IT?S A STRANGE FEELING ONE gets stepping inside an elegant, luxurious Rustan?s that?s closed for the day. Imagine having the store all to oneself?at close to midnight.

The sight of deserted store walkways?no shopper in sight, only the lovely merchandise?and the total quiet all around put one almost in a meditative state, which was precisely what we needed coming from the coverage of the Roxas-Sanchez ?wedding of the year.?



No, we weren?t breaking into the store. We were meeting up with Rustan?s president Zenaida Tantoco for a shoot of the store?s newly created Christmas trees. If it?s taking one too long to get into the Christmas mood? and that holds true for mostly everyone in these calamitous times?one only has to step into the Rustan?s Christmas Shop to escape the day?s cares and ennui.



It?s a lovely, cheery atmosphere that contains you. Instead of visual clutter, the images trigger memories of Christmases past and stir hope for Christmases of the future.



Happy feeling

After the relentless rains, the Filipino will be surely looking for the warmth of home this Christmas, more than ever?no matter that, with many post-?Ondoy? homes devastated and still under repair, it?s a cozy warmth drawn only from the bright hues of tinsel.



The Filipino will seek comfort in familiarity and joy in memories of family and loved ones.



Realizing this early on, Tantoco conceptualized, with her team, a number of Christmas trees that evoke that down-home, happy feeling of the season.



?A Christmas tree is perhaps the very first holiday decor a homemaker will prepare to summon the cheer of the holidays,? she said.



?I suppose, psychologically, to everyone, a tree symbolizes safety and refuge. But at Christmas, the Christmas tree should mean cheer and joy for the family in celebrating the birth of Jesus.?



Her team has created Christmas trees to embrace different personalities and lifestyles.



?For the homemaker who loves the kitchen and cooks for her family, we have a tree filled with goodies, ornaments representing ice cream and cookies, cakes, pies, ribbons trimmed with vanilla cream and chocolate cream, picture frames for photos of the family,? said Tantoco.



Departure

Interestingly, this is a radical departure from Tantoco?s Christmas concept last year which centered on polar bears.



A retailer with a finger on the pulse of the times, and a woman who?s so sensitive to people?s needs and wants, Tantoco is always hands-on in shaping the store?s Christmas Shop.



This year, the Shop?s focus of attention are the ?multi-personality? Christmas trees.



?For the elegant lady, we created a tree that is 9 ft tall, decked in white and silver lace, ribbons, crystal ornaments and mirror balls. We also have the Tessa Valdes Christmas tree, which is fashion-forward like Tessa,? said Tantoco.



?And for the family looking for cheer and joy, the traditional red Christmas tree with revolving decor will really bring joy to the family.?



Tantoco?s favorite is the tree of Santa Clauses?rolly-polly creatures going up the tree hanging on to ropes.



There?s also an eco-friendly tree with nature decor.



These trees suddenly make one feel that Christmas is accessible. Yes, it?s only 52 days to go before Christmas.