Sunday, December 16, 2012


Grand Festival of Lights: Brightening up our children's hearts.
Written & Photographed by JUN REYNALES.




SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City, Philippines, Dec. 8, 2012 –  Bright Lights, Bright Eyes, Beautiful weekend for children and their families!

Amidst the bustling crowd and gargauntian traffic heading to the SM Mall of Asia, one of the premier malls within Metro Manila, everyone anticipates that weekend an exciting event – The Grand Festival of Lights.

Like the bustling activities with Santa Claus’ North Pole residence, everyone was busy all over that night. From the staffs who played the reindeers, elves, and other animated cute and cuddly characters, to the beautiful winged angels, to the all-smiling band players, and even the special guesting of Santa Claus himself, it was indeed a good sight to see!

I came about, through an invitation of a fellow photographer Joey de Leon and Punky Canoy (that charming marketing officer for SM MOA), to be able to take photos about that night’s parade preparation and festivities.

It was a lovely night. So many beautiful doe-eyed children waiting and watching, as if waiting for some surprise gifts to be opened and unravelled for their satisfaction.  Eagerly anticipating while the whole entourage of parade marched to entertain, all were jumping delightfully, as each part of the trooped danced, played music, jumped and waved. All the parents and elders meanwhile gleefully focused and clicked their cameras to each of those part of the parade – most specially to Santa Clause!
 
It was so nice to be a child that evening. You can see through their innocent eyes -- eagerly anticipating the wonders to unravel, and what delight it had brought  them that evening. That joyous event, they will grow and carry it as part of the foundation of their good growing-up years, perhaps even after two or three decades thereafter, at that moment in their lives, their hearts brightened.

And as the old line from the movie of the yester-years, “Yes Virginia... there is a Santa Claus.”


Indeed... Life is Good!

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