Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree
It was an evening of festive lights and holiday glamour as the Northwing of SM City Cebu showcased custom-designed Christmas tress in various shapes and sizes that were presented in a week-long silent auction.
Upon the invitation of SM’s Marissa Fernan, the brains behind this innovative and laudable project, six well-respected and talented individuals graciously decorated their own Christmas trees, that were inspired by genuine love and concern for a worthy cause.
The affair also featured the Holiday 2009 Collection of fashion czar Philip Rodriguez, where statuesque models took center stage in different textures of dramatically green holiday dresses.
Let’s meet the philanthropists.
Alex Medalla — Going Green
“While designing the tree, I had in mind concepts of sustainability and green architecture. Green consciousness is the topic of the day, presently at our doorstep in the aftermath of typhoon Ondoy, which is attributed to global warming. The green tree would hopefully continue the drum beat until finally, environmental consciousness becomes a natural part of all of us.”
Teresin Mendezona – Carnivale
“I wanted to create a joyful, festive tree embellished with Venetian Carnival masks, feathers, and beautifully colored Christmas balls. Christmas is about celebration because no matter how dire things may seem, there is always something left to celebrate and be thankful for.”
Philip Rodriguez – Homage to Coco
“My main design inspiration was the glamour of Coco Chanel. Christmas to me translates to celebrations, parties, family reunions and other occasions to dress up and be beautiful. I used dolled up bust forms, miniature shoes, bags, pearls, doves, and tulle fabric to create one chic tree. My favored charity will be the Cebu City Task Force on Street Children. Gabrielle “ Coco ” Chanel was also a disadvantaged child, having grown up in an orphanage. She would have supported this cause.”
Mary Anne Aboitiz Arculli – White Light
“The color scheme is silver and winter whites. I wanted my tree to be simple and timeless with understated elegance. The white birds represent hope and purity, while the mirrored picture frames are for family pictures because Christmas is really about the people you love”.
Romulo Galicano and his artist friends – The Artist’s Collective
“Our Christmas tree is about creative collaboration. It is adorned with several paintings in strokes and styles as varied as the group of artists who made them. The tree is cohesive in design despite the adversity of our works. We like to think of it as a metaphor for the Cebuano artistic community.”
Kate Torralba – Holidaze
“There were two inspirations behind my tree design – love and happiness. I wanted my tree to be happy and pretty, which I tried to achieve by combining ribbons and other knick knacks that I selected from Country classics. As a fashion designer, I always try to incorporate an element of fun in my pieces and I hope that comes across in this tree.”
The proceeds from the auction will benefit the victims of typhoon Ondoy, which wrecked havoc among thousands of Filipinos, whose lives have been changed forever and to the Cebu City Task Force on Street Children.
