With Christmas just around the corner, Filipinos don’t have to fly to the North Pole to buy the finest festive decorations
It’s the most wonderful time of the year again as various stores and markets in the Philippines swiftly turn into Santa’s gift shops with the start of the -ber (brr!) months.
With the onslaught of Christmas stalls and malls pulling customers from left and right, it can be dizzying for shoppers to choose from the various options amid the chaos of the holiday season. While some may prefer to hunt for affordable Christmas decor, others might be more willing to splurge on the latest trending ornaments.
So to help all types of Christmas shoppers, here are various decor destinations in the Philippines tailored to fit each buyer’s shopping habits during the holiday rush.
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For the frugal buyers
Dapitan Arcade
Located at the corner of Kanlaon Street in Quezon City, the Dapitan Arcade consists of different stalls that sell Christmas lights varying in color and design—ranging from regular plastic ones to more traditional styles of lanterns. Known for its wide range of home products all-year round, Dapitan Arcade’s trinkets and decorative houseware such as poinsettia-designed ceramic cups and colorful angels can spice up your home for the holidays. If you can’t visit its onsite location, hit up its online store.
Divisoria
Known for its flea market consisting of cheap goods, Divisoria is the commercial center that majority of Manileños flock to—not just to purchase Christmas items but to check out other affordable commodities as well. Found in the heart of Tondo, Binondo, and San Nicolas in Manila, Divisoria is a holiday haven for eagle-eyed Christmas shoppers who are experts in striking cheaper deals. This is perfect for snagging general decorations such as Christmas trees that can be bought as low as P480 for a four-foot-tall tree. This is significantly cheaper compared to high-end malls offering more or less the same quality.
Baclaran
Straying away from go-to places in the north, Baclaran is considered the south’s very own Divisoria. Found in the northern area of Parañaque City, its different tiangges offer unique products ranging from glittering stockings, lit-up reindeer statues, and snowman figures. The highlight of Baclaran, however, is the blinking lanterns at night. The place is illuminated by different, brightly-colored modern parols found in the majority of its stalls — whether it be five-pointed star parols made out of plastic, flower or poinsettia-shaped parols made from capiz, or even diamond-shaped parols made from metal.
For the extravagant shoppers
Sarilinlikha Novelties
With a portmanteau of the Filipino words, sarili (oneself) and likha (creation), Sarilinlikha Novelties features high-class locally-crafted holiday decorations. Its specialties are its Christmas ball ornaments made from velvet clothing of different deep hues and intricate patterns formed by beads and cords. Romeo Balderrama, who established the store in 1992, says these complex designs signify “luxury and abundance,” perfect for high-toned shoppers who want a more posh holiday style in their homes.
Alriver
Taking pride in crafting stylish medium-sized figurines that make up the Nativity or belen set, Alriver has gained both a local and international audience with its Christmas decor. Made from high-quality raw materials like resin, various fabrics, metal, and wood, its iconic figurines immediately catch one’s eye. Shoppers can make these ritzy Nativity sets as the chic centerpiece of their decoration.
Natureline Enterprises
Known for its lavish versions of the Christmas tree, Natureline Enterprises offers sophisticated designs that are handcrafted using abaca, banaba, pandan fibers, and other natural materials. Recently, the brand’s major project was decorating the Manila Hotel. Shoppers can choose from its bush trees ranging from different sizes and colors that sparkle and shine. The brand also offers elegant miniature trees that can enhance even a simple tabletop.
For the eccentric decorator
Kultura Filipino
Found in pretty much any mall near you, Kultura Filipino implements uniquely Filipino-designed Christmas decor. Many of its items use Indigenous materials such as abaca in its ornaments and parols, capiz for its lights and lanterns, and a rustic vintage or wooden feel for its table decorations. Shoppers purchasing from Kultura Filipino are immediately transported back in time when Filipinos celebrated Christmas under Spanish rule. Its decorations are also available in its online store.
MIL Export
Straying from the usual Christmas decorations made out of plastic, MIL Export uses a combination of just tin, metal, and wire in their ornaments to create depth and character. While some might be skeptical of purchasing see-through decor, MIL Export designs them in such a way as to retain their sophistication. The sparkle from the metal wires offers a stylish perspective that eccentric decorators are sure to find appealing.
Papemelroti
The highlight of Papemelroti, an online-based store with limited branches, is its miniature and minimalist Nativity set made out of resin. While most basic Christmas decorations include the festive colors of red and green, decorations from Papemelroti are perfect for those who prefer neutral colors. This appeals to a classier and modern theme of decorations that shoppers with a more contemporary taste would approve of.
