The sights & sounds of Christmas at Robinsons Malls

MANILA, Philippines - You know it’s Christmas when the air is crisper and cooler, people’s hearts are kinder and warmer, and most establishments and houses in the metro are aglow.

And almost like an extension of our homes is Robinsons Malls, where a lot of meticulous planning and details are put together to make this much-awaited season a memorable one for the whole family.

Well, have you ever wondered what it feels like to celebrate the holidays deep down in Bikini Bottom?

Robinsons Malls treats shoppers to a mighty underwater adventure at Bikini Bottom with SpongeBob and the gang with a series of live shows in December.

Patchy the Pirate is set to welcome everyone. As a special treat, he’ll perform the SpongeBob theme song so kids can sing along with him, too.

SpongeBob gets the sea sandwich party started as he presents the “Krabby Patty,” a hysterical sea-silly dance that will have participants shakin’ their bottoms.

“Kids  will  have  fun  learning this silly dance and later on in the show, lucky  kids  will  have their chance to throw on a snorkel and join in the underwater  sea-liness,”  says  Arlene  G.  Magtibay, Robinons Malls general manager for commercial centers.

Not to be outdone, Squidward stops being so grumpy as he, too, has prepared a solo dance  —  “Dance  of  the Ailing Krabby Patty” — a jerky, awkward, comical squiddy-dance that will sure take the SpongeBob nation by storm.

But beware, the evil Plankton has hatchedx a plan to steal the Krabby Patty.

Will Spongebob be able to save the day and return the greatest sandwich in the seven seas?

Find out at the SpongeBob Live Event at Robinsons Malls. Shows are scheduled at 2 and 4 p.m. The series of live shows kicked off at Robinsons Magnolia and hit Robinsons Place Manila and Robinsons Place Pangasinan. Starting today and on Dec. 22, the characters take center stage at Robinsons Galleria and will tour Robinsons Malls’ outlets in Lipa, Dasmariñas Cavite, Starmills  Pampanga, Sta. Rosa Laguna, Novaliches, Imus Cavite, Angeles Pampanga, Metro East Pasig, Manila and Magnolia. The dates are as follows: Dec. 9, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 23.

Meet–and-greet sessions were held at Robinsons Ilocos Norte Robinsons Otis and Robinsons Place GenSan. The sessions continue today and tomorrow at Robinsons Place Tacloban and Robinsons Place Iloilo, Dec. 9 and 14 at Robinson Place Bacolod and Robinsons Place Dumaguete and on Dec. 15 and 16 at Forum Robinsons and Robinsons Place Palawan. Shoppers can meet, greet, and take photos with the characters after each performance.

“SpongeBob and his friends, Patrick Star, Squidward and Patchy the Pirate treat the entire family to a merry good time,” relates Magtibay.

Let there be laser lights at Robinsons Malls

As part of the festivities, there will also be holiday laser light shows tomorrow at  the  al  fresco  area  of Robinsons Magnolia,  and a Giant Lantern  Festival  at  Robinsons Starmills Pampanga.  Held annually on the grounds  of  Robinsons  Starmills  Pampanga,  the traditional Giant Lantern Festival  Competition  will  be  held on Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. Daily Giant Lantern Exhibitions will be held from Dec. 16 to 23, Dec. 25 to Jan. 3, 2013 at 7 p.m.

“The Marvelous Sounds of Christmas” featured  the  Manila   Philharmonic Orchestra  last Dec. 2 at Robinsons Magnolia. Next up is Koro  Ilustrado tomorrow at  Robinsons Magnolia; a choral festival at Robinsons Place Manila (Dec.  12 to  20),  Robinsons  Galleria (Dec.  14 to 21), Forum Robinsons (Dec. 16 to 22), Robinsons Metroeast  (Dec.  17 to 19, Dec. 21 to 23) , Robinsons  Place  Pangasinan  (Dec. 15 to 23) and Robinsons Place Palawan  (Dec.  15 to 17 and 19 to 23). The “Viva Christmas Concert” was held last Dec.  2 at Robinsons Nova Market. Another show will be held on Dec. 9 at Robinsons Magnolia, and the “Hallmark Music and Memories Concert” and grand finals will be held on Dec. 18 at Robinsons Place Manila.

A grand fireworks display will cap the events in several malls.

Cartoon heroes and Christmas trees

Aside from the SpongeBob Live Event, Robinsons Malls all over the country will be also be decked with SpongeBob-themed Christmas décor.

“Each will try to outdo each other by coming up with magnificent Christmas displays,” enthuses Magtibay.

Robinsons Nova Market, for one, has chosen SpongeBob as their main theme for the holidays, making the well-loved cartoon characters come alive.

A 50-foot outdoor mechanical SpongeBob Christmas Tree is set up at the mall’s open-parking area. Decked with bright, oversize Christmas balls, colorful   flowers, and   garlands, the tree will have several 3-D installations at the base, which are integral elements of the SpongeBob story. These are the Krusty Krab restaurant where SpongeBob works, Sandy the Squirrel’s house, Patrick Star’s house and Squidward’s home. All 3-D characters will move in full animation.

“The tree will be topped with a lighted Patrick Star image,” says Magtibay.

Robinsons Starmills and Robinsons Place Lipa have recreated the home of SpongeBob characters at Bikini Bottom.

Dubbed as “SpongeBob Playland,” mallers can now experience how it feels to live under the sea this Christmas with SpongeBob and the rest of the Bikini Bottom gang.

Another interesting feature is the SpongeBob Photoland, a series of six interactive photo-op corners featuring the characters and scenes from the stories of SpongeBob and friends at Bikini Bottom.

Over  at  Robinsons  Magnolia,  a 28-foot-tall Magnolia Holiday Tree greets shoppers  as  soon  as  they  enter  the mall’s impressive atrium. Magnolia flowers and ornate clusters of Christmas balls in traditional holiday hues — red, gold and green — were used to deck the giant Christmas tree. Extra-large pinecones, gold leaves, assorted fruit picks, red berries, and a gold tree-topper add elegance to the verdant tree.

“Energy-efficient warm white LEDs will light up the whole tree,” explains Magtibay. So yes, there’s no stopping Christmas at Robinsons Malls.

Shopping for a cause

Robinsons Malls go the extra mile this Christmas. For a minimum purchase from participating outlets of Robinsons Malls nationwide, a shopper may redeem a Robinsons Malls eco bag.

“We’re  doing  this  in  support  of  the  government’s  drive  to promote recycling  and saving the environment by saying ‘no’ to plastics,” explains Magtibay.