French Giants Invade Ayala Triangle Gardens

Posted on December 5, 2022

The Big People LES GRANDES PERSONNES, will be back at Ayala Triangle Gardens on December 16 &17.
Photo was taken during the opening of French-Filipino Market MARCHÉ DE NOEL Dec. 3, 2022. The market will run at the Ayala Triangle Gardens (located behind the Makati Stock Exchange) from December 2-31, 2022. Market hours – Monday to Friday: 5pm-11pm, Saturday to Sunday: 12pm to 11pm. Photo by Jude Bautista.

Written and photographed

By Jude Bautista

During a beautiful Saturday afternoon, December 3rd, 2022, French giants invaded the Ayala Triangle Gardens. Instead of sowing fear, people were amazed and entertained by the gentle giants from France called LES GRANDES PERSONNES, literally translated as The Big People.

Both kids and grown-ups were delighted by the puppets that stretched 10-12 feet tall. They are similar to our very own Higantes from Angono, Rizal. The difference being, their arms and hands can be controlled by a puppeteer.

MARCHÉ DE NOEL at Ayala Triangle Gardens

LES GRANDES PERSONNES were there for the opening of the French Market. The MARCHÉ DE NOEL will run at the Ayala Triangle Gardens (located behind the Makati Stock Exchange) from December 2-31, 2022. Market hours – Monday to Friday: 5pm-11pm, Saturday to Sunday: 12pm to 11pm.

A free music and light show called the Ayala Light and Music Festival, can also be seen there every evening. Along with a 3D show at the tunnel of Ayala Tower One, also for free.

With the concept of “Eat, Drink, and Shop”, the first-ever French-Philippine Christmas market in Ayala Triangle will feature various gourmet food, wine, and artisanal gifts. It will showcase French and Filipino food and drinks with handmade or original crafted products.

Photo was taken during the opening of French-Filipino Market MARCHÉ DE NOEL Dec. 3, 2022. The market will run at the Ayala Triangle Gardens (located behind the Makati Stock Exchange) from December 2-31, 2022. Market hours – Monday to Friday: 5pm-11pm, Saturday to Sunday: 12pm to 11pm. Photo by Jude Bautista.

On December 16 & 17, there will also be a show in MARCHÉ DE NOEL at the Ayala Triangle Gardens. Ilonggo acrobats are featured by CAMELEON, in ‘An Extraordinary Circus Show – Breakthrough: Unfolding Stories of Hope and Transformation’. The gentle giants LES GRANDES PERSONNES will also be there again. Make sure to bring the whole family, so they can enjoy the festive atmosphere and gourmet food at MARCHÉ DE NOEL.

THE MARKET PLACE by Rustan’s has also opened at the lower level of Ayala Tower 2. The lower level has a new mall area called THE SHOPS. Ayala Tower 2, will also house the new Mandarin Oriental Hotel, set to open 2023.

From right: Irish Amb William Carlos, French Amb. Michéle Boccoz, Alliance Francaise de Manille Pres. Cristina G. Ortega, Belgian Amb. Michel Parys and French Cultural and Audio Visual Attaché Martin Macalintal. Photo was taken during the opening of French-Filipino Market MARCHÉ DE NOEL Dec. 3, 2022. The market will run at the Ayala Triangle Gardens (located behind the Makati Stock Exchange) from December 2-31, 2022. Market hours – Monday to Friday: 5pm-11pm, Saturday to Sunday: 12pm to 11pm. Photo by Jude Bautista.

Ambassador Michéle Boccoz

In a speech during the grand opening that Saturday Ambassador Michéle Boccoz said, “It is a great pleasure for me to be here this afternoon at AYALA TRIANGLE Park to celebrate one of the newest events as part of the 75^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between France and the Philippines.”

French Amb. Michéle Boccoz; Photo was taken during the opening of French-Filipino Market MARCHÉ DE NOEL Dec. 3, 2022. The market will run at the Ayala Triangle Gardens (located behind the Makati Stock Exchange) from December 2-31, 2022. Market hours – Monday to Friday: 5pm-11pm, Saturday to Sunday: 12pm to 11pm. Photo by Jude Bautista.

She explained the tradition of the French Christmas Market, “The Christmas Market is a French tradition that is enjoyed throughout the month of December before reuniting with the family to celebrate the nativity. Christmas is a magical season all over the world. In France, every city sparkles under the light of a thousand garlands. The warm scent of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts fill every street and the peaceful echo of Christmas carols permeates every heart with a warm dose of festive joy. The French Christmas Markets are essential dating back centuries and creating a wonderful antidote to the arrival of winter cold.”

“I am very pleased that the 75^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between France and the Philippines will give the opportunity to produce this Christmas market. And I warmly thank Mr. Patrice Freuslon, Chef of Society Lounge, who was the prime mover of this project. I would also like to warmly thank the AYALA LAND team who worked hard with us to make this Christmas market magical, “ added Boccoz.

Higantes

Our very own Higantes from Angono, Rizal also made an appearance in the market. Dotting the pathways, although they did not have their own puppeteers. They seemed to welcome their French counterpart giants, who appear to hug and caress their Higantes hosts.

“The Higantes Festival is a local festival held annually In Angono, Rizal, Philippines, where hundreds of giant papier-mâché puppets are paraded, representing the common people’s mockery of the bad hacienda (land) owners of the past during Spanish colonial rule. It has evolved into also celebrating the feast of Pope St. Clement I, every 22 and 23 November.” From Higantes Festival Wikiwand.

LES GRANDES PERSONNES

LES GRANDES PERSONNES is based in Aubervilliers, a Northeast suburb of Paris. They are a collective of puppeteers, designers, writers, artists and performers . They use puppets of every size and shape, not just as giants.

Among their goals are inventing new ways of making sculpture dance in the street. Transforming everyday objects, creating new relationships between the public and the show, from collaborative workshops to new scenic devices.

“Founded in 1998, the association Les Grandes Hommes has practiced the collective creation and manipulation of giant puppets from all walks of life, in Burkina from 2000 and in Chile from 2008. Its residences have led to the creation of numerous show companies streets all over the world. Driven by the desire to bring the visual arts to life in the public space, but also to develop stories and theatrical events, the collective has multiplied collaborations with actors, musicians, choreographers, writers around shows mainly performed outdoors, various scales, from the santons of La Ligne jaune , to the statuettes of the Ancestors or to the huge characters of the Banquet of the giants, exploring new interactions between the show and the public, of which the collaborative workshops constitute one of the forms.” From official site: lesgrandespersonnes.org

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Center: French Amb. Michéle Boccoz from left: former CCP Pres. Nestor Jardin and French Emb Cultural Counselor Marc Piton. Photo was taken during the opening of French-Filipino Market MARCHÉ DE NOEL Dec. 3, 2022. The market will run at the Ayala Triangle Gardens (located behind the Makati Stock Exchange) from December 2-31, 2022. Market hours – Monday to Friday: 5pm-11pm, Saturday to Sunday: 12pm to 11pm. Photo by Jude Bautista.