The holidays have caught up with us again: The year has flown by and Christmas is right at our doorstep. Where did all the time go? It went into our busy lives working, taking care of family and trying to stay sane despite insane weather, holiday traffic and the merry-go-round of life on our isles.
I have to confess that I was about to hit the panic button because between deadlines, headlines and the cheerful chaos that is life, I hadn’t started shopping yet. For Christmas gifts, that is, and the prospect of dashing all over town to find something perfect for each person on my list is not enticing.
The invitation to join a Kultura Christmas Crawl at SM MOA could not have come at a better time. Kultura did me the favor of gathering in one spot a range of vendors with something for everyone, so I didn’t even need to run around the mall.
These stalls were a surprise because after attending almost every single fair promoting our beautifully crafted local products, this was one of the best ones yet. The Kultura Christmas Crawl offered items that were useful, gorgeously packaged, sustainably produced and targeted at helping disadvantaged communities. Plus, this is SM’s Kultura, so everything is easy on the wallet.
For example, for the cosmopolitan man or woman who likes to whip up a cocktail to impress, just visit the purveyors of local spirits like Philippine Craft Spirits, Destileria Barako, Destileria Limtuaco and Co, Don Papa, Nom Poptails and Lakan. Event host KC Montero engaged these brands in live demos where local spirits were blended, shaken and stirred into cocktails that were then offered to shoppers to sample.
I got additional tips from Aaron Limpe-Aw, sixth-generation member of the family that started Destileria Limtuaco in 1852. He said, “You can take a classic cocktail and substitute a similar product. For example, a cosmopolitan usually has Cointreau of Triple sec; you can substitute our liqueur de calamansi or dalandan. Or you can change the base spirit altogether. A martini is made with vodka, you can use our rum and the resulting drink will feature some of the notes of our rum which include almond and vanilla.”
For the beauty-conscious women in my list that include my mom and two daughters, there’s the Pili Ani line of tinted lip butters (P850), gentle facial cleansers (P250) and facial oils (P1,700). These and their other products are infused with pili oil, Philippine jasmine and other homegrown ingredients to create a luxurious yet affordable skincare line.
Dermtropics is another beautifully packaged line of skin care, this time making use of extra virgin coconut oil. Lip balms start at P699, hair essentials begin at only P229 and travel kits start at P249. Also making use of our plentiful coconuts is Cocobody. Soaps, oils, shampoos and conditioners, lip balms and bottles of extra virgin coconut oil are again reasonable, with their hairshine retailing for as low as P66 and a travel essentials Lakbay Kit for P450. Using local products like pili nuts and coconuts is what I call sustainable beauty!
Accessories also make nice gifts. You can create your own pieces at Damn Good Stuff Inc which boasts “beautiful jewelry, sustainable income.” The founders were engineers at the San Roque Dam project (hence the name) and provide livelihood opportunities. There’s Boho Manila whose handcrafted pieces, both chunky and fine, will make a fashion statement worn with even the simplest dress. The earrings and neck pieces are priced from P799 to P2,000 plus and provide an income for mothers, so their “Choose happiness” slogan is very apt.
If you like fine-looking jewelry, look no further than Nomada by Pamanna Jewellery, where pearls and gold-dipped cowry shells are delicate-looking and unusual. It’s a brand founded by Hannah Garcia that likes to treat pearls in a modern way to appeal to Gen Z and millennials.
My daughters are even more fashionista than me, so I know they would love the colorfully printed terno tops (P4,299) from binibini marikit with relaxed fit trousers (P2,999) to match.
One thing was immediately apparent. Chocoholics—and every member of my family is a true addict—will be spoiled for choice. I have always known we had great cacao in this country, ever since a visit to Camiguin in the 90s led me to discover world-class tablea in their sari-sari stores. Now, more and more Pinoy chocolatiers are putting their unique spin on one of our best local produce. Try Starkaffea, a tablea from Davao with coconut sugar and creamer. A nice brown box of Chocolea Choco is only P319! Match your chocolate drinks with kakanins and champorado made from instant mixes (P69 and up) courtesy of Galinco.
Cacao Ministry makes life easier with instant cacao drink mixes (P165) while Xocolat claims to deliver the ultimate hot chocolate in pretty tins and gift sets. Then there’s Theo and Philo from Davao for bars and gift sets (P580) that incorporate local flavors, and Cacao Monster that carries chocolate-dipped dried fruit.
Auro has truly outdone itself with an amazing range of chocolates that include chocolate “balut,” packaged in an egg box; Advent calendars and colorful cans of hazelnut dragees (small chocolate balls), peanut dragees and mango crunch. The cans are priced at only P649 and the adorable balut goes for P499. If not chocolate, why not cookies? Manila Cookie Story is packaged in beautiful boxes that you know you’ll re-use after every cookie crumb has been consumed.
If you’d rather have savory items, Gourmet Farms has lettuce chips (P120) and their signature coffee beans. Chef Tony’s has popcorn (P349) in flavors that are savory and sweet, perfect for snacking. Kangkong King sells chips made of kangkong, spinach and other nutrient dense greens (P149). Querica sells pili nuts in flavors like truffle pecorino (P360), now that’s elevating the humble pili! And no one can miss the pink booth of Baken (P660) selling real bacon chips. That’s a treat the holidays will surely justify. While we’re talking chichirya, throw in Salbahe’s peanuts (P366) in flavors like adobo, sweet and spicy, bbq and salted egg.
For the home, there’s a wealth of choices as well.11th Earth Home Design uses bamboo to make rustic placemats (P1,269) and upcycled cotton for blankets. WIX Cozy Home has such beautifully presented scented candles, reed diffusers and gift sets. The all-white theme makes the line look clean and elegant, yet prices start from P445 and up. Wonderhouse Naturals carries hand sanitizers, gadget and desk cleaners, room and linen sprays in holiday packaging. A hand sanitizer that doesn’t look like anything you’ve received before is priced at only P185!
The gorgeous line of Vintage Candles, designed by Casey Russell, uses products from Samar and Leyte like coconuts, shells and shea butter. They will make you think of a Dickens sort of Christmas with prices ranging from P549 to 3,000.
What about your office colleagues, classmates and friends? Aside from food, there’s colorful and fun merchandise from Bibsisita Hand Made. Expats would love these, too. Super tight budget? I found Bags in the City with clear or colorful bags and organizers. There are P70 customizable bag tags that are useful, pretty and pretty inexpensive. They are too cute not to use.
I felt a pang passing the stall of Papelmelroti, whose main branch in Quezon City is a stone’s throw from my house. Remembering that beloved Robert Alejandro recently joined the angels painting the skies in heaven, I just had to buy one of his totes (P529). They have lovely stationaries, bags, mugs; anything designed by Robert is beautiful and the best way to remember a great Filipino artist.
If you plan to travel soon, a P4,599 handcarry from One Weave that trains and employs women from Tondo will elevate your style while you lend a helping hand with your purchase.
This list goes on and on. For this slightly frazzled shopper, I can only thank Kultura for having the foresight to seek out the best our islands have to offer and bring them together under one roof.