaped lanterns) which are made from bamboo frames, covered with colorful paper. It holds deep cultural and religious significance, embodying the spirit of hope, unity, and goodwill. With a rich heritage spanning decades, the Christmas Tree Lighting is a beautiful display of pride and resilience, reminding us of the importance of embracing diversity and coming together as one nation.
The “Belen’” on the other hand, is retelling the Nativity Story, depicting the birth of Jesus Christ. It is an essential Filipino Christmas décor and a real reminder of the true meaning of season. Adding local flair, the “belen” is done with the local materials for the stable with designs from images wearing Filipino attire.
To spice up the Filipino charm in the venue, local ornaments are a must. Handcrafted decors made from various native materials that exude the distinctive Filipino touch and ingenuity is necessity to be seen, such as angels fashioned into stars, flowers, or even the popular “bahay kubo,” the “banig” weaves, and jeepney frame are basic visual display at the entrance hallway of the hotel. Even the “bayong” bag, the native “sombrero” and “parol” are part of the highly integrated ancestral Filipino lifestyle.
Moreover, on Christmas and New Years Eve, the hotel is offering Buffet Dinner at a very affordable rate of Php1,399net per person while being serenaded by the “Youth Harmonic Ensembles”. Every guest will be delighted with music and delectable food that will make this an unforgettable night to remember.
The Christmas Tree Lighting here at Bayview Park Hotel Manila is a beautiful and significant display of pure cultural celebration as they share with the world the importance of the Filipino Yuletide spirit. Employees will participate in the program rendering their talents in singing and dancing. What are you waiting for…Come and Join us, and Create lasting memories filled with love and merriment, in a place called…Your Home by the Bay.(Mbl)