MovEd's Head Honcho Alex Eduque’s New York City Christmas

Alex Eduque is undisputedly one of Manila's most passionate social movers of her time. As the Founder & Chair of MovEd, an organization that aims to provide early childhood care and development programs in underserved communities through holistic education, and an active leader of Habitat for Humanity, charity work has become her bread, butter, and reward. Oh, and have we mentioned that she's only in her 20s? 

 

The young social advocate may be a busy bee for the most part, but even ladies like Alex need a break, especially when the holidays come around and time spent with family (and yourself) becomes extra important. Here is Alex's take on her favorite things to do and places to visit in New York, one of her favorite cities, during the most festive time of the season. Read on and who knows? You might pick up an idea or two. 

 

The city is hustling and bustling like it always is, with the added bonus of magnificent lights, Christmas window displays that add to the overall festivity, the iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and skating rink, and if you're lucky, a blanket of snow over Central Park.

My sister and I like to watch the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes because not only are they amazing, but their show really does ignite the Christmas fever even more. Though Misa de Gallo is not widely observed here, I still make it a point to go to mass daily during those nine days leading up to Christmas to complete the novena, and of course, we go to midnight mass as a family on Christmas Eve.

Christmas lunch is usually spent as a family, and with other relatives and friends who may be visiting or who are in town. For New Year's Eve, although we don't make our way to Times Square for the ball drop, we do watch it on TV, and count down together as a family.

For me and my family, Christmas and New Year can be celebrated anywhere in the world, as long as we're together. It's the undivided attention sans distraction we are able to give each other this time of the year that makes it so special.

 

My top things to do during the holidays

1. Watch a Broadway show, or even better, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

2. Hear mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral, after which walk down Fifth Avenue to get a glimpse of the beautiful Christmas display windows.

 

3. Check out Rockefeller Center, go up to Top of the Rock for an amazing view of the city, and make sure to ice skate at the Rockefeller rink!

4. Visit the museums, especially The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Museum of Modern Art, Museum of Natural History, and the Guggenheim Museum.

 

5. Drive to Woodbury Commons Outlets outside New York for some of the best shopping deals you'll ever come across!

6. Visit a Christmas market in the city. My personal favorite is the one across Columbus Circle.

7. Eat, eat, eat and walk all over the city like the New Yorkers do.

My 10 quintessential NYC eats

• Magnolia Bakery for the banana pudding and signature cupcakes
• Levain Bakery for the cookies
• Dominique Ansel for his frozen S’Mores

 

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• EATaly for a taste of Italy in New York City
• The original Halal Guys
• Shake Shack
• Gray’s Papaya
• Chinatown ice cream factory
• Peter Pan doughnuts in Brooklyn
• Sarabeth’s for that traditional NYC brunch
   

 

 

My faves for high-end dining

• Nougatine at Jean Georges
• Le Bernardin
• Le Coucou