CHRISTMAS has never been this enchanted and magical as the SM City Cagayan de Oro finally unveiled its Christmas centerpiece last Sunday, November 8.
With its 30-foot Christmas tree surrounded by a garden of blooming flowers, colorful butterflies and mushrooms, the shoppers and mall goers were brought to the enchanted world of fairies and woodland elves.
SM City Cagayan de Oro mall manager Bernadette Flores, in her Christmas message, said the mall aims to bring joy to its clients and consumers in this "challenging year" with their Christmas centerpiece, holiday discounts, and online shopping experiences.
"Because in our malls and in your homes, SM wants to be a part of your Christmas joy," Flores said.
Apart from the launching of their annual charity project: Bears of Joy, in which a pair of toy bears can be bought for P200 with one of the bears goes to the customer and the other is left to be given to their chosen charity, SM also has its Share Hope with SM promo wherein a person can nominate a frontliner and giver their chosen modern day hero a chance to win SM gift certificate.
Apart from the aforementioned activities, SM also has its Kasama ni SM campaign to support micro, small and medium enterprises. Starting in November, a Christmas Market is installed at the ground floor of the mall featuring the products of local businesses.
"This year's Christmas may be far from how we imagine it to be. But if we continue to help and uplift each other, we hope to bounce forward, stronger together," Flores said.
Mayor Oscar Moreno, who was present during the Christmas Lighting ceremony, also delivered his message, saying that while the mobility of the people in Cagayan de Oro is restricted, it is meant to protect them and their loved ones.
Moreno also expressed his gratitude to SM, remarking that in spite of the difficult conditions that the Kagayanons have to live under due to the pandemic, the SM group is doing everything they can to make Christmas still wonderful and enjoyable for all of the people to enjoy.
"I would like to commend the SM group for ensuring that the spirit of Christmas will still be felt in spite of the difficult condition," Moreno said.
The mayor also said that with the rise of the number of local cases in the city, he hopes that the condition in the city and Northern Mindanao will improve.
"Hopefully, our situation in the city will improve. Kalooy sa Diyos ang atong critical care utilization rate is quite stable. The only problem is in the region today, our local cases are rising," Moreno said.
"We can overcome this so hopefully, as our situation improves, as our public health is strengthened, there will be improving and increasing confidence in each one of us. But I hope na kana nga confidence will be cautious confidence," he added.
Moreno said that as the public health improves, they aim for the restrictions in the city to relax to the point that it will allow younger people and the older ones to go outside their homes.
"Let us enjoy this Christmas, let us continue with keeping the tradition of Christmas. All of us always have memories of Christmas and let those memories also be shared by those we love," Moreno said.