The Christmas festivities officially began at SM City Sta. Mesa as the mall welcomed families, shoppers, and holiday enthusiasts to its annual “Moments of Wonder” Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on October 24, 2026. The celebration took on an added star-studded touch with the surprise appearance of celebrity couple Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, who joined the festivities and personally interacted with fans while promoting their upcoming movie, Remember.
The mall’s parking area was transformed into a festive Christmas destination, featuring shimmering lights, warm golden accents, and nostalgic holiday decorations. At the heart of the setup stood a towering Christmas tree, elaborately adorned to serve as the centerpiece of the celebration. Its illumination marked the beginning of the holiday countdown for the SM City Sta. Mesa community, giving visitors an opportunity to welcome the season together.
The annual event brought the familiar excitement of Filipino Christmas traditions to the mall, where families and friends gathered not only to witness the lighting ceremony but also to enjoy an evening of entertainment and special activities. The festive atmosphere was complemented by performances, celebrity appearances, and the participation of local government representatives and SM Supermalls executives.
The program featured live acrobatic acts that added energy and spectacle to the evening’s entertainment. Marcus of HORI7ON also made a special appearance, giving fans another reason to look forward to the program as the celebration moved toward its highlight.
The biggest surprise of the night came with the arrival of Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera. Their appearance immediately drew the attention of the audience, with fans welcoming the couple enthusiastically.
Rather than limiting their participation to the stage, Dantes and Rivera made their way down to mingle with the crowd. The couple’s decision to interact with attendees brought them closer to their supporters, many of whom welcomed the opportunity to see the two personalities up close.
Their appearance also served as an opportunity to introduce Remember, their upcoming movie. Dantes addressed the audience and invited them to support the film, describing it as their Christmas offering to Filipino moviegoers.
“Isang maagang Merry Christmas sa inyong lahat. Andito po kami because gusto po naming ishare sa inyo ang aming pamaskong handog para sa lahat po sa inyo na nandito ngayon, ang aming pelikulang Remember… So don’t forget November 11 pagpasok ng Pasko, eto na po ang pambungad, ang pelikula naming Remember,” Dantes said.
He reminded the audience of the film’s November 11, 2026 release date, encouraging moviegoers to include it in their upcoming holiday-season cinema plans.
The surprise appearance gave the Christmas tree lighting an additional entertainment highlight, as fans were able to enjoy the festivities while hearing directly from the couple about their forthcoming project.
Mary Joy Arsenio, Mall Manager of SM City Sta. Mesa, welcomed the audience and shared how the mall’s celebration forms part of SM Supermalls’ broader Christmas initiative.
She explained that this year’s campaign features 12 iconic Christmas moments across 91 SM malls nationwide. The initiative aims to bring holiday celebrations to different communities through festive displays and experiences that encourage people to gather and celebrate.
“This year, we launch Christmas with 12 iconic Christmas moments across our 91 SM malls nationwide, bringing the holidays to life with more sparkle, more festive experiences and more reason to celebrate together. As one of the country’s most loved malls, we’re proud to be part of your Christmas tradition,” Arsenio said.
Her message emphasized the importance of creating shared holiday experiences for shoppers and families. For many Filipinos, visiting Christmas displays and attending tree-lighting ceremonies have become part of the season’s traditions, offering opportunities to spend time with loved ones and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
At SM City Sta. Mesa, the illuminated tree and surrounding decorations provided the setting for this year’s celebration, while the program brought together entertainment and community participation.
The celebration was also attended by representatives of the local government. Quezon City Fourth District Councilor Atty. Vincent Belmonte represented Mayor Joy Belmonte and conveyed the Mayor’s greetings to the SM City Sta. Mesa community.
“Ipinapaabot po ni Mayor Joy Belmonte ang mainit na pagbati sa SM Sta. Mesa community as we mark the start of our Christmas season tonight,” Belmonte said.
His attendance reflected the participation of local government representatives in the mall’s holiday gathering. SM Supermalls executives and shoppers also joined the event, with Santa Claus making a special appearance to add to the Christmas atmosphere.
The evening reached its main ceremonial moment with the countdown and illumination of the Christmas setup. As the lights came on, the towering tree became the focal point of the venue, officially welcoming the holiday season at SM City Sta. Mesa.
Beyond the entertainment and promotional activities, Dantes and Rivera also made time for a meaningful interaction with children with Down syndrome.
The couple spent a special moment with the children during the event, adding a personal and heartfelt dimension to their appearance. Amid the excitement surrounding their arrival and the Christmas celebration, the interaction offered a reminder that the season is also an opportunity to share kindness, attention, and meaningful experiences with others.
Their time with the children became one of the more personal moments of the evening, complementing the festive activities that brought families and visitors together.
Following their appearance at the Christmas tree lighting, Dantes and Rivera proceeded to the cinema area for a ticket-selling activity for Remember. The activity gave fans another opportunity to interact with the couple and support their upcoming film.
The couple’s decision to go directly to the cinema area also allowed the movie promotion to become part of the evening’s activities. Fans who attended the celebration were able to see them at close range and take part in the film’s ticket-selling activity ahead of its scheduled November 11 release.
The promotion of Remember gave the couple’s appearance a connection to the upcoming Christmas season. Through his message, Dantes presented the film as their early holiday offering to audiences, encouraging those in attendance to remember its release date.
For the couple, the SM City Sta. Mesa event provided an opportunity to meet supporters in a festive setting while introducing their upcoming project. For the audience, their surprise appearance added another memorable moment to an evening already filled with performances and Christmas activities.
The event successfully brought together the different elements of a traditional mall Christmas celebration: an elaborate holiday display, live entertainment, community participation, and opportunities for families and fans to create shared memories.
With its “Moments of Wonder” theme, SM City Sta. Mesa’s Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony marked the start of another holiday season for its shoppers and surrounding community.
The illuminated Christmas tree stood as the centerpiece of the celebration, while the performances, special guests, and participation of local officials helped make the evening a community gathering rather than simply a decorative unveiling.
The presence of Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera further heightened the excitement, particularly for fans who were able to meet the couple and learn more about Remember. Their interaction with the audience and their special moment with the children added personal touches to the festivities.
As SM Supermalls rolls out its 12 iconic Christmas moments across 91 malls nationwide, SM City Sta. Mesa’s celebration became part of a larger effort to bring holiday experiences closer to Filipino communities. For the families and shoppers who attended, the evening offered an early taste of Christmas through lights, entertainment, togetherness, and the shared excitement of welcoming the season. (with reports from Lexi Mercader)