Christmas shopping tips from Tintin

This is something many might have guessed already: Most celebrities have very looooong Christmas shopping lists.

And why not? With so many people behind their careers, ‘tis the season when they get to express their gratitude in more tangible ways — from a simple token to an extravagant show of generosity. It’s but right however which way.

Christine Bersola-Babao believes, however, that even people with means should strive to be wise shoppers. She said that to determine which products offer more value for the money and sticking to a budget give one a sense of satisfaction that he or she got “the best” for a loved one, if only because of the careful thought that went into picking the item.  

She also thinks that if you can try out the product before purchase, then do it. If it’s cologne, try to put on a little on your wrists from the tester to determine if the scent fits your friend or lover. If it’s a shirt or a dress, check if it fits and if there are factory defects. If it’s food, smell, look at the ingredients, even taste, if you can. Don’t be shy — it’s your hard-earned money, after all, she said.

Christine also encourages people to buy Filipino. She said that not all foreign products are superior over locally made ones, and that sometimes, a product is cheaper only because the ingredients or materials are sourced from here (meaning less transportation cost is “levied” on the buyers). Christine also pointed out that buying Filipino would generate more jobs to benefit the country’s economy — who wouldn’t want that?

She suggests that it would be good if mothers are “organized” with everything they do. And Christine, she walks the talk: At home, she is your typical obsessive-compulsive; no furniture out of place, the clothes are stacked together according to color, items that are not in use should be put in boxes or compartments, and, yes, list ready even before you step out of the house to shop.

A very hands-on homemaker, she admits that her style is “make mando-mando the maids” but she does so in a nice way and by showing them first how she wants things done.                                                                                    

When shopping with kids, be conscious of their safety and security. Christine says that between her and her husband, Julius Babao, he is more protective of the kids in that department since he receives “death threats” in line with his job. But death threats notwithstanding, one should be “smart” and alert at all times, said Christine.

Speaking of smart, Christine is proud she was chosen to endorse Smart Steps Baby Laundry Detergent and Baby Fabric Softener as well as Smart Steps Baby Bottle and Nipple Cleanser. The baby products are made by EVEolution, Inc., a company that specializes in such products that are proven to be the mildest and safest in its category.

She reveals asking more about the product and the manufacturer before signing up. She went to the grocery to check on the active ingredients of the product and to see if it really is priced reasonably. When samples of Smart Steps Baby Laundry Detergent Products were delivered to their house, she washed some of her kids’ clothes with it to see if the product won’t give her an allergic reaction or harm her skin (neither of the two happened).

That’s exciting, responsible motherhood.   

Art 2 Art Dec. episodes

Art 2 Art caps 2011 with interesting December episodes: December 11, Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) chairperson Mary Grace Poe-Llamanzares shares the institution’s priority projects and how they are working hand in hand with people in the entertainment industry to implement these; December 18, Art 2 Art pays tribute to the late National Artist Leandro Locsin with inputs and anecdotes from resource speaker, architect Paulo Alcazaren; December 25, the program presents its Christmas episode with a special performance of the UP Concert Chorus featuring well-loved holiday songs. Leading the group, which is celebrating its 50^th anniversary, is conductor Jai Sabas-Aracama.

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