SM City Bacolod started the Yuletide celebration early with the annual lighting of its tallest Christmas Tree on Oct. 30.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson led the tree lighting, accompanied by SM mall manager George Jardiolin, and Catherin Ereñeta-Manaloto, who represented the food producers who are part of the seasonal bazaar.
In his message, Lacson appealed to everyone to look at the present circumstances from a different perspective.
“While we are not allowed our usual revelry, we now have more time to reflect and ponder on the significance of the occasion and what Christmas means to us,” he said in a press release from the mall.
Assistant mall manager Julia Javellana gave the message in behalf of the mall.
At 50 feet tall, SM’s Christmas Tree is inspired by the sugar industry of Negros Island.
A model train adds to the charm of the theme, and to the towering centerpiece, with sugarcane all around it.
“The train brings us back to the time of the ‘iron dinosaurs’, when they chugged all around the province to transport our sweet harvests,” the mall management added.
The Christmas tree itself is adorned with a thousand decors and lights, and is a delightful photo backdrop for weeks to come.
This year’s seasonal Christmas theme is also about celebrating and patronizing local, the press release said. A Christmas Bazaar surrounds the giant tree, a showcase of native products, locally-made goods and delicacies, and all the best products of homegrown entrepreneurs.
While year 2021 remains to be one of recovery for the country, SM continues the annual tradition of tree lighting to keep the spirit of Christmas and hope alive in its malls and with their patrons.
Across all SM Supermalls in the country, centerpieces are being lit as part of SM’s 100 Days of Caring – for its shoppers, for its business partners, and for the communities that have been part of the malls for many years.
For its 100 Days of Caring, SM City Bacolod’s beneficiaries for the annual Bears of Joy Giving will be the Negrense Volunteers for Change Foundation. Customers can take part in this campaign by donating one of the two bears that he or she will purchase. The shopper-initiated gifts to children and communities have been a great part of the SM tradition, and the management will continue to match these generous acts with gifts and holiday pledges to other vulnerable communities in the city.
Mall visitors, meanwhile, can look forward to more surprises from SM, all conducted with safe malling protocols and mindful of government mandates. | NND
