SM CITY Pampanga lighted its 30-foot Christmas tree themed as "Christmas Playhouse."
The festive mood of the yuletide season centerpiece will bring joy and a smile to both the young ones and the young ones. This is SM City Pampanga's way of bringing together bonding time for families and friends for a photo op.
Aside from this, SM City Pampanga also donated 100 sacks of rice to the medical frontliners as part of their community service.
Also, as part of their tradition, the SM Bears of Joy, which are brought to you by SM Cares and Toy Kingdom, will continue to bring smiles to children everywhere starting November 12.
Shoppers can purchase two toy bears and keep one while the other one will be donated to a community charity.
Present during the lighting of SM City Pampanga's centerpiece were City of San Fernando Vice Mayor Jimmy Lazatin, BM Rosve Henson, Mexico Municipal Engineer Jess Punzalan, SM Supermalls AVP North Engr. Junias Eusebio, Regional Operations Manager North 4 Andrea Madlangbayan, SM City Pampanga Mall Manager Aron Montenegro.
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The soul diva is now based in the US.
Right before the pandemic, Jaya has decided to leave her career in the Philippines and flew to the US together with her entire family. However, despite growing up in the land of the apple, the 51-year-old celebrity mom admitted to having a bit of culture shock.
Jaya revealed, "Medyo naloloka ako kasi iba talaga dito. Fortunately, lumaki yung mga bata sa Pilipinas. So merong semblance of respect sa elders, di ba? Kasi dito talaga, sinasabi ko lang sa iyo, iba. Ayoko lang magsalita, pero iba talaga. Isang example, ako yung nagha-hi sa mga bata. Instead of them saying, 'Hi!' 'Di ba sa atin, 'Hi, tita! Hi, tito! Good morning po!' Dito, hindi ganun. So I'm just trying to make sure that the children are maintaining their Filipino ways."
Jaya believes that schools play a significant role in developing the core values of kids in the U.S. But she is secure in knowing that her kids can already differentiate right from wrong.
The singer related, "Ang feeling ko lang is iba kasi yung lifestyle dito, and they have been introducing anik-anik, mga kung anik-anik, mga critical race theory na iyan... Mga kung anik-anik, noh! My children are aware kasi napag-usapan na namin iyan dati, e. So ang kanila lang is, basta hindi na nila gusto, they will ask us, parents, to go to school and talk to the teachers and the counselors. Dito kasi, pag high school, elementary ganyan, middle school, may counselor. Hindi tulad sa atin, teacher lang. Dito pipiliin mo yung subjects mo. So may mga subjects na puwede nilang iwasan for whatever reason, yun tanggap yun."
Jaya added, "I trust my children enough to adjust and know what's right and wrong. And of course, we will always guide them. Like I said, iba ang Pilipino. Kailangan ko siyang i-maintain. Kailangan ko ituluy-tuloy yung guidance na ganyan sa mga bata. And gusto nila yun, mas gusto nila yung Filipino way."
Jaya also noted the importance of having a good relationship with your kids as they grow up. According to the singer, one way to do this is to always keep communication lines open.
She explained, "Mapalad kami kasi close kaming lahat. Wala sa amin yung, 'Naku, huwag natin sabihin kay ganun baka magalit.' No, you tell me. Pag hindi ko type, sabihin kong hindi ko type. Pag ginawa mo yun, bahala ka kasi alam mo na ang mangyayari.' E, ayun nga, sinasabi ko sa iyo, yung mga anak ko, Pinoy style. Kahit na sabihin pa nila, 'My friends are doing this.' 'Hindi, you know that they are doing it wrong.' So hindi sila takot mag-confide sa amin."
Jaya moved to the US with her family in July 2021.