Christmas merrymakers flock to parks, malls on December 25

Merrymakers made their way to parks and malls on Sunday, December 25, to celebrate Christmas with their families and loved ones.

As of 2 p.m., it was estimated that 43,000 had trooped to Rizal Park since 5 a.m., according to a report by dzBB’s Ralph Obina.

Many of them opted to spend Christmas in the famous tourist destination because it was free of charge.

Some laid out mats in the park, while children played around the area. Many also took their photos in the area where the monument of Dr. Jose Rizal stands.

More people are expected to head to Rizal Park within the day as December 26, Monday, was declared a special non-working day by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

Manila Zoo also welcomed visitors on Christmas, but many of them were having difficulty with online registration which resulted in long queues, according to a separate tweet by Ralph Obina.

Manila Zoo reopened its doors to the public on November 21 after its renovation.

Entrance costs P150 for Manila residents, while those residing outside the city would have to pay P300. There’s a P100 discount for students, and kids below two years old get in for free.

Other people, meanwhile, preferred to go to malls to watch movies included in this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), based on a tweet from dzBB’s Glen Juego.

The festival, which features eight films, will run from December 25 to January 7, 2023.

As of 4:00PM, pila sa ilang sinehan, dagsa kasabay nang pagsisimula ng pagpapalabas sa mga pelikulang kalahok sa #MMFF2022. | via @glenjuego pic.twitter.com/G8IA6n1YyU

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) December 25, 2022

The Christmas vibe was also very much present at the Star City amusement park which features 31 rides and attractions, Ian Cruz said in his report.

The theme park’s Snow World, which has a -15°C temperature clicked with visitors who want to experience a white Christmas.

Star City reopened its doors to the public in February 2022.

In Tagaytay, on the other hand, Mav Gonzales said in a report that the traffic was heavy as many tourists looked to visit the city’s tourist attractions like the Palace in the Sky and Picnic Grove.

Many families brought tents and picnic items with them as they spent their holidays in Tagaytay which overlooks Taal Volcano Island.

Temperatures in Tagaytay are expected to dip as low as 19°C, according to the report.

The Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) earlier urged the public to prioritize health protocols as the country continues to battle COVID-19 this Christmas season.

It reminded the public to wear their masks, wash their hands, keep their distance, and maintain the airflow inside households.

This came even as Marcos signed Executive Order No. 7 in October, making the wearing of face masks both indoors and outdoors voluntary amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

During 2021's Christmas celebrations, the Health Department reminded the public that there was a 70% capacity restriction for outdoor areas under a COVID-19 Alert Level 2.

Meanwhile, indoor venues in areas under Alert Level 2 had a 50% capacity restriction.

Furthermore, organizers holding celebrations were urged to only allow fully-vaccinated individuals inside indoor venues.

The public was also urged to refrain from removing their face masks except during mealtime as well as to implement physical distancing measures.

Christmas party organizers and attendees were also dissuaded from conducting activities that would involve close-contact interactions and loud singing, shouting, and similar interactions. — DVM, GMA Integrated News