SM CDO Downtown Premier kicked off the yuletide season with its Dazzling Downtown Christmas launch graced with the presence of City Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya who also led the ceremonial lighting of the mall's giant Christmas tree Sunday evening, October 24, 2022.

 

Councilor Nacaya, who attended the tree lighting event on behalf of City Mayor Rolando "Klarex" Uy, cited Filipino's habit of celebrating Christmas everyday of the year.

 

 

"We always celebrate Christmas everyday because according to our understanding, Christmas is loving, and to give love is everyday," Councilor Nacaya said.

 

"And so, we do this ceremony to symbolize the act of kindness and generosity and there is no institution that would leave an open Cagayan de Oro to this act of kindness and generosity other than SM Cagayan de Oro," he added.

SM Regional Operations Manager Joey Tumolva, for his part, expressed his gratitude to the City Government as the mall's long-time partner.

 

"Today we launch our Christmas centerpieces signaling the start of holiday happiness and spectacle in each of the communities we are in. We thank our LGU partner, the City of Cagayan de Oro, and Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya for joining us in person," Tumolva said.

 

SM CDO Downtown began the season of giving last September 17, which marks 100 days of Christmas.

 

The Christmas tree lighting ceremony is an annual event in SM CDO Downtown to formally open its celebration of the yuletide season.

 

Although, on September 17, the mall already began its season of giving, and partnered with cost-oriented groups, giving them 100 days to be in the mall to raise funds for their beneficiaries and charities. (JAS-CIO)