Coca-Cola invites us to Open Happiness this Christmas

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful."

- Norman Vincent Peale

Last Saturday after work my good friend Michelle and I went to Araneta parking lot in Cubao to attend the Coca-Cola Caravan and witness the lighting of the Giant Christmas Tree. Never mind that I was running on less than two hours of sleep from the night before after the party I went to, I cannot miss this! Never mind that it was hot outside that day, I cannot not wear my Christmas-y red and white striped dress that made me look like a real-life candy cane or a female Wally of Where's Wally?!

It felt like one big deja-vu from the Coca-Cola Caravan we also attended last year, but I gotta say I enjoyed this year's festivities more!

More treats were offered this year :)

Kapamilya stars and Coca-Cola ambassadors Empress Schuck, Arron Villaflor, Enchong Dee, Julia Montes, Kathryn Bernardo, Jessy Mendiola, and Joseph Marco.

Photo op with Santa ♥

After a short program wherein the Coca-Cola Agawin ang Eksena monthly finalists performed and showcased their talents in singing and dancing, the CEO just spoke a few words and then - together with the rest of the Coca-Cola ambassadors - he presided over the lighting of the almost 100ft Christmas Tree!

Fireworks and red & white confetti also lit up the sky.
It was so beautiful! I wish you were all there to witness it.

This year's tree is bedecked with more than 10,000 lights and hundreds of stars and Coca-Cola Christmas balls,
with huge ribbons and colorful gift boxes as accents.

Coca-Cola ambassadors from both ABS-CBN and GMA came together and performed throughout the night to the audience's delight, and even gave away raffle prizes! Natasha Bedingfield was also supposed to go but wasn't able to go anymore because of conflicts in her schedule. I got sad a bit because I really wanted to see her, but I also got thoroughly entertained by the stars who went onstage that night.

Arron Villaflor looked so hot in person ♥

The night culminated with a concert by Spongecola. It was only the second time I saw them perform live, and I must say they are really good! Yael Yuzon was so funny and energetic and all kinds of charming; it was so easy to fall in love with him that night ;)

He was even given a "ride" by the bouncers so he can approach the people far from the stage :))

This celebration of food, music and happiness wouldn't have been that great if I weren't with my friends!

It was my first time to meet Barbie in person!
She once left a comment on one of my posts about wanting to attend events too, and my friend Ed replied that he'll invite her the next time they hold one.
When I received Ed's invite, I remembered his and my promise to Barbie, so I asked her to come along! Yay!

Ed and Dewi
The whole event was organized by the PR firm Ed works for :)

Mines and Zeke

And the winner of the day - Michelle!
She won a box of goodies in the raffle! Wow!

Do you want to win your own Coca-Cola Christmas Box? Just follow these simple steps: (1) Drink Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite, or Royal Tru Orange in any 400mL, 500mL, 750mL, 1Liter, 1.25L, 1.5L or 2L packs; (2) Collect two caps in exchange for one raffle coupon which may be claimed at participating sari-sari stores, public market stalls, Coke sales offices and Coke Dealers redemption centers from November 1 to December 30, 2011; (3) Text in the code in the coupon to join the electronic raffle. Winners will be selected per area nationwide daily, and the Coca-Cola Christmas Boxes will be delivered right to the winners' doorsteps! See posters and visit coca-cola.com.ph for more details ;)

Coca-Cola Christmas commercials always give me a warm, fuzzy feeling. Here's this year's commercial:

And here's the complete single as sung by Natasha Bedingfield. The version played during the Caravan had some Filipino words in it, and it was just so surreal to listen to my favorite Briitish singer singing some lyrics in my mother-tongue. I'll try to get a recording of that one, but for the meantime, feast your ears and hearts on this:

Shake it up and wake up the happiness, guys! It's Christmas time ♥