THE RIGHT MOVE
The Philippines can very well be known as the Christmas capital of Asia with Filipino families putting up their Christmas trees and other holiday decorations as early as September. I personally put up my Christmas decors after my favorite "holiday" which is Halloween and since I exert a lot of time in styling my house to make it Christmassy, my decorations stay up till Chinese New Year to get the most out of the efforts I've put in setting it all up.
"Christmas has always been festive in the Philippines and that shows a lot in how we decorate our homes. Especially now, a lot of Filipinos have put up their decors earlier than usual this year which goes to show that the magic that this season gives will not be taken away from us no matter what this year has been. Pinoys are also very well known to be very creative with materials and would always go all out in Christmas decors - whether that is through Christmas lights, tree trimmings or even how tablescapes are done. These reflect how we always want the holidays to be extraordinary regardless of budget spent on decors," says Cyndi Fernandez- Beltran, celebrity interior designer and the brains behind Moss Manila.
Christmas decorations can be sourced everywhere especially via online shops which soar to popularity during the lockdowns. If you got caught up at work and need to get last minute decorations but still want to check every glitter and every detail in person, here are some of the places where you can find all sorts of decorations to spruce up your homes this holiday season.
1. Greenhills Shopping Center- Popularly known as the “Tiangge” is for those who want to find low- priced ornaments but shop within an air-conditioned confines. You can find locally-made handcrafted decorations as well as imported items at cheaper prices compared to department stores, and you will even be surprised with the variety of ornaments being offered there.
Address: Ortigas Center, Greenhills, San Juan City
2. Dapitan Arcade- If air-conditioning is not a problem with you, then troop to the Dapitan Market in Quezon City where you will find streets brimming with even lower priced decors.
Address: 37 Dapitan, Cor Kanlaon St, Quezon City, 1114
3. Divisoria Mall - If you're ready to go shopping with throngs of customers, the malls around Divisoria area offer even much cheaper ornaments especially if you buy in bulk. Don't forget to ask for wholesale prices which usually start with orders bought in dozens. Even well-known celebrities and politicians are known to frequent Divisoria not only for the decorations but for Christmas gifts and giveaways.
Address: Tabora St, Tondo, Manila, Metro Manila
4. Along Gilmore Street— A large part of this street from Quezon City going towards Greenhills is lit up at night with capiz lanterns of all sizes and colors and other outdoor Christmas decorations such as Santa Claus resin statues and reindeers. This is good news for nocturnal creatures as the shops are open even after midnight.
If you don't have the time to shop, a last minute decorating tip is to just tweak your already existing decors. Remember that you don’t have to break the bank to enjoy the holiday feeling.
Cyndi says: "I always find ways to repurpose. I don’t believe in buying everything brand new. Try to tweak colors or inject new decors to top up on your previous inventory." And if you're wondering what the trend is for 2021, this year's colors are mint and teal, and as many crave for the old normal, we are seeing a lot of traditional theme, in addition to Santa and winter forest.
After a difficult 2020, seeing your homes, or even just a space, dressed up with good old Christmas decors no matter how simple or grand, stimulates happy thoughts and the feelings of love, hope, and warmth are what we need.