Photo by http://paulding.blogspot.com/2007/12/pinoy-retro-litrato_06.html
THE COD Christmas show that’s much awaited by everyone, I think some Filipinos (ages 30+ and above) can remember the good old days when the COD Dept Store in Cubao in its full glory invites everyone to come and visit their COD Christmas show every night of December around 7pm onward.
That small road will be closed down and will be filled with audiences - kids and adults, street vendors and stanchion to organize where the crowd should be watching the show.
Lights will go out and then a magical bright light will set to focus above the 2nd level of the COD store and we see colorful backdrop of a a city and village and then...a narration of a story will be heard, then a mannequin in full dress and costume walking in front and was part of the story.
Those mannequins are called marionettes, a puppet that are controlled by a puppeteer hiding from above or under the marionettes, they control the movement, walk and also gesture of the marionettes based on the story line of the COD Christmas Show.
It was the best show during the 80’s til the end of the 90’s, I grew up watching the show, from my kid years up to my teen years, but sad to accept that the COD building was sold after the 90’s and the Christmas show were no longer felt after a few years.
But then we get to experience the COD style Christmas show after a mall in Greenhills took the chance to bring back the old show, but it ran for a couple of years and I learned that the show was no longer pushed through after 2016 (not sure my date if its correct)
But for 2018, we’re happy to hear the good news that the old COD Christmas show is back again in Cubao, but this time, it is under the Araneta Center banner. The entire Araneta Center are now being developed and this was a plan that was set 20 years ago, I was there during the groundbreaking ceremony, Im not a blogger yet that time but I get to witness the initial plan back then, but I didn’t realized that the plan is now being applied today, wow! That was a long wait. Adding the COD Christmas Show at the heart of Araneta is a big help to bring back the old folks to visit Araneta again and see that it is much more better than before. Much modern, safe and lots of establishment that we can visit.
The COD Christmas Show is here to stay in Araneta Center, the location of the new show is almost near to the old COD Dept Store, lots of memories were created back then, but it seems that those old memories are not buried when COD left us, the COD Christmas Show left a large impact of our childhood and happy moments, that’s why its hard to forget and us adults are sharing this awesome experience from our yesteryear to our kids and to young people.
New memories are created with the 2018 edition of COD Christmas Show, and if you want to watch the show, just go to Manhattan area of Araneta Center (that old bus terminal ) with the giant Christmas Tree and carnival, show starts at 6PM and then show replay every 15 minutes til 10pm.
Entrance is FREE, there are seats and benches for the audience and also dining area too.
Just dont bring any food or drinks, because they don’t allow outside food inside the viewing area.
Here’s the 2018 edition of the COD aka Christmas On Display show in Araneta Center.
The set up and gimmick are almost the same like in the 80s.
Here comes the marionettes marching around the set up diorama, I noticed that the costume and clothing are so modern. Back then, we get to watch a very simple and provincial theme of each marionettes.
For this year’s theme its about: CHRISTMAS HOME COMING.
There’s a story…..and there’s a lesson
Bring your kids and watch the show
After the show, you can take the kids to play at the replication of a Fiesta Carnival
For foodies, try the Pinoy food booth selling some Christmas food that you can eat while watching the show.
The best part of the COD Christmas On Display show for me are the kid carolers…. Its so cute to see that caroling are still here in our modern time.
The audience at COD, everyone are not blinking hahaha
Great to see that some brought their kids with them.
Giant Christmas Tree in Araneta Center. They say that if this tree was lighted up, it means that Christmas in the Philippines officially started.
Thank you Araneta Center for bringing back the COD Christmas On Display. I hope that they can stay here forever and do a show every month of December.
Im excited to bring my family here so that we can watch it together and create new memories of happiness this Christmas.
