Christmas-on-Display to liven up San Juan City Hall on Nov. 22

PHOTO BY EV ESPIRITU/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

A Christmas-on-Display (COD), featuring dazzling lights and dancing mannequins, is set to lighten up San Juan City Hall on Nov. 22 at 6 p.m. for the holiday season.

The COD, with the theme “Paskong Pinoy,” will highlight Filipino Christmas traditions such as “family reunions, Christmas carols, colorful lanterns and variety of merrymaking activities and a fervent prayer.”

The display will also feature the city’s landmarks such as the Pinaglabanan Church and the city hall.

It will also invite 300 children from daycare centers in San Juan City during its launching. It will then be open to the public from Nov. 23 until Jan. 6 next year.

San Juan City Mayor Guia Gomez said the COD display was “nostalgic and hopeful,” noting that she would love to share it with the public.

“When I look at the display, I cannot help but feel nostalgic and hopeful about Christmas. It is a feeling I want to share with our people when they stroll at the City Hall grounds this holiday season,” Gomez said in a statement on Friday.

Apart from the COD show, San Juan City Hall will also put up night markets to allow hundred stalls for shopping and dining.

The COD began for more than 60 years ago as a gimmick by Alex Rosario to attract customers in his family-owned department store, Manila Cash on Delivery (COD) on Avenida Rizal in Manila.

The display was brought to the Araneta Center for 40 years then it was transferred in Greenhills Shopping Center for a decade. It was then discontinued in 2016 to pave way for the development in the area.