A bright and merry Christmas season comes to the metropolis as the giant Araneta Center Christmas Tree lights up and brings a touch of festive magic to the holidays.

First installed 31 years ago by J. Amado Araneta, the dazzling structure is an iconic symbol of Christmas in the Philippines and its annual lighting ceremony signals the start of the holiday season.

Standing 100 feet tall at the the Gateway Food Park, the Araneta Center Christmas Tree attracts shoppers and sightseers alike with its spectacular display of glowing bulbs and beautiful ornaments.

"It's an annual tradition that shoppers and residents in the area look forward to because it signals the start of the season. It's a colorful reminder of love, joy and hope that the season brings. For Araneta Center, we want to make it better than last year so we constantly challenge ourselves to make this annual tradition more joyous, festive and entertaining that the last," says Jorge L. Araneta, president and CEO of the Araneta Group.

This year, the lighting of the Araneta Center Christmas Tree featured some of today's brightest Kapamilya stars headlined by Vice Ganda. A dazzling fireworks display will also light up the sky to cap the festivity.

Celebrating the Christmas spirit of giving and sharing, the Araneta Center also hosted a gift-giving activity for the children of Child Haus, a temporary shelfer for underprivileged parents and their children who are undergoing medical treatment in Manila.
Following the symbolic lighting of the iconic Araneta Center Christmas Tree will be tons of holiday-themed events at various venues inside the Araneta Center. The lineup includes the annual Belen Lighting at Farmers Market on November 12; Mall Christmas Tree LIghting at Gateway Mall on November 15, New Frontier Plaza on NOvember 21 and Alimall on NOvember 22; Christmas Caroling at the three malls starting on December 2; and the Santa Meet and Greet every weekend of December.

The Araneta Center will also host many fun-filled events on Christmas time, including Disney On Ice Magical Ice Festival at the Big Dome and the Parolan Bazaar at the Farmers Market.

With plenty of Christmas and holiday offerings to enjoy, the Araneta Center is a must visit place to go with your loved ones this festive season!

For more information on its Christmas Activities, log on to www.aranetacenter.net or follow the official Araneta Center Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/AranetaCenter .

The touring show that enchanted audiences from across the globe is back with yet again another exciting run of Disney On Ice at the Big Dome. Disney-On-Ice-Magical-Ice-Festival-PhilippinesStarting December 25 until January 3, Disney On Ice presents Magical Ice Festival will feature magical moments from across the kingdom with a superstar lineup of Disney royalty.
See your favorite Disney characters from The Little Mermaid, Tangled, Beauty and the Beast, and for the first time ever – the Academy Award® winning and number one animated film of all time Frozen.

“This year’s Disney On Ice is truly magical with Disney properties that are packed with heart and personality. We have princesses that are exuberant and strong-willed, but we’ve also expanded the roles of spirited supporting characters, so that they’re more prominent in the show,” says Producer Nicole Feld. Disney-On-Ice-Magical-Ice-Festival-Philippines 4Expect a spectacular production filled with adventurous and comical segments shared by well-loved Disney princesses Ariel, Rapunzel, Belle, and never-before-seen characters Anna and Elsa!
“We are taking a fresh new spin on how we’re presenting the Disney stories. We are weaving together the four worlds of royal sisters Anna and Elsa, Ariel, Belle and Rapunzel as they each embark on their own epic journey,” says Producer Juliette Feld.
Sing and dance to popular Disney tunes with interactive and playful segments for kids to be led by Disney superstars Mickey and Minnie. Disney-On-Ice-Magical-Ice-Festival-Philippines 2Also join Anna as she fearlessly sets off on an epic journey, together with Kristoff and reindeer Sven, to find her sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in perpetual winter.

Dazzling costume designs, spectacular set elements, and jaw-dropping stunts are also what make this year’s show even more exhilarating.
In Beauty and the Beast’s “Be Our Guest,” the theatrical elements of the glitzy napkins and silverware costumes will astound audiences. “The costumes are designed to emphasize the overwhelming amount of table décor that appears in the movie. The napkins unfold to increase their size and the forks tower over the heads of the performers. This is a big moment for Belle; the costumes need to reflect that,” says Costume Designer Cynthia Nordstrom.
Moreover, lighting plays a crucial role in giving the overall production a truly magical feel. Disney-On-Ice-Magical-Ice-Festival-Philippines 3“The colors really pull you into the different worlds of the princesses, but it’s how the lights are arranged that command your attention when the characters are performing their acts. For example, when the Daughters of Triton are introduced, the lighting individually highlights each of them. Your eyes follow the spotlights,” says Lighting Designer Sam Doty.

Produced by Feld Entertainment, Disney On Ice presents Magical Ice Festival features an astounding display of creativity and talent, with spellbinding Disney stories we have all come to enjoy and love! Buy your tickets early and visit TicketNet website or call 911-5555 for more details.

Check out the Magical Ice Festival Show Schedule and ticket prices below. See you there!

It’s that time of the year again. As Christmas fast approaches, a palpable sense of excitement fills the air with the return of an all time Filipino favorite – the annual staging of Disney On Ice at the Big Dome.

There is much to look forward to in this year’s show. Aside from world-class skaters who make up its talented ensemble, Disney On Ice presents Magical Ice Festival will feature Disney’s Academy Award® winning and number one animated feature film of all time Frozen, along with three Disney royal adventures!
“This year’s Disney On Ice is truly magical with Disney properties that are packed with heart and personality. We have princesses that are exuberant and strong-willed, but we’ve also expanded the roles of spirited supporting characters, so that they’re more prominent in the show,” says Producer Nicole Feld.

For the first time on ice, watch your favorite Disney stars Anna and Elsa, together with hilarious snowman Olaf, rugged mountain man Kristoff and his loyal reindeer Sven in a magical winter adventure.
“The most exciting part of bringing characters like Anna and Elsa to the ice for the first time is knowing that they have a powerful and inspiring message the resonates with audiences as the sisters discover the true meaning of love,” says producer Nicole Feld.
Audiences will also enjoy comical segments with captivating stories of princesses Ariel, Rapunzel and Belle in a new twist of fairytale fun featuring Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Tangled, and Beauty and the Beast.
“By pulling together moments from classic Disney stories to the newest feature film sensation Frozen and combining them with elements of comedy and music, we developed a truly unique way to re-tell each fairytale,” says Producer Juliette Feld.

Dazzling costume designs, spectacular set elements, and jaw-dropping stunts are also what make this year’s show even more exhilarating.

In Beauty and the Beast’s “Be Our Guest,” the theatrical elements of the glitzy napkins and silverware costumes will astound audiences. “The costumes are designed to emphasize the overwhelming amount of table décor that appears in the movie. The napkins unfold to increase their size and the forks tower over the heads of the performers. This is a big moment for Belle; the costumes need to reflect that,” says Costume Designer Cynthia Nordstrom.
Moreover, lighting plays a crucial role in giving the overall production a truly magical feel. “The colors really pull you into the different worlds of the princesses, but it’s how the lights are arranged that command your attention when the characters are performing their acts. For example, when the Daughters of Triton are introduced, the lighting individually highlights each of them. Your eyes follow the spotlights,” says Lighting Designer Sam Doty.

Experience Magical Ice Festival at the Big Dome from December 25 to January 3 and don’t miss the chance to see your favorite Disney stars LIVE! Buy your tickets via TicketNet online or call 911-5555 for more details.