Witness Makati in Color
Christmas tradition meets imagination in Makati.
By Art+ Magazine Team
Photo courtesy of Make It Makati
November 19, 2025
For over five decades, Makati has welcomed the holidays by lighting up Ayala Avenue—a beloved tradition that signals the start of the Christmas season. This year, Ayala Land and Make It Makati proudly present Makati In Color: Where Christmas Tradition Meets Imagination. A vibrant, contemporary interpretation of Filipino symbols inspired by the sarimanok (prosperity) and anahaw (resilience), the installations reimagine heritage in ways that reflect Makati’s role as a thought leader in urban creativity and innovation.
According to Ayala Land President and CEO Ms. Meean Dy, “This year’s theme reflects that spirit of creativity and renewal. These designs celebrate Filipino heritage expressed in a modern, contemporary way, much like Makati itself.”
(L-R) Alexandra Urquijo; Ayala Corporation Chief Sustainability & Risk Officer Jaime Zobel Urquijo; Bea Zobel Jr.; Ayala Land Creative Director Paloma Urquijo Zobel de Ayala; Ayala Corporation Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala; Makati Mayor Nancy Binay; Ayala Land President & CEO Meean Dy; MACEA Board of Governors Chairman Emilio Tumbocon; and Ayala Land Estates Group Head Chris Maglanoc.
Makati In Color brings together estate-wide holiday décor and a full season of performances, shows, and community activities. This year’s festivities unfold as one unified narrative—blending design, music, craft, and culture into a uniquely Filipino Christmas experience.
Christmas in Makati now reaches farther than ever. The lights extend beyond Ayala Avenue and Ayala Triangle Gardens to Paseo de Roxas and Makati Avenue, creating a more connected and immersive holiday landscape. Makati’s flagship malls—starting with Greenbelt—also join the celebration by lighting up their own spaces. From the Makati Central Business District to Circuit Makati, the theme travels across the city.
This year, Ayala Land and Make It Makati proudly present Makati In Color: Where Christmas Tradition Meets Imagination—a vibrant contemporary take on Filipino symbols expressed through unexpected colors, patterns, and forms. Inspired by the sarimanok (a symbol of prosperity) and anahaw (a symbol of resilience), the pieces reinterpret heritage in ways that reflect Makati’s character as a thought leader in urban creativity and innovation.
Paskong Likha
Ayala Land and Make It Makati introduce Makati In Color: Paskong Likha, a curated lineup of shows, installations, markets, and creative activities staged across Ayala Triangle Gardens.
Paskong Likha is a layered celebration of Filipino artistry—bringing together theater performers, pop artists, and indie Filipino creatives. Highlights include: art projections inspired by Filipino weaves and local patterns; craft sessions where the community can adorn trees with decorative fabrics; and performances programmed throughout Ayala Triangle to activate multiple spaces.
Season-long Celebration
The festivities opened on November 13 with the lighting of Ayala Avenue, featuring performances by Cris Villonco, Shiela Valderrama, Arman Ferrer, the Chorale Society of Makati, and Mari Dance.
Weekend and weekday shows continue throughout the season, with more performances to be announced:
November 15 & 16 – UST Singers
November 22 & 23 – Orchestral Performance
November 26 – We Play Here: The Final Act by Warner Music Philippines, featuring Arthur Miguel, Dilaw, FELIP, Jan Roberts, Jason Dhakal, Lola Amour, PLAYERTWO, Stell, and Sugarcane
First three weekends of December (Dec 5–7; 12–14; 19–22) – Pasko na Manam: Music in the Park, featuring a string quartet playing beloved Christmas classics at Ayala Triangle Gardens
December 26–28 – Outdoor cinema under the Tower One canopy (MMFF celebration)
December 31 – New Year’s Eve countdown at Ayala Avenue featuring top Filipino artists.
Christmas Markets
A series of Christmas markets will take place along Paseo de Roxas, showcasing Filipino artisanal food, local makers, and homegrown art. Even the classic French bazaar returns as a Franco-Filipino market that celebrates cultural fusion through food, craft, and design.
December 6–7 – The Makati Street Meet returns with Holiday Bites by Spectrum Fair, featuring local food and retail purveyors—perfect for Christmas shopping
December 13–14 and 20–21 – Makati Street Meet hosts Marche de Noel, in collaboration with the French Embassy, spotlighting French and Filipino gastronomy.
Simbang Gabi
From December 15 to 23, the annual Simbang Gabi mass at Ayala Triangle once again gathers the community in reflection, gratitude, and hope.
This year’s celebrations embody what Makati does best—creativity, innovation, community, and culture—woven together into one unforgettable Filipino Christmas experience. It is bigger, more colorful, and more festive than ever.
Visit Ayala Avenue, Ayala Triangle Gardens, Ayala Center Makati, and Circuit Makati from November 13, 2025 to January 11, 2026, and immerse yourself in Makati In Color.
Follow Make It Makati on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and Threads for updates, schedules, and event highlights.
