The people of Cebu, through SM Supermalls and Light of Liter, reaffirmed their devotion to the Sto. Niño with a one-of-a-kind light display paying homage to the Infant Jesus while celebrating half a millennium of Christianity in the Philippines.
Hand-built solar lights recently illuminated the sky as Liter of Light, a Filipino-born global grassroots solar lighting movement, unveiled the largest solar tribute to Santo Niño de Cebu to commemorate 500 Years of Christianity in the country at SM Seaside City Cebu.
“SM Seaside City Cebu is honored to be a partner of Liter of Light Organization in its effort to build the largest solar tribute to the Santo Niño de Cebuto commemorate 500 Years of Christianity (500 YOC). The theme of the 500 YOC is “Gifted to Give” and it is but truly appropriate that the Liter of Light has gifted and given more than 350,000 lights in 15 countries all over the world. This monumental collaboration has truly given more significance as SM Seaside City Cebu and the Liter of Light organization join the Filipino nation in celebrating 500 Years of Christianity,” said Marissa Fernan, vice president, SM Prime Holdings Inc.
The first of its kind in the province, the solar lights installation, which is a tribute to Santo Nino de Cebu, was built by thousands of participants who joined Liter of Light’s “Light it Forward” Challenge. The movement seeks to connect people and encourage them to build solar lights for communities without electricity.
“This would not be possible without SM Seaside City Cebu who has given us a wonderful area to be able to build this largest Santo Niño. The largest mall in the Visayas and Mindanao is one with the largest image of the Santo Niño, which is the most sacred image in Cebu,” says Illac Diaz, Liter of Light’s Founder and Executive Director.
The participative solar artwork is the latest in a series of large-scale solar installations that the Liter of Light has built since November 2020.
The installation is being done in partnership with local government of Cebu City, Philippines Air Asia, Rotary Club of Makati Business District, SM Seaside City Cebu, SM Cares, Dexcom Philippines, Inc. and Lalamove. Collaborating institutions include Rotary Club District 3860, JCI Cebu Sinulog and Big Seed PR and Events.
