Today until the end of the extended Philippine holiday season — a much-debated end date — the grandest obra maestra your eyes will set upon on the Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu is the imposing yet Instagrammable 32-feet blue-gold Christmas Tree, which dominates the sweeping palatial lobby.

Radisson Blu Cebu, the established address for frequent travelers and the choice venue for celebratory milestones, recently ushered in its Classical Christmas at the Blu event by lighting up the soaring tree, now with more bows and ribbons, plus thousands of illuminants.

Guest of honor Cebu City North District Rep. Rachel Del Mar, SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. president Elizabeth Sy, SMHCC vice president Peggy Angeles, and Radisson Blu general manager Björn-Henning Buth officiated the ceremony.

In his welcome remarks, Buth said this year picks up from the devastation caused by typhoon "Odette," which ravaged the island of Cebu and the rest of the Visayas in 2021.

Rep. Rachel "Cutie" del Mar further extended Christmas greetings of resilience and hope.

Singer-actor Arman Ferrer, who has played several lead roles in popular Broadway and original Filipino productions — plus his first solo concert at the Black Box Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines — serenaded the audience with Christmas carols.