Celebrating Christmas in Makati's Central Business District

From transient holiday revelers at One Greenbelt Hotel to the permanent residents of Makati City, you can expect everyone to exude the spirit of celebration this holiday season. The city, known as The Financial Capital of the Philippines, makes sure that everyone is reminded of the season and takes part in the celebrations. At this time of the year, the city shifts its visitors' attention from the high-rise buildings to the festive sights and sounds in the street and the parks. Anyone can join the fun by heading to the Central Business District and taking a casual stroll. You'll have an easy time going around and seeing the decorations since the district has a nice pedestrian system in effect.

Here are some sure signs that the city is counting down the days until Christmas:

1. Ayala Avenue, a major road in the city and one of the busiest in the metro, is usually decked with lights. White was the theme last 2012 and most of the decorations took the form of snowflakes, geometric trees, and pillars. After sunset, people would take their turns taking pictures bathing in the soft glow of the lights.

2. Flanked by Ayala Avenue, Paseo de Roxas, and Makati Avenue is Ayala Triangle, another destination for holiday tourists. Every December, this lush patch of land transforms into a garden of lights, thanks to the bulbs and decors which hang from the trees and bushes within the vicinity. Every 6 to 9 in the evening, the Christmas Light Show captivates viewers in the area with a display of colorful LED bulbs flickering and dancing to the tune of Christmas carols.

3. To fill the eyes and satisfy the palate, you can head to the different hotels in Makati to see how they've decorated their halls and lounges for the season. Some of the city's 5-star accommodations even hold competitions and partner with academic institutions to put up specially designed Christmas trees in their lobbies.

4. Speaking of Christmas trees, you can head to Glorietta 4 Park to take pictures of the Giant Christmas Tree. Located right at the heart of the shopping district, you can also indulge in good food and high-quality items after taking your souvenir photo.

After a day of walking around and taking in the sights, you can get a good night's sleep at any of the hotels in the area, such as One Greenbelt Hotel Makati.