‘Christmas on Display’ at Araneta Center
A Christmas tradition comes alive again this Yuletide season and returns to the place it has called home since the mid60s. The Christmas On
Display (COD), formerly known as Manila
C.O.D., is gaining the wows of children and adults alike with a story of Christmas and coming home all told through animatronics display at the Times
Square Food Park,
Araneta Center.
The moving
Christmas display has been attracting audiences of all ages since it became a fixture on the facade of the Manila C.O.D. Department Store in Araneta Center beginning 1966. This magical display of Christmas lights with life-sized moving mannequins would tell of heartwarming Christmas stories.
The brainchild of Alex Rosario, Sr., the return of the animated Christmas display to its original home is welcomed by many for sentimental reasons. According to his son Rey, the CEO and president of Rosario Animated Display, his deceased father would be really happy to know that the COD has finally been able to return to its original home after closing in 2002. As such, this year’s COD theme of “Christmas Comes Home” is truly appropriate.
The COD was launched last Nov. 23 in its new area in Araneta Center known as the Times Square Food Park at the corner of Times Square and Gen. Roxas Avenues, a stone’s throw away from its original location. The food park, since 2017, has been the site of a 100-foot giant Christmas tree.
“Araneta Center is a destination for people from all walks of life celebrating Christmas in this part of Metro Manila. We have lots of activities and surprises to thrill our customers, starting of course with our iconic giant Christmas tree,” Antonio T. Mardo, Araneta Center’s SVP for Operations, said.
Free to the public, the COD can now be watched within the safe enclosure of the food park, where families can also stay and have a meal. Slated to start each night at around 6 p.m. until Jan. 6, each show runs for about 20 minutes with 15-minute intervals.
This year, the story revolves around a family who returns to the country to visit their loved ones. The family comes to revisit the Araneta Center and realizes that there is really no place like home.