Two main events happened in Bacolod that keep the smiles coming – the reopening of the iconic Christmas Village by Bamboo Tonogbanua which never ceases to amaze me and the grand opening of the huge and beautiful McDonalds in The Upper East, Megaworld which has since drawn long lines of customers who want to experience this new attraction in our city.
It’s actually three if you will count the opening of the Majica exhibit in the art district this coming weekend but that’s another story to tell.
Bamboo’s Christmas Village has always been a must-see in our family when everyone comes home for the holidays. Kids and adults alike will marvel at the miniature figures that Bamboo has creatively displayed over snow-capped mountains and frozen ponds, not to mention the miniature trains, the cable cars and two-inch skaters among others and Bamboo gave all of it a fresh look. I cannot imagine the time he allotted to repaint all of the miniature items that he has collected over the years.
I remembered bringing my two boys when it first started over two decades ago and we saw how the display grew from just one table to what it is now, two rooms of sheer magic. Just before the pandemic, I was able to share that magic with my granddaughter, Ava. Now that it’s open again, I will surely mark a date for us because seeing it from the eyes of a child truly makes Christmas more enchanting.
Along with celebrating 25 years of the Christmas Village (it closed for two years due to the pandemic), we also celebrated Bamboo’s nth birthday and true to form, the table setting and the décor was just classy. It was an intimate dinner among friends and family with crooner, Charles Kevin Tan entertaining us with bossa and classics music. Wine, good food and great company made that evening complete.
Sunday, we attended the opening of the huge and beautiful McDonalds at The Upper East. You have to go and see for yourself to actually admire the innovations not seen in any other McDonalds’ branches in the country. But it’s not surprising as Megaworld’s creations are synonymous to class.
Visitors will be greeted by the giant MassKara crafted by good friend, Jojo Vito which is lighted up at night to enthrall you with the ongoing festival. Megaworld is joining the MassKara Festival and by next week, we will be experiencing lights and sounds in that township.
McDonalds is also where Megaworld displayed the century old train of the Bacolod Murcia Milling Company which used to own and operate in that area. In that open space where clients can dine al-fresco, is a children’s park and a dessert station on a train.
Harold Brian Geronimo, Vice President of PR and Media Affairs of Megaworld and also a Bacolodnon toured us around the establishment and showed us furnishings that were imported from France and HongKong.
I’ve never seen a McDonalds branch with a boardroom called “Collab Room,” but this one has and it can easily fit 10 people although I think it’s even big enough to accommodate 20 or so people who would like to hold their meetings there. It is state-of-the-art with automated order machines to make it faster and less people contact since we are still in the pandemic. And keeping their customers in mind, McDonalds also placed phone and laptop charging stations all over the complex.
But more than that, Megaworld ensured they are keeping with the times and added-on recycled bricks and vertical gardens plus endemic trees all around to ensure that indeed, they stay true to the concept of going green and sustainable.