You can enjoy Christmas music, lights, and decor with your loved ones in the safety of your own home with these virtual holiday attractions.
From elaborate visual displays to intricate music light-and-sound shows, this year’s Christmas can be just as festive despite the challenges. Thanks to the live streams, Filipino families can join in the holiday festivities through a socially distanced means amid the covid-19 pandemic.
Check out these amazing Christmas light displays across the Philippines available virtually for Filipinos who are planning to spend the holiday season at home:
Giant Lantern Festival in San Fernando, Pampanga
The Giant Lantern Festival (GLF) in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, known as the Christmas Capital of the Philippines, has gone fully digital this year to keep Filipinos safe amid the coronavirus global pandemic.
Pampanga’s lantern festival is one of the world festivals recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and attracts thousands of visitors and tourists per year.
The province’s “Ligligan Parul” exclusive virtual exhibition was streamed live on December 16, 2020. You can rewatch the event on Giant Lantern’s official Facebook page.
You can also catch the Giant Lantern Festival via Fiesta Filipinas on December 19, 2020. The “Fiesta Filipinas” online event series simulates all the experiences of Philippine festivals to bring Filipino culture and celebrations closer to Filipinos around the world.
The incoming GLF will be live-streamed on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Republic of the Philippines’ official Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Watch the GLF here.
Cultural Center of the Philippines “Pasko 2020”
Pampanga’s famous Christmas lanterns are featured in the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) “Pasko 2020” online streaming of its annual lights-and-sounds show that can be enjoyed by Filipinos in the comforts of their own homes or wherever they may be.
This year, the CCP heralds the holiday season with a splendid display of Parul Sampernandu, the iconic Philippine lantern from Pampanga, which lights up the CCP Main Building Facade and the complex grounds starting December 10, 2020, to January 3, 2021.
The CCP streams their lights-and-sounds show daily on their official Facebook page.
Ortigas East Christmas Street Musical Light Tunnel
Ortigas’ annual lights and sounds attraction with this year’s theme “Light Up for Our Heroes” is dedicated to all the frontliners who have served the country amid the covid-19 pandemic.
The Ortigas East Christmas Street Musical Light Tunnel features stars made from reused tube lights accompanied by classic holiday jingles to uplift Filipinos during these difficult times. Located along Central Avenue near Tiendesitas at Ortigas East, the area lights up daily at 6 p.m., until January 3, 2021.
The site is open to all visitors who wish to take photos as long as they follow minimum public health standards. Motorists passing by can also safely observe the spectacle inside their cars.
While the display is open to all passersby, you certainly don’t have to come in person to enjoy the show. You can watch several videos of Ortigas Land’s holiday lights-and-sounds attraction uploaded on their official Facebook page.
Ayala Lights and Sounds Show
Ayala Land found a way to bring joy to Filipinos through the country’s first-ever interactive digital lights and sound show, a virtual execution of the annual Christmas event at Ayala Triangle Gardens.
This year’s virtual lights-and-sounds show was conceptualized in collaboration with Globe Studios. Production was led by filmmaker and director, Quark Henares. Together with his team, he recreated the Christmas light show at Ayala Triangle Gardens and turned it into a 360-degree animated video.
An exciting orchestration of laser lights, string lights, meteor lights, holograms, and helix lights dancing to Reese Lansangan’s rendition of traditional songs like Oh Holy Night and Jingle Bells are bound to uplift and put anyone into the Christmas mood.
Starting December, park-goers can scan any of the QR standees available at Ayala Triangle Gardens using their mobile phones to experience the virtual light show.
Filipinos can also relive the magical Christmas tradition streamed live on November 24, 2020, by watching the Ayala Lights and Sounds Show – virtual edition.
While some traditions have been canceled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, many are now going online this year to herald the Christmas season. The annual Simbang Gabi (night mass) or Misa de Gallo (dawn mass), for example, has gone ahead as planned with added safety measures for those planning to attend on-site.
Here’s a list of churches in the country offering the live-streaming of Simbang Gabi masses for the Catholic faithful this Christmas.
TELL US in the comments below, which Christmas lights show do you want to watch this year?
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