Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria (CPMG) and Holiday Inn Manila Galleria (HIMG) of the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) ushered in the festive Yuletide season with a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony at the Crowne Plaza hotel lobby. Graced by officials of the two hotels’ owning company, JG Summit Holdings Inc. and the hotels’ executives, the event with the theme “Bring Love, Give Love” highlighted a donation to the same beneficiary from the previous year, Children’s Joy Foundation, coming from proceeds of the charity fashion show and auction that followed.
“There is no better way to spread joy and cheer throughout the season than by putting smiles in the faces of our children. We all know that Christmas is truly for them and for the gift of family. So through our beneficiary for the second year running and since we began our traditional tree-lighting ceremony last year—the Children’s Joy Foundation—we are delighted to contribute in our own small way to their noble programs that care for their needs and pave their way to a better and brighter future,” said Gaurav Rai, general manager of CPMG.
The 20-foot whimsical red and silver-adorned tree at the Crowne Plaza hotel lobby is flanked by a children’s-sized holiday train, where kids can hop on and take photos with friends and family all throughout December. As a special treat Children, the gingerbread train ride, will be going around the Crowne Plaza’s atrium until the end of December for Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn Manila Galleria’s guests.
Following the ceremony, guests were ushered to the Grand Ballroom where a pop-up boutique displayed couture suits and gowns on sale donated by renowned Filipino designers. Guests had the privilege to purchase these gowns, as the proceeds would benefit the Children’s Joy Foundation. By the end of the event, the clothes were close to sold out.
The evening’s festivities culminated into the “Bring Love, Give Love” charity fashion show, where stunning couture gowns by industry icons Ben “Mang Ben” Farrales, Barge Ramos and Albert Andrada, as well as creations by Mikee Andrei, Adam Balasa, Paolo Blanco, Danika Damo, Marlo Ramos Javier, Marianne Martin, Rowel Panlilio, Vince Sityar and Patty Valle showcased Filipino fashion design artistry.
The show was concluded by auctioning off two experiences: a one-night stay at the Crowne Plaza Presidential Suite with breakfast for two, and two round-trip tickets to Bali, Indonesia, for two courtesy of Cebu Pacific with a three-day and two-night accommodation at Holiday Inn Resort Baruna Bali. The auction’s proceeds were likewise donated to the Children’s Joy Foundation.
CPMG and HIMG’s “Bring Love, Give Love” Christmas tree-lighting event was launched last year to warmly welcome guests with the festive holiday décor throughout the two hotels and raise donations for their beneficiary both for this and the previous year’s—the Children’s Joy Foundation. The ceremony, likewise, served to announce the array of enticing Christmas and New Year-themed staycation and dining experiences, as well as special party packages for corporate or intimate gatherings.