SINCE YOU HAVE A LONG AND crazy Christmas list, hit the malls early and make holiday shopping a fun and charitable affair this Yuletide season.

Ayala Malls? ?See Love All Around This Christmas? campaign lines up events until December to support charitable institutions like Children?s Hour and Habitat for Humanity.

?We want to promote a sustainable lifestyle to the consumers through the Greenology campaign where Ayala Malls suggests eco-friendly practices and promotes awareness to preserve Mother Earth,? says Marivic Anonuevo, senior vice president and group head of Ayala Malls Group.

The Bahay ni Juan program under Habitat for Humanity is geared to relocate illegal settlers in the Pasig River to Calauan, Laguna, where 175 houses will be built for them.

The project kicks off next year and is expected to be completed by the end of 2010. It is under the Ayala Group of Companies? Kapit Bisig Para Sa Ilog Pasig mission that aims to rebuild the areas affected by the recent calamities, provide livelihood for the displaced, and decongest the waterway systems.

Piolo?s benefit concert

Actor Piolo Pascual will be having an early Christmas concert on Nov. 28, 6 p.m., at the Fashion Walk of Greenbelt 5. This is his first collaboration with musician Ryan Cayabyab. Guests include singers Richard Poon and Laarni Lozada of ?Pinoy Dream Academy.? Johnny Manahan directs.

?I chose all the arrangements for this performance, and I?m excited to work with Mr. C. There would be two or three Christmas songs among the set of 15,? Pascual said in a recent interview at Tapella restaurant in Greenbelt 5.

This gig also features a silent auction where key pieces donated by Ayala Center merchants are up for grabs. Get ready to bid for exclusive items like a luxe bejeweled purse designed by Amina Aranaz Alunan, accessories from Arnel Papa, home accents from Firma, a painting by Arturo Luz, photographs by Wig Tysmans.

Both concert and auction are free and open to the public. Proceeds will go to the Bahay ni Juan organization.

Volunteerism advocate

Crowd favorite Pascual is an advocate of volunteerism. He put up Hebreo Foundation that sends underprivileged grade and high-school students to school.

?I got the idea to put up Hebreo when I traveled abroad and people asked which institution they could entrust their cash to. We have scholars from St. Francis School in Sta. Ana where I studied. We also sponsor seminarians,? he said.

Pascual was inspired to help out by his mom who pools volunteer doctors and dentists and conducts medical missions every month.

He usually spends Christmas in Los Angeles with his mother and son, but is looking forward to a different experience this year.

?I?ll be diving in Guam and El Nido with my sister. Christmas is the only time of the year when I could take a leave for two weeks,? he said.

The long and lithe actor also encourages shoppers to lead an active lifestyle.

?I recently took up running. I run around UP Diliman at night every other day. My best time for 10 km is 48 minutes.?

Reusable bag rebates

Ayala Malls gives more reasons to get shopping-happy. For every P500 purchase until the end of December, P5 will serve as donation and you?ll get a Christmas-edition reusable bag to stash in your great finds.

There?s also a Santa?s Factory booth that sells kits with materials, allowing one to create personalized gifts. Every P100 purchase goes to charity. This will be held at Glorietta 3 until Dec. 27, and Glorietta 5, Dec 16-24?perfect artsy bonding time for parents and kids in between mall-hopping.

Other activities include Holiday Collection Preview, a fashion show on Nov. 25 at Greenbelt 4, for the benefit of Children?s Hour.