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Survive Christmas with this helpful little guide
Christmas means the birth of Jesus, lots of gift-giving, copious amounts of parties, traffic jams, carmageddon, crowded malls, and are you tired yet? As much as it's the happiest time of the year, it's also craziest.
RELATED: The tired girl's guide to looking cute this Holiday season
The stress is only bound to get worse as December 25 draws nearer, so we're minding the gap. Below are necessary bits of information to help everyone deal and have a merry good time. Happy holidays everyone!
MALL HOURS
For those cramming their shopping.
Makati:
Glorietta
- November 2-December 23
- 11am to 10pm (Monday to Friday)
- 10am to 10pm (Saturday to Sunday)
- December 24 11am to 8pm
- December 25 12pm to 10pm
- December 26-30
- 11am to 10pm (Monday to Friday)
- 10am to 10pm (Saturday to Sunday)
- December 31 11am to 6pm
- January 1 12pm to 10pm
Greenbelt 2, 3, 4 & 5
- November 15-December 22
- 11am to 10pm
- December 23 10am to 10pm
- December 24 10am to 8pm
- December 25 12pm to 10pm
- December 26-30 11am to 10pm
- December 31 11am to 8pm
- January 1 12pm to 10pm
Manila and Pasay
Lucky Chinatown Mall
- December 15-22 9am to 10pm
- December 25-29 9am to 10pm
- December 24 & 31 9am to 7pm
- January 1 12pm to 10pm
SM Mall of Asia
- December 8-22 11am to 12am
- December 17-23 10am to 12am
- December 25, 30 10am to 11am
- December 24, 31 9am-8pm
- January 1 12pm to 11pm
Quezon City:
Trinoma
- November 2-December 15 11am to 11pm
- December 16-23 11am to 12am
- December 24 11am to 8pm
- December 25-30 11am to 11pm
- December 31 11am to 7pm
- January 1 12pm to 10pm
SM City North Edsa
- December 1, 8-23 11am to 12am
- December 3, 25-30 10am to 11pm
- December 24, 31 9am to 7pm
- January 1 12pm to 11pm
Pasig, Ortigas, San Juan
SM Megamall
- December 8-23 11am to 12am
- December 26-30 10am to 11pm
- December 24, 31 9am to 7pm
- January 1 12pm to 11pm
Estancia Mall
- December 11-15, 18-22, 26-29 11am to 10pm
- December 24 & 31 10am to 8pm
- December 25 12pm to 9pm
- January 1 12pm to 9pm
Greenhills Shopping Center
GETTING AROUND
While we're still awaiting announcements from the MRT and the LRT about adjusted holidays hours, the Metro Manila Development Authority has already advised motorists plying EDSA about its new ganap.
Starting Monday, December 11 am, the MMDA will start its week-long dry-run of the carpool lane aka High Occupancy Vehicle Lane.
That week, the leftmost lane of EDSA will be reserved for vehicles with two passengers and more.
This is in addition to the yellow lane, okay? And the number-coding. And the adjusted mall hours.
ONLINE SHOPPING
That said, consider online shopping; you're plugged in 24/7 anyway. It will save yourself the hassles of a carmaggedon, lack of parking, and the thick mall crowds.
For your last-minute Noche Buena needs: Honestbee offers stress-free grocery shopping. It gets its goods from Robinsons Supermarket, Robinsons Selections, and Fresh Options so you know you're getting good stuff.
You can get a concierge shopper option for an extra P99, which can get you wines from AWC, Boozy.ph, and The Straits Wine Company. You can also choose ready-to-eat offerings from establishments like S&R Pizza, Grind Bistro, Chooks to Go, and many more.
Free delivery for purchases above P2,500 but if you're spending below that amount and badly need your cart to be delivered, shell out an extra P49 for delivery fee.
Once you download the app, just register for free, log on and click on the items you want, and then pay with your credit card or choose cash on delivery. Oh, and first-time users get a P500 voucher with a minimum spend of P2,500.
For your monito monita needs: Lazada has pretty much everything. The website incidentally has an ongoing Online Revolution Grand Christmas Sale until December 12 where you can grab deals up to 95% off from top brands . Get holiday stocking stuffers on flash sale, plus a chance to win raffle prizes.
For your Christmas OOTD: Haven't the time to shop for a Christmas dress? Seek the Uniq is it! Surf through its wide selection of beauty stuff, accessories, clothing, shoes, and more and pay with your credit card or do cash on delivery. Item exchanges and returns are welcome within five days of receipt.
Hotel holiday promos
Don't know where to go for a special Christmas lunch? Take advantage of special offers from the city’s best hotels.
Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila
It can’t get a more festive than Spiral’s impressive offerings like Christmas ham, turkey stuffing and cranberry sauce, roast suckling pig, lobster thermidor, lechon, beef morcon, chicken embutido — not to mention its incredible cheese room and decadent desserts. Christmas Eve Dinner (P5,500) is from 6pm to 11pm, while Christmas Day Champagne Brunch (P4,900) is available from 12pm to 3pm.
Spiral will also have a lavish feast on New Year’s Eve where guests will be serenaded by The Voice Philippines’ Hans Dimayuga and Ramonne Rodriguez. Dinner comes with a glass of champagne (P7,599) and is available from 7pm to 11pm.
Or get the Prestige Package featuring free-flowing Dom Perignon and half a bottle of Grand Cru wine (P36,848). New Year’s Day Brunch (P4,215) features unlimited French sparkling wine; available from 12pm to 3pm.
CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City. Website. +632 5515555, +632 8326988
City of Dreams Manila
Gourmands would take delight in Nobu Manila’s seven-course omakase dinner menu (P5,400) available until December 28. Spoil yourself with fancy dishes like Aburi Tachiuo Salad with Spicy Lemon Dressing; Roasted King Prawn with Scampi Gratin, Wasabi Aioli and Bacon Korokke; and Nobu-Style Puto Bumbong. There will also be an exclusive seven-course omakase offering on New Year’s Eve.
If the lolos and the lolas are looking for Chinese, Crystal Dragon is it. The Cantonese and contempo Chinese restaurant has two five-course Christmas set menus on offer the entire December: Set Menu A (P1,988++) includes Pan Fried Fragrant Glutinous Rice served with Aromatic Duck Leg in Abalone Sauce, Steamed Cod Fish with Baby Bok Choy and Crispy Turnips, and Chilled Sweetened Mango Sphere with Pan Fried Soft Skin Ube.
Set Menu B (P2,388++) meanwhile showcases Hands roll Peking Duck with Seafood Platter; Braised E Fu Noodle with Oven Baked Garlic and Bacon Lobster; and Walnut Chocolate Whiskey’s Soft Skin Sweet Dumpling served with Crispy Custard Banana Roll and Warm Vanilla Sauce.
Looking for a New Year’s Eve ganap? Count down to 2018 with top local artists like True Faith at Chaos and CenterPlay. Party hard and end the year with a bang!
Aseana Avenue corner Macapagal Avenue, Entertainment City, Roxas Boulevard, Paranaque, Parañaque, 1700 Metro Manila. Website. +632 8008080
Waterfront Manila Pavilion Hotel and Casino
Do away with meal preparations at home and go for a delightful dinner on Christmas Eve at Seasons Restaurant where your palate can go on a Southeast Asian expedition.
Bring your little angels and take them to the Christmas Kids’ Corner where they can join fun activities and get goody bags. Go with a big group to avail of the Dine 5, Free 1 at P950 per person.
Make plans with your friends to join the revelry at the hotel’s New Year’s Eve Buffet and Countdown (P1,200 per person). Get ready to be awed with the night full of dance, songs, and food.
Or better yet, go for the all-in staycation package with its “Relax, it’s Christmas” room promo. Guests will be treated to a free consumable P1,000 voucher for all the hote’s F&B outlets. There’s also the New Year’s Eve Countdown Package (starts at P8,300) that includes room accommodation, dinner buffet passes for three, breakfast buffet passes for two, and 20% discount voucher for all F&B outlets.
United Nations Avenue corner Maria Orosa Street, Manila. Website. +632 5261212
AG New World Hotel Manila Bay Hotel
Let food dictate your holiday get-togethers this season. Meet your fellow titas for a Festive Afternoon Tea (P600) at the Lobby Lounge and exchange stories over Old English fruit cake, traditional scones, holiday cookies and more.
For a more filling meal, Market Café has an all-day international buffet where you can get your fill from mouthwatering displays of Christmas ham, slow-roast turkey, and other specialty cuisines.
Christmas Eve rates are P2,800 for lunch and P3,200 for dinner; Christmas Day is P3,200 for lunch and dinner. New Year’s Eve rate is P3,600. Dinner includes free-flowing beverages, beer and wine.
Say hello to 2018 at the New Year’s Eve Countdown Party at the roof deck where party-goers can revel in the live music from guest DJs. Rate for walk-in guests is P1,800 while in-house guests and restaurant diners have a special rate of P1,500. The lucky ones can get to win raffle prizes like overnight hotel stay, food vouchers, and other exciting prizes.
Pedro Gil Street, Malate, Manila. Website. +63 2 252 6888
Seda Vertis North
The quiet hotel up north has a few holiday promos up its sleeve to make guests feel the warm and nippy Christmas spirit. There's the hotel's chorale — comprised of Seda employees no less — singing Christmas carols at the hotel lobby from December 18-22 from 6-7pm. And then its excellent Mista restaurant has holiday promos: Christmas eve dinner at P1800 ++ per person, Christmas day lunch at P1500 ++, and finally New Year's Eve dinner at P1800 as well.
Astra corner Lux Drives, Vertis North, Quezon City. Facebook. +632 7398888
— LA, GMA News
