With the country’s Christmas season in full swing, SM Supermalls partnered with artist-designer Gino Gonzales to recreate the magic of a Western Christmas village and make it a distinctly Filipino Christmas plaza at the center of SM Aura’s atrium for all mallgoers to enjoy.
It’s a breathtaking scene as you walk into the plaza with higantes reimagined as nutcracker soldiers decorated in calado embroidery holding capiz star staffs, bahay na bato facades for photo opportunities, capiz parol, and even a working fountain at the center reminiscent of fountains in front of churches. Gonzales and SM Supermalls wanted to highlight as much Filipino artistry and local crafts as possible throughout the plaza. To them, it was important to celebrate not just Christmas, but Christmas the Filipino way.
During the opening of Plaza de Aura last Oct. 20, Tuesday, at the UG, SM Aura Atrium, an abridged version of Ryan Cayabyab’s Puso ng Pasko was performed by the Ryan Cayabyab Singers and Alice Reyes Dance Philippines (ARDP), with the special participation of Nonoy Froilan, National Artist for Dance. Also present at the performance were Maestro Ryan Cayabyab on the piano and ARDP founder Alice Reyes.
The performance went hand-in-hand with celebrating the Filipino Christmas spirit, highlighting what make our country’s holiday season so special: family, faith, gratitude, and togetherness.
By bringing dance, music, and local artistry through Puso ng Pasko and mounting the Plaza de Aura, SM Supermalls invites its mall-goers to immerse themselves in the joy of the season and experience a Christmas plaza like no other.
