BGC: Keeping hope and passions alive

Yes, Virginia, the spirit of Christmas is alive in the City — that is, Bonifacio Global City (BGC). Christmas is alive and well in the hearts of those who care — and try to make a difference in other people’s lives. At BGC, there’s enough love — sharing and caring — to go around.

Going around BGC, you’ll marvel, with childlike glow in your eyes, at the Christmas tree installations. You know it’s Christmastime in the City. For what’s Christmas without a Christmas tree? Did you know that the first decorated Christmas tree dates back to ancient history? The story goes that one crisp Christmas Eve in the 1500s, Martin Luther was walking through the snow-covered woods when he was dazzled by the wondrous sight of a bunch of small evergreens, their leaves laced with snowflakes like crystals shimmering in the moonlight.  He wanted to share this beauty with his family so he brought home a little fir tree and embellished it with candles to honor Christ’s birth.

 LABOR OF LOVE

BGC is abloom with Christmas-inspired tree sculptures/installations that have a homespun story to tell. “They’re a labor of love by my workers, some of whom were victims of typhoon Ondoy,” relates Monica Dela Cruz, president of Tree’s Company that specializes in artistic trees and plants and Christmas decorations. “My factory in Pasig went underwater during typhoon Ondoy so that when the trees were done, the finished products were transported from the factory to our clients by banca.”

Tree’s Company traces its roots to Monica’s parents Boy and Monette Guevara who put up the company 25 years ago. Monica now heads the company that started with manufacturing artificial trees and today exports to Japan, Saudi Arabia, and the US. 

Whispering Trees Of Hope

While you can’t bring home any of these big, beautiful tree installations, you can buy mini-replicas of these works of art for a cause at the Hope Fair slated Dec. 12, 13, 19 and 20 at Bonifacio High Street. Buy a miniature tree and do something big by helping rebuild lives. Proceeds from the sale of the mini-replicas at the Hope Drive, a project of Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation (FBDC), will benefit the families from the Livelihood Center of Barangay Pineda by the Pasig River who were affected by typhoon Ondoy. “This livelihood center is making some of these miniature trees which will be sold at the Hope Fair,” says Monica. “They were displaced at the height of Ondoy. We provided them with the raw materials for free and paid them for the labor.”

Baby Imperial of B&C Design who did the design for the installations at BGC declares, “Especially because some of the victims are part of the family of Tree’s Company, it seems only fitting that they should also benefit from the projects to which they contribute their efforts.”

“You can own a piece of these miniature beauties available in two sizes at only P150 and P200,” says Noel Kintanar, head of commercial operations of FBDC. “And you’re doing your bit for charity, too, as 100 percent of all the sales will go to the beneficiaries of Bonifacio Global City and Tree’s Company.”

Kintanar explains, “This is part of FBDC’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts and its way of also helping save the environment.”

Especially because the sale of the mini-replicas would benefit its workers, Tree’s Company welcomed the idea of making these miniature beauties. Indeed, charity begins at home.

From Lowly Abaca To Lovely Trees

Using our very own abaca, Tree’s Company created not just one but 30 lovely sets of star trees, wings and balls, which dot BGC and a giant Christmas tree near Encore at The Fort Strip that measures 60 feet in height and 25 feet in diameter.

Who’d think that these gorgeous beauties that you see all around BGC as you saunter up and down the city’s lush carpet of greenery came from the lowly abaca? 

“We got the abaca from Bicol where it comes from,” says Monica.

Bicol is a top producer of abaca fiber, which is widely known in the export market as Manila hemp.

Expertly executing the design given to them by B&C Design, Tree’s Company used GI wires to make the frame of the tree and spray painted the abaca with red and green colors. “We brushed the abaca with glitters so that it will sparkle in the morning,” says Monica, her eyes sparkling. “At night, we just put on the spotlights.”

The trees are shaped like angel wings that seem to undulate when the wind blows. “There are no trimmings, just panels that have gradations in color,” Monica describes. “It’s really a play on color and texture.”

Collaborating with FBDC and Tree’s Company, Baby Imperial enthuses, “I am gratified to work with like minds that endeavor to bring more progressive ways of seeing and being into the development of our urban landscape. On several levels — sustainability, mixed-use activities, art and culture, infrastructure, etc. — they strive to bring dynamism and creativity to the heart of this development and ultimately to the people who inhabit it.”

Down-To-Earth Lessons

From the providential collaboration of FBDC, Tree’s Company, and B&C Design this Christmas, we learn one big down-to-earth lesson: With love in our hearts, we can help rebuild lives.

Surely, there’s nothing like coming home this Christmas to a city where compassion and passions are alive and burning.