Author: Thoney Pascual

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A Magical Cirque Christmas at John Hay Hotels: Where Wonder Meets the Highlands

There’s something undeniably enchanting about Christmas in Baguio—the crisp mountain air, the scent of pine trees, and the gentle glow of lights scattered across the hills. This year, John Hay Hotels elevates that magic even further with A Magical Cirque Christmas, a spectacular holiday celebration running until January 15, 2026.

Under the refreshed leadership of Landco Lifestyle Ventures (LLV), the iconic destination ushers in a season that blends nostalgia, wonder, and renewed hope—perfectly aligning with Baguio’s growing reputation as the Christmas Capital of the Philippines.

A Festive Transformation in the Highlands

John Hay Hotels—once known separately as The Manor, The Forest Lodge, and the John Hay Convention Center—now comes together under one enchanting holiday experience. The new management brings fresh energy and vision, symbolized beautifully during the Grand Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony held on November 21. The ceremony didn’t just illuminate the night; it set the tone for a revitalized commitment to community, heritage, and unforgettable guest experiences.

As LLV President and CEO Erickson Y. Manzano shared, Christmas is a time to reconnect, reflect, and feel cared for. At John Hay Hotels, the goal is simple: to welcome guests into a place that feels like home—warm, comforting, and full of holiday magic.

Garden Wing: A Dreamlike Cirque Wonderland

At the Garden Wing, guests are invited into a whimsical world inspired by circus artistry and highland charm. Picture this:

Mesmerizing light shows
Live circus performances
Cozy bonfires perfect for warm conversations
Outdoor movie nights under the stars
Carnival booths and a classic merry-go-round
Delicious holiday treats at curated food stalls

Whether you’re walking hand-in-hand through the illuminated gardens or enjoying the sights and sounds with family, every moment feels like stepping into a living Christmas storybook.

 

Forest Wing: A Christmas Carnival Filled With Heart

Just steps away, the Forest Wing transforms into a lively Christmas Carnival Spectacle, open daily from 11 AM to 10 PM. The festivities include:

Holiday harmonies and acoustic nights
Santa sightings and meet-and-greets with elves
Simbang Gabi, Misa de Gallo & Misa de Año Nuevo
Christmas Eve Cocktail Party
Christmas Day Carnival Market
New Year’s Eve Dinner & Countdown
Parade of the Three Kings

And for those looking to toast the season, don’t miss the Dap-ayan Spirits—a signature cocktail inspired by the Cordillera’s tradition of community gatherings. Made with Sagada Gin, Tapuy, and smoky hints of Etag, it’s a soulful celebration of mountain culture served exclusively at St. Patrick’s Bar.

Holiday Market: Bringing the Cordilleras to Life

At both the Garden and Forest Wings, a vibrant holiday market celebrates the best of local craftsmanship and produce. Visitors can browse:

Handwoven textiles
Woodcarvings
Hand-beaded jewelry
Fresh strawberries & vegetables
Homemade jams
Artisan crafts

This curated marketplace isn’t just a shopping spot—it’s a warm, welcoming space where culture, community, and holiday cheer come together.

A New Chapter Begins

This festive season marks a meaningful milestone for John Hay Hotels as it moves toward a unified brand identity under LLV. With an emphasis on revitalizing heritage destinations and creating premium lifestyle experiences, the transformation promises more memorable moments for guests in the years to come.

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Merry GCash Season Na! Here’s Your Guide to Making The Holidays Merrier With GCash

With just a few weeks left until Christmas, the holiday rush is in full swing. From finding the most meaningful gifts to planning reunions and mapping out your itinerary for your much-awaited holiday trip, it’s the time of the year when moments feel fuller, brighter, and filled with anticipation. And when things sometimes feel like they’re happening all at once, having a little help goes a long way.

For a merrier and smoother holiday season, GCash is here to help! The country’s top e-wallet, GCash, is bringing back the festive spirit through its Merry GCash celebration. This year, the Merry GCash celebration is bigger, better, and packed with even more deals and rewards, ensuring that all your holiday activities are merrier. Here’s everything GCash has to help you make the most of the season!

 A new Christmas jingle from SB19 to lift your holiday mood

GCash and the Kings of P-Pop, SB19, have launched a new holiday jingle, “Make It Merry,” reminding everyone that, with a little GCash magic, you can make your favorite Christmas moments feel even more special. In the new music video featuring this collaboration, the SB19 boys are seen shopping for gifts for their loved ones and paying seamlessly with GCash—a reminder that you don’t need to rush through the season; you can simply breeze through it, basta i-GCash mo!

You can turn your holiday spending into big prizes when you Shake It, Win It.

When you play Shake It, Win It, the more you use GCash this holiday season, the more amazing prizes you’ll win! For all your Christmas to-dos, like buying ingredients for noche buena, shopping for gifts, or picking out party outfits, just pay with GCash to earn entries.

This year, one lucky winner will receive a brand-new BYD car, four winners will each receive ₱1 million in GCash credits, and 20,000 users will win up to ₱5,000 in GCash credits. But that’s not all! Up to 300,000 users will receive random GCash credits daily simply by logging into the app.

This season provides the best deals to help you stretch your budget while shopping.

Because holiday spending can accumulate quickly, GCash provides exclusive online deals to assist you in managing your budget. When you shop on Lazada and TikTok Shop and select GCash as your payment method at checkout, you can unlock special deals and gain an extra advantage during this busy spending season!

If you find yourself shopping at Robinson’s Department Store or SM Store, don’t worry! Use GCash to scan for payment, and you can also unlock additional discounts!

Enjoy special promos at your favorite Christmas bazaars to make holiday shopping a breeze.

GCash has also partnered with the biggest Christmas bazaars in the city this year. The best part? There will be bazaar-exclusive special hour promos that give you extra surprises and rewards when you pay with GCash. You can also earn more Shake It, Win It entries along the way!

 Here’s where you can use GCash this season:

Designers Holiday Bazaar, Glorietta, Makati: November 29 to December 7

Trendsetter’s Bazaar, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong: December 4 to 7 and December 18 to 21

World Bazaar Festival, World Trade Center Metro Manila, Pasay: December 13 to 22

The holidays are always better when things feel lighter and joy lives in the small moments—not lost in the rush.

The Merry GCash season is back to ensure that every payment, every purchase, and every shake contributes to a truly merry celebration. Stay connected by following @gcashofficial online to make sure you don’t miss out on any more exciting Merry GCash announcements.

 

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Enchanted Kingdom Welcomes Christmas with its Enchanting Season of Family Campaign

Enchanted Kingdom, the first and only world-class theme park in the Philippines, invites Filipinos to experience even more magic during the holidays with the launch of its Enchanting Season of Family campaign this December.

As part of EK’s 30th anniversary, this year’s campaign highlights the family as the heart of every Filipino’s Christmas tradition. Apart from its over 30 rides and attractions, the month-long festivities offer exciting holiday experiences, including new seasonal shows, festive displays, and breathtaking spectacles that will allow countless Filipino families to create even more forever enchanting memories together.

The magical pre-Christmas event on November 29 set the festive mood through the carol performances by invited guests and the choir. This magical celebration was also graced by the presence of Santa Rosa City Vice Mayor Arnold B. Arcillas, who encouraged everyone to embrace hope and joy this holiday season.

Park guests had a magical time singing their favorite Yuletide carols, trying out exciting activities, and winning enchanting prizes at the Caroloke Christmas Caravan, a special holiday truck brought by Coca-Cola at the Spaceport Grounds.

EK Storyverse characters joined in the festivities as they greeted guests in front of Eldar’s Theater prior to the annual lighting of EK’s 22-foot Grand Parol. Aside from this, 100 other colorful parols lit up the AGILA The EKsperience: SARIBUHAY.

EK also introduced Eldar’s Evergreen Topiary, a never-before-seen greenery installation featuring the iconic figure of EK’s jolly and wise wizard. Set to become a year-round attraction, this one-of-a-kind display is a part of EK’s ongoing efforts to create magical and sustainable experiences at the park, especially during seasonal celebrations.

Eldar the Wizard topped off the night with the Forever Enchanted Fireworks Show, synchronized to the tune of EK’s 30th anniversary theme song written and sung by the theme park’s homegrown P-pop girl group, SMS.

More Holiday Magic This December

Filipinos can create even more enchanting memories with their loved ones this Christmas as the park opens daily starting December 13, 2025, until January 4, 2026.

Guests can continuously enjoy over 30 rides and attractions at EK, including the iconic Space Shuttle and AGILA The EKsperience: SARIBUHAY, which was relaunched as part of EK’s 30th anniversary last October.

Aside from the vibrant decor and displays, EK will continue to bring enchantment through new zone shows and other special Christmas performances throughout the park this December.

Nighttime at Brooklyn Place will come to life with colorful lights dancing to the tune of popular Christmas songs at Eldar’s Symphony of Lights and Sounds.

Ultimately, the Echoes of Enchantment Parade is set to make its return with a holiday twist, leveling up the in-park night experience through a series of vibrant floats accompanied by the EK Storyverse characters as it makes its way across the park’s themed zones.

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Plan B: The Gift That Keeps On Giving

“If you are the family’s breadwinner, your most valuable asset is your ability to earn. And the only instrument that can protect that asset is life insurance,” says Renato Vergel De Dios, President and CEO of BDO Life.

For 50 years, he has built his career around one mission: helping Filipino families achieve financial security through life insurance, or Plan B. One would think that in that span, life insurance would already be part of every Filipino’s financial portfolio. Yet many breadwinners remain without coverage, leaving their families vulnerable to financial ruin.

Let’s talk about it

In a market study conducted by BDO Life, having a tight budget, prioritizing more pressing needs, and the belief that insurance is expensive are the main reasons many breadwinners are reluctant to get a Plan B.

In his many decades of experience, Vergel De Dios has also observed that many families avoid talking about illness, death, or financial hardship—often waiting until it’s too late. More than the lack of enough income, that hesitation, he says, is the real barrier to financial security.

It is related to a widely held notion that insurance is only for the wealthy. “That’s a myth,” he says. “Insurance has never been primarily for the rich. It’s for those who need to go to work every day to provide for their families: the employees, the professionals, and the hands-on small business owners.”

 

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Score Up to 1 Million Rewards Points with your Christmas Bonus!

This holiday season, your Christmas bonus could be the start of something truly rewarding. By participating in BDO’s Holiday Million Rewards Raffle promo, saving wisely could potentially turn you into a Rewards Points millionaire!

Open a new account with BDO from October 9 to December 31, 2025, and you could take home up to 1 million Rewards Points. Over 100 lucky winners will share a total of 3 million BDO Rewards Points across the November, December, and January raffle draws.

Road to 1 Million Rewards Points

Deposit at least P50,000 in fresh funds to any newly opened qualified account during the promo period: ATM Savings, Passbook Savings, Kabayan Savings, Prime Savers, Junior Savers, Smart Checking, and Peso Checking to earn one e-raffle entry. Just one more step: complete the raffle registration form at the branch, and you’re officially in the running for this holiday promo.

To earn an additional raffle entry, download and sign up for the BDO Pay app. Make sure to activate BDO Rewards in-app to start earning Rewards Points with your savings.

Save and shop like Belle this Christmas. Her smart adulting tip? Save with BDO and get a chance to win 1 million BDO Rewards Points for your holiday shopping.

Discover the rewards of banking with BDO. If you’re among the winners, your Rewards Points can be spent in three ways:

  1. Pay using your points. Use Rewards Points to pay for your shopping and groceries at SM and partner stores.
  2. Redeem as eGCs. Use them for movies, dining, and more through the BDO Pay app’s eGC catalog.
  3. Transfer or convert to cash credits. Use them to pay for your BDO Credit Card balance or to shop using SM Advantage Card Points.

For more details on how you can be the next Rewards Points millionaire, visit the BDO branch nearest you or check out www.bdo.com.ph.

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SB19 and GCash Bring the Magic Back to Christmas with New Holiday Anthem – Watch the MV Here!

The magical feeling of Christmas may seem overwhelming amidst the bustling malls, shopping lists, and Noche Buena preparations. GCash is helping keep the holidays full of cheer as it teams up with SB19 for a new holiday jingle and music video that reminds us what the season is really about: connection, generosity, and a touch of GCash magic to Make It Merry.

The new Make It Merry jingle sets the tone for the arrival of the Merry GCash season. The jingle captures the familiar warmth we often seek during the busiest time of the year, demonstrating that the spirit of Christmas never truly fades; it simply needs a little spark to shine again.

IIn the music video, the SB19 boys are shown using GCash to shop for gifts, loading them into a car, and preparing to share them with their loved ones. Paired with lyrics like “Ang bawat salu-salo, make it merry, kasama ang pamilya mo,” and “Ang bawat regalo, make it merry, galing sa puso mo,” the song captures how GCash makes every celebration lighter, more joyful, and more merry. 

WWith “Make It Merry” as its official holiday soundtrack, SB19 and GCash establish a joyful, generous, and easy atmosphere for the season. GCash makes every moment easier, more meaningful, and less stressful, no matter where your holiday plans take you.

Do you need to send aguinaldo to your family back home? You can use GCash Send Money to send aguinaldo instantly. Last-minute gifts? Shop with ease and use GCash to Pay Online. Are you planning to make a big purchase for your house or buy new tech this year? GCash helps make that possible by offering more manageable payments. If the holidays are taking you traveling, be sure to bring your GCash Card for easy payments abroad. You can even use the Scan to Pay feature to unlock exclusive deals!

With everything available in one app, GCash transforms the hectic nature of the season into joy, making it easier than ever to share the magic of Christmas. As SB19 reminds everyone in “Make It Merry,” the magic of the holidays is found in every heartfelt gift shared and in every moment that brings us closer together. To make your Christmas merry, you just need to do one thing: use GCash.

Watch the official Make It Merry music video here, and follow @gcashofficial for more updates on what’s coming this Merry GCash season.