Deck the hall with boughs of jolly
Images by the author
‘Tis the season to shine and give off sparks of joy! With hotels and malls leading the way, Christmas trees of all sizes and persuasions are sprouting everywhere in the concrete jungle with all sorts of color and decorating schemes.
At The Manila Hotel, stylist Rachy Cuna wanted a warm, stylish vibe—what better choice than trees in red? Toning down the color somewhat, like a muted greeting, he wrapped each tree in lace
Diamond Hotel’s tree-lighting ceremony was the signal in Manila. Using a go-local theme to reflect the resilient spirit of Filipinos picking up the pieces after two years of the pandemic and a string of devastating typhoons, not to mention an earthquake and a series of volcanic eruptions, GM Vanessa Suatengco and her staff picked Malate Catholic School’s graders as the beneficiaries of a fund drive centered around the ornaments of the season. Santa’s helpers, as pretty as they were eager, went around with baskets containing the glittering ornaments and sold them then and there to guests milling around the gold-and-silver tree.
At The Manila Hotel, stylist Rachy Cuna wanted a warm, stylish vibe—what better choice than trees in red? Toning down the color somewhat, like a muted greeting, he wrapped each tree in lace and distributed them in varying sizes from mini to small and tall, placing them on tabletops and strategic corners all over the lobby. The result? Simplicity in elegance. A quiet voice in the midst of anticipation and celebration.
In Silang, Cavite, a family awaits bonding time when members gather for their weekends in a Balinese-inspired private resort. Their tree is classically child-oriented, for want of a better word, to please a small army of grandchildren from new-born babies to young adults, including teens and tweens. With red and white as the principal theme, it was easy for the lady of the house to decorate the tree in a matter of hours, the stuffed toys providing a kick—no reindeer in sight, but that can only mean Santa Claus is still to start his long journey from the North Pole!
