Once a year in December on a late Sunday afternoon, something magical unfolds at The Peninsula Manila. Families come dressed in their Sunday best. Children and the kids at heart look up at the towering tree sparkling in the Lobby. Then the light softens as the 49-piece orchestra begins playing the first notes of Christmas.
Christmas Concert at The Pen is on its 40th year this year, a city tradition passed on from one generation to the next, a celebration of the joy of Christmas. Over the decades, The Peninsula Manila has opened its doors to extraordinary Filipino talent. Artists who first sang here as promising young performers have become some of the country’s leading artists.
Yanah Laurel
Jonathan Velasco
Cris Villonco
The 40th season of Christmas Concert at The Pen will be held on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, 5pm to 7pm at The Lobby featuring the Manila Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jonathan Velasco. Performing are mezzo sopranos Cris Villonco and Yanah Laurel, and the 50-voice Ateneo Chamber Singers.
Their program will feature carols, film and Disney favorites, light opera selections, and beloved holiday pieces, including the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah.
Manila Symphony Orchestra
Ateneo Chamber Singers
Kevin Tsang, managing director of The Peninsula Manila, speaks of the season’s warmth and goodwill, “We are delighted to have this wealth of Filipino talents at this year’s festive season concert. Year after year, these artists bring their heart and brilliance to The Lobby. Our hope is that this afternoon brings the spirit of Christmas into the hearts of our audience and becomes a joyful finale to their year.”
He adds, “The first part of the concert will feature a playful mix of Barry White, movie musicals, light opera, Disney, and a well-loved Filipino pop classic. As tradition dictates, the second part will be filled with the familiar sounds of Christmas. Aside from the Hallelujah Chorus, which remains as magnificent today as it did when it was first performed in 1742, we have holiday songs and orchestral pieces that will inspire joy in both first-time listeners and those who return each season.”
What makes the concert endure is the way it brings people together. Guests sing along. Strangers get acquainted. Children hear their first live orchestra.
As The Peninsula Manila approaches its fifth decade, the 40th season of Christmas Concert at The Pen reflects a legacy shaped by and shared with the city itself: a legacy of Filipino talent, community, and the shared joy of welcoming the season in one of Manila’s most cherished holiday traditions.
Table reservations at The Lobby are at P75,000 with a set deluxe festive merienda menu for 10. Tables for four are available at P30,000 with a set deluxe festive merienda menu.
The Upper Lobby seating is available at P20,000 for tables of four with a set festive merienda menu. Prices are in Philippine Pesos and include VAT. Rates are subject to service charge and applicable local taxes.
For inquiries or further information on Christmas Concert at The Pen 2025, please call +63 2 8887 2888, extension 7410 (Festive Desk), email diningpmn@peninsula.com, or visit the website peninsula.com.
