Christmas time is fast approaching and Ortigas Malls was among the first to start the celebration of the local holiday season, the longest in the world.
And what could be a better way to start it than by literally sharing the joys of Christmas with the mall’s customers and merchants, plus a special group that has suffered greatly from the pandemic.
“It is certainly a day of hope for a lot of people,” said Ortigas Land president and chief executive Jose Emmanuel Jalandoni at the well-attended launch of the mall group’s Christmas activities on Nov. 4 in Greenhills, San Juan.
It was indeed a hopeful day for the members of the Independent Production Workers Group (IPWG), an organization that provides assistance to people who work in live events, representing thousands of workers in the industry that was hardly hit by the pandemic, rendering 80 percent of its members practically jobless.
Ortigas Malls partnered with the Ogie Alcasid-Ian Veneracion-led Kilabotitos to create a fundraiser event to benefit IPWG members. And thus, Christmas with the Stars was born, scheduled on December 8 at 8:00 p.m., to be headlined by Alcasid and Veneracion alongside some of the country’s best OPM singers and performers.
Mall customers with a P1,000 single or accumulated receipts from establishments in Ortigas malls are entitled to a free ticket to the online concert.
Every Friday, starting Nov. 12, there will be mini concerts on the social media pages of the malls.
Renee Bacani, vice president of Ortigas Malls, reiterated the group’s intention to not only treat mall-goers to a night of good music but to help the entertainment workers get back on their feet.
Part of the celebration was the launch of Ortigas Malls’ very first loyalty card for mall-goers, honored at Greenhills, Tiendesitas, Estancia, and Industria.
In addition to discounts at various establishments in the four malls, the community card rewards holders with free parking, carwash, free use of Shopbox, and other benefits.
The launch coincided with the opening of the Greenhills Night Market, an al fresco dining venue with more than 50 stalls selling food customers can enjoy in a safe environment.
The presence of San Juan City Mayor Francisco Zamora added prestige to the launch; he came early and even went around the area. He also had his dinner there with his wife after the opening ceremony that was concluded by a fireworks display.
“It has been a long wait for us for this kind of event because of the pandemic, and with the easing of restrictions, people can look forward to a happier celebration of Christmas right here at one of the country’s first malls,” said Zamora.
And with the lifting of curfew, people are expected to come in droves to Ortigas malls.