Bonifacio High Street officially opened the 2025 holiday season with the unveiling of this year’s High Street Holiday, a dazzling celebration that transformed the city’s heart into a world of wonder, joy, and love.
In partnership with the Bonifacio Art Foundation, Inc. (BAFI), this year’s festivities center around the BGC Grand Christmas Show 2025 titled “The Real Gifts Around the Christmas Tree.” The spectacular evening brought together world-class Filipino talent, heartwarming performances, and the magic of the season, all under the glow of the city’s 40-foot Christmas tree.
Reflecting the spirit of the evening, FBDC Chief Operating Officer Enrique Manuel Jr. shared, “Christmas reminds us to pause and reflect on what truly matters: spending time with family and loved ones, being a little kinder, and giving back in whatever way we can. It’s a time to be thankful for how far we’ve come, and to look ahead with renewed purpose, for the year to come.”
A Night of Music, Magic, and Meaning
The evening began with the ceremonial lighting of the BGC Christmas Tree, marking the official opening of A Christmas Dreamland. As the tree illuminates 5th Avenue, the stage came alive with a spectacular musical production co-presented by BGC and BAFI.
The performance featured the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) under the baton of Toma Cayabyab, joined by the Ateneo Chamber Singers and musical theater performers Kakki Teodoro and Vic Robinson. With curation & story by Maria Isabel Garcia and Rony Fortich as Musical Director, the show unfolded as a heartfelt musical journey that reminded audiences of this season’s true meaning.
Throughout the concert, Teodoro and Robinson enjoined the BGC community on a whimsical task: to discover what special gifts Christmas songs remind us of. As they sang beloved carols and modern holiday favorites, accompanied by Fortich on the grand piano, each piece of music stirred warm memories, happy feelings, and strong connections brought about by the holiday season. From every performance, soaring vocals, to the graceful choreography by Edd Ricafranca and the Stage Group dancers, and the stirring orchestral interludes, their show was an exhibition of the Christmas season’s magical essence.
By the show’s end, the duo revealed their list of five “Real Gifts” of Christmas:
- Good cheer for everyone, everywhere
- Family and friends you love and who love you
- Grateful hearts
- Peace for people, everywhere
- Love for people, everywhere
Such heartwarming scenes culminated in a finale beneath a glowing Christmas star on the LED displays along 5th Avenue. As the music swelled, larger-than-life puppets by Puppet Theater Manila emerged– vibrant, moving symbols of gifts and Christmas icons that were especially designed to have people from the crowd attach themselves to them to be literally part of the symbols.
Designed to incorporate the presence of people, these towering figures brought the performance to life, transforming Bonifacio High Street into a shared celebration of joy, wonder, and togetherness.
Experience the wonder of the holidays and celebrate the magic of Christmas at the 5th Avenue of Bonifacio Global City, where lights, music, and dreams come together to create a season like no other. For updates and the full holiday schedule, follow Bonifacio Global City on Facebook and Instagram.
