A Sta. Lucia East Christmas

MANILA, Philippines - A few days after typhoon Ondoy devastated Metro Manila, someone asked Sta. Lucia East Ad and Promo Manager Myra Roselle Mangrobang if she will push through with the rest of the events she has lined up for the mall along Marcos Highway, Cainta, Rizal.

Would the planned celebrations for the rest of the year still fit the mood of the upcoming months, predicted to be a difficult period of rebuilding for many of its shoppers?

Mangrobang answered, “Why not? People need them to make them feel happy. That’s our social responsibility.”

This upbeat mood is now written all over the mall, especially now that the Christmas holidays are coming.

Rene Labrador, visual display manager, has again recycled the company’s existing décor and turned them into cheerful reminders that Christmas is just around the corner and life goes on.

This year, the theme centers on children – the reason for the season. And so, a giant clown playing on a flute greets welcomes shoppers in the parking area.

“I recycled the old cherubims that adorned the canopy at the Sta. Lucia Realty Building in Ortigas in 1997 to come up with the clown’s heads and hands,” relates Labrador .

Then, Labrador transformed the high ceiling at the center of the mall into an acrobat’s haven, where clowns in refreshing pastel-colored costumes hang on glittering flying trapezes.

The carnival theme is carried over at the fourth level, where shoppers can stand on the pink and blue mounted floor, sit on the huge dice and pose for posterity against the swags of fabric hanging on giant sconces.   The effect is magical when several miniature lights give this “Picture Spot” a warm glow.

 Not to be missed is the traditional Belen, where shoppers pause to pray for peace and a better life .