A Mouse Re-imagined | Festival of Lights

11.10. 2018 – Every year Ayala Triangle Gardens becomes the center point of events in the City of Makati. It’s the place everyone gathers when the Holiday Season begins. It may not be an equivalent of any other events happening in other countries, but it has become its unique event of its own. Friday night’s spectacle was unveiled to the public near the heart of the park. It has become a tradition for most people to travel all the way to see this happen. Phone cameras raised and ready to go in capturing memories of this place once again as the city brings back and re-imagine the magic that is the Festival of Lights.

Upon arriving to the venue the program and the launch just happened an hour earlier. Of course, traffic in the city is already common part of everyday life in Metro Manila and in some parts of the country. Rushing to an event is not highly advisable but rather leave a couple of hours early would be better not to miss out on the event.







But getting used to the way things go in the heart of Metro Manila particularly travelling to see this event was not a cake walk. There have been A LOT of people already at the venue and for every intermission there’s a new effects and music being played that details of this can be explained below:

Makati welcomes the most magical time of the year with Reimagine the Magic: A Festival of Lights, an enchanting lights and sound spectacle that captures the spirit of the Yuletide season.

As Ayala Land celebrates its 30th anniversary and the festival marks its 10th year, the show turns even more magical with the company partnering with The Walt Disney Company Philippines for this year’s festivities. The result is a spectacular holiday experience, right at the heart of the country’s premier business district.







“Christmas is always special to Filipinos. It’s a time when families come together for heartfelt celebrations. The annual Festival of Lights is our way of sharing the joy of the season with the community who make our estates vibrant and full of life. On Ayala Land’s 30th anniversary, we made sure to give the show an extra special touch or shall we say ‘magic’ through the partnership with Disney,” said Shiella Aguilar, Makati Project Development Head for Ayala Land.

“It truly excites us at Disney Philippines to kick-off the Christmas celebrations in the country through this collaboration with Ayala Land. Being able to reimagine the annual Ayala Land Festival of Lights with Disney’s brand of world-class entertainment is truly a great experience,” shared by the Country Head of The Walt Disney Company, Philippines, and Veronica Cabalinan during the partnership’s launch last November. “By weaving our well-loved soundtracks to Ayala Land’s festivities, we hope to bring magical moments to families and Disney fans of all ages. This forms part of our commitment to build lasting memories and powerful connections with Filipinos.”







Imagine a wonderland ablaze with twinkling lights dancing rhythmically to the tune of well-loved Disney songs and Filipino Christmas carols. For a touch of Christmas nostalgia that is sure to delight the young and the young at heart, three medleys featuring Disney favorites will accompany the light display –from Disney Classics, Disney Princesses, and the film ‘Frozen’. Lighting master Voltaire de Jesus once again creates the spellbinding experience this time with music that was skilfully arranged by composer Rony Fortich, who previously worked in Hong Kong Disneyland.

To spread the magic, Ayala Land will bring “Reimagine the Magic: A Festival of Lights” to six of its estates across the country. The spectacle will run daily every 30 minutes from 6:00PM to 10:00PM, on the following dates:

● Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati – November 9, 2018 to January 8, 2019
● Bonifacio Global City – November 15, 2018 to January 6, 2019 ● Nuvali – November 24, 2018 to January 13, 2019
● Vertis North – November 29, 2018 to January 15, 2019
● Ayala Center Cebu – November 10, 2018 to January 20, 2019
● Centrio, Cagayan de Oro – November 9, 2018 to January 13, 2019


Imagine visions of Disney Princesses with the orchestral rendition of ‘Part of Your World’, ‘Beauty and the Beast’, ‘A Whole New World’, ‘A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes’, and ‘I See The Light’. Let the magic engulf you with the happy strains of Frozen’s ‘Do You Want To Build a Snowman’, ‘For the First Time in Forever’, ‘Love is An Open Door’, and ‘Let it Go’. Bring back your childhood with a modern and playful rendition of the Disney Classics such as the ‘Mickey Mouse March’, ‘When You Wish Upon A Star’, ‘Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah’, and ‘Steamboat Willie Whistle’. And to express the magic closer to home, well-loved Filipino Christmas songs will fill the air, such as ‘Pasko Na Naman’, ‘Kumukutikutitap’, ‘Ang Pasko Ay Sumapit’, and ‘Noche Buena’.

Stories happened during the Festival of Lights

There are unique stories that happened during this event although I missed the opportunity to see the unveiling of the lights and sounds for this year’s Festival of Lights there have interesting things that was talked about behind the scenes. One of those interesting narratives is Don Jaime Zobel, who took noticed of a wheelchair bound teenager stricken with cancer, though I do not have photos to back up this story. The event’s photographer was the one who shared me that particular story.

People won’t notice this but surely some might caught up and witnessed this. Probably, somewhere out there who have caught this on their camera through a photo or video might share this on social media how kindness really is a rare thing. This event was truly magical if this story was true just like the unveiling of this collaboration with Ayala Land Inc and Walt Disney.







A Unique Kind of Celebration

This event has become a tradition in the City of Makati that will continue to be part of its culture. There may be other stories that are happening out there it might not be during this event or for anything that is really magical is the good stories what makes Christmas is the best time of the year is sharing not only with family and friends, but with people those who are facing the challenges of life.

Festival of Lights draws people from all walks of life finding joy away from the reality they may face for the reason why this event has been magical every year. Let’s hope the Ayala Land Inc continues to bring this event that cements itself as an annual tradition. It might not be much for those who doesn’t have everything, but they find this place an escape to have that simply fulfilment in life.