Welcome the Year of the Wood Snake with prosperity in Araneta City

Celebrate Chinese New Year with exciting events and promotions in the City of Firsts. Araneta City welcomes the Year of the Wood Snake with a lively celebration full of tradition, festivities, and good fortune!

The Snake in Chinese astrology represents wisdom, intelligence, intuition, and creativity. To reflect these qualities, the City of Firsts provides activities focused on renewal, prosperity, and transformation. This is the year to strike with purpose, as the Wood element strengthens the Snake's adaptability, making 2025 an ideal time to align goals and embrace change. Snakes are known as deep thinkers and skilled strategists. They navigate life with elegance and purpose—much like Araneta City's "Strike for Success" theme, which inspires everyone to welcome good luck, financial success, and meaningful transformation with open arms.

Dazzling Decors

The celebration at the City of Firsts begins with enchanting decorations throughout its malls. Traditional Chinese arches will greet visitors at Gateway Malls 1 and 2, Ali Mall, and Farmers Plaza. The Quantum Skyview at Gateway Mall 2 will be centered on a stunning effigy representing the spirit of the Wood Snake.

A Horoscope Exhibit at Gateway Malls 1 and 2 and Farmers Plaza will provide insight into the zodiac predictions for 2025, including advice on love, career, health, and luck. Visitors can view interactive displays highlighting the strengths and opportunities of each Chinese zodiac sign.

Exciting Festivities

On January 28 and 29, Araneta City's Lunar New Year celebrations will be brought to life with traditional Dragon and Lion Dance performances that will spread dynamic energy and drive away negativity in preparation for prosperity.

On January 29, the Chinese New Year festivities begin in full swing at all Araneta City malls. Visitors to Gateway Mall 2 can enjoy a Chinese Acrobats Show, a cultural performance by students from the Philippine Chung Hua School, a Tarot Card Reading session, and a photo booth. Gateway Mall 1 will host a Jigsaw Puzzle Competition, and Farmers Plaza will have a Zodiac Runway Costume Contest. 

From January 22 to 31, Ali Mall will host a Chinese New Year Prosperity Bazaar, featuring lucky charms, festive treats, and symbolic good fortune items. On January 29, they will receive a reading and Feng Shui consultation from Master Ang to learn about their fortunes for the coming year.

Irresistible Promos

Shoppers can look forward to special Chinese New Year treats on January 29. Customers who spend ₱1,500 at Araneta City malls can receive a free snake plant representing resilience and prosperity, as well as a free tarot reading at Gateway Mall 2 or Ali Mall.

The "Hidden Red Envelope Hunt" Challenge, an interactive digital promotion in which social media live streams drop clues leading to a hidden red envelope somewhere in Araneta City, adds to the excitement of the festivities. The first person to find it will win two movie passes.

This Chinese New Year 2025, Araneta City promises a memorable celebration of luck, renewal, and success. So gather your loved ones, join the festivities, and aim for success as we celebrate a year of opportunity, abundance, and joy at the City of Firsts!

Araneta City is managed by ACI Inc, one of the five business units of the Araneta Group of Companies. With a long history of pioneer business ventures, the progressive and diversified Araneta Group is anchored on property development, food service, leisure and entertainment, and hospitality. Visit the Araneta Group's official website for more details.

For updates on Araneta City, visit its official website, or follow it on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Tiktok. Download the Araneta City mobile app on Apple App Store (for iOS) or Google Play Store (for Android) to get the latest on promos and events.

Here are some of the biggest Asian acts performing at the City of Firsts

Here are some of the biggest Asian acts performing at the City of Firsts

Memorize those fanchants, gather your merch, and take out your lightsticks because some of the biggest pop acts in Asia are taking over the City of Firsts!

Starting this weekend, some of the most in demand and popular artists are coming to Manila to meet their fans and treat them to exciting performances.

First are Moonbin and Sanha who will be having their first fanmeeting and concert at the New Frontier Theater this Saturday, March 25. Moonbin and Sanha is the first official sub-unit of ASTRO, and they have chosen Manila as the first stop of the MOONBIN&SANHA (ASTRO) Fan Con: [Diffusion]. Get ready for performances and special stages that were especially prepared to thrill Pinoy Arohas. To get your tickets, for the MOONBIN&SANHA (ASTRO) Fan Con: [Diffusion], please visit this link.

Next, we have WayV who will be coming to Manila for their Phantom Fan Meeting tour this Sunday, March 26 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. WayV, the Chinese sub-unit of the hugely popular NCT, will be performing here in the country with five members, Kun, Ten, Xiaojun, Hendery, and YangYang and will be performing many fan favorites such as Take Off, Love Talk, and their latest single from their fourth mini-album, Phantom. Aside from non-stop performances, the members have many surprises in store. So, WeiZenNies, make sure to be there for WayV’s first fanmeet in the country. To secure your tickets, click this link.

The fun doesn’t stop there because you’ll get to see back-to-back-to-back K-pop performances from a Hallyu legend and two of the biggest fourth gen acts today! On April, 11 see The Boyz, Aespa, and Taeyeon dominate the stage of the Big Dome for K-Verse at the Big Dome. Prepare for a night of powerhouse vocals and energetic performances at K-Verse. Visit this link for tickets and more information.

Another Korean celebrity is also coming to the New Frontier Theater to meet his fans! Kim Mingue, who rose to stardom after his career-defining role on The Heavenly Idol, is meeting his Pinoy fans at the Heavenly Moment: Kim Mingue 1st Fanmeet in Manila on April 14. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this event! Buy your ticket here.

Meanwhile, EXO-Ls can celebrate because EXO-SC, the sub-unit composed of Sehun and Chanyeol, is coming to Manila for the Back to Back Fancon Tour. It will happen on May 20 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and the boys have prepared many performances and surprises for Pinoy Exo-Ls. More information will be provided soon, so stay tuned!

Lastly, the it girls of K-Pop are also headed for the Big Dome! Get ready for The Prom Queens: IVE The First Fan Concert on June 17 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Sing your heart out to IVE’s monster hits like Eleven, Love Dive, and After Like at their first concert here in the Philippines. Stay tuned for more details and ticketing info for this event.

Here are some of the biggest Asian acts performing at the City of Firsts

For more information about these events, visit the Ticketnet website. To learn more about the Smart Araneta Coliseum, please visit www.smartaranetacoliseum.com. And to discover what the New Frontier Theater has to offer log on to www.newfrontiertheater.com.

City of Firsts' Novotel Manila bags recognition from Agoda and Tripadvisor

 

 

TripAdvisor is the world’s largest travel platform, offering trusted, authentic advice and recommendations from real travellers. Araneta City and the country’s first Novotel brand announced that its very own Novotel Manila property has been recognized by two major online travel agencies and metasearch engines as 2020 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice award and Agoda’s 2020 Customer Review Award.  The achievements celebrate hospitality businesses that earned great traveller reviews on TripAdvisor and Agoda over the past year by continually delivering a top-quality guest experience.

 

Based on a full year of TripAdvisor reviews, prior to any changes caused by the pandemic, award winners are known for consistently receiving great traveler feedback, placing them in the top 10% of hospitality businesses around the globe. 

 

 

The 2020 Agoda Customer Review Award, a recognition given by the said travel book platform to hotel brands with guest review scores over 8.0, from genuine and authentic customer reviews based on five key criteria including location, service, cleanliness, facilities and value for money.  Their respective ratings and reviews guide fellow travelers in choosing a property.

"This has been a tough year for our industry, but the global desire to go and explore, whether the destination is an hour away or across the world, remains strong. We're passionate about guiding travelers to the good out there, especially the good found within these recognized hotels, restaurants and airlines that rise to the occasion in offering the best of the best. The Travelers' Choice program is one way that travelers and diners can benefit from the real-life experiences of other people so they can plan their perfect trip that meets their needs, budget, and style." ~Lindsay Nelson, Chief Experience and Brand Officer at Tripadvisor

Recently, with the goal of welcoming, safeguarding, and taking care of guests, Novotel Manila Araneta City has implemented extensive health and safety procedures in an effort to protect the well-being of its staff, guests, and partners during the COVID-19 pandemic. These measures are in accordance with ALLSAFE, a label certification created by Accor and meticulously screened by Bureau Veritas, an international company that specializes in testing, inspection, and certification of companies belonging to various industries such as hospitality.

 

 

With the easing of travel restrictions, and as more places around the country transition to a modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), the hotel anticipates the reopening of its doors to welcome guests and make them feel that it is once again ALLSAFE to stay, ALLSAFE to dine and ALLSAFE to meet and celebrate at Novotel Manila.

 

ABOUT:

Novotel Manila Araneta City is a modern hotel with 401 modern guest rooms and suites and is located in Quezon City’s business and leisure district and was the first Novotel in the Philippines. With the Smart Araneta Coliseum right next door, the Gateway Tower Mall nearby, and public transport (MRT, LRT, and Araneta Center BusPort), it is a prime location from which to explore the city.