8 Must-see Places for a Unique Christmas Experience

The famous Christmas house in Policarpio Street (Photo courtesy of Leah De Leon)

The Philippines is one of the world’s top countries known to celebrate the Christmas season with much fun and merriment. So for those who want to enjoy the spirit of the holidays, here are must-see destinations, attractions and festivals to visit with families and friends.

House of Santa: Casa Santa Museum, Antipolo
Tour around and be awed by the biggest Santa Claus collectionsin the country. This house has over 3,000 different Santa Claus items of different sizes and forms. From figurines to Santa blankets, Casa Santa Museum has them all.

Street of Lights: Policarpio Street, Mandaluyong
Take a walk along the famous street and be amazed by every house intricately decorated with colorful Christmas lights from gates to roofs. They are also nicely decorated with Belens, Christmas lanterns and Santa Clause items. Surely everyone can feel the Christmas spirit kept alive in this place.

COD Christmas Show: Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan
Greenhills Shopping Center features Christmas-themed plays with moving mannequins as cast showcasing Filipino Christmas stories accompanied by colorful lights and lively music. Watch the brilliantly designed and orchestrated play with this year’s theme: “The First Christmas.” Then after the show, score a bargain at their Christmas Night Market and Christmas Bangketa Fair.

Lights and Sounds Show: Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati
Sit below the trees and experience the Ayala Triangle Gardens light up during this season. Be delighted by the popular park’s much-talked about dancing lights where more than a million LED bulbs come to life in synchronization to Christmas medleys. This starry show is free for everyone to see.

Maytinis Festival: Kawit, Cavite
Kawit Cavite celebrates its well-loved Maytinis Festival every Christmas Eve. Witness this old Kawit tradition of the dramatic reenaction of St. Joseph and Virgin Mary’s search for a place to stay in Bethlehem. Picturesque floats depicting other biblical scenes and portraying religious characters are also displayed in a procession down the streets.

Giant Christmas Tree: Tagum City, Davao del Norte
The 78.56-feet Giant Christmas Tree, decorated with thousands of colorful twinkling rice bulbs, is located at the center of Tagum City Freedom Park. Its steel structure is adorned with decorative shapes such as stars and angels. And on top of the iconic tree is the Eagle Wings as main highlight. Look up to the glistening tree together with than 5,000 locals and visitors jam-packed in the park.

Photo courtesy of Belenismo official website

Belenismo: Tarlac
Tarlac, dubbed as the Belen Capital of the Philippines, showcases its yearly iconic Christmas exhibitions of life-sized Belens or Nativity of the Holy Family crafted by local artists from various barangays, parishes and schools among others. The Belens, made by recycled materials, are lighted by hundreds of bulbs. Invite family and friends to come along and recite a prayer beside the Nativity scene in this blessed season.

Christmas Village: Malinao, Albay
Get a feel of Christmas around the world in one place – Malinao. Enjoy and take photos of various tourist destination replicas such as the Eiffel Tower, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Taj Mahal, Pyramids of Egypt, Statue of Liberty, Golden Gate Bridge, and many more. At night, these replicas are illuminated by thousands of colorful lights.

Truly, these places never fail to give residents and tourists alike happiness and excitement in this festive season.