WHAT a delightful “Maligayang Pasko” feeling, to be at the formal inauguration of Duty Free Philippines’ Luxe mall in MOA! What fun everyone had finding themselves in the midst of a native and tropical Christmas, surrounded by islands of imported goods, at the crossroads where the world’s luxury brands meet the best of Philippine products.
Doubly delightful was the home-for-Christmas-in-our-town theme interpreted by stylist Gideon Hernandez – fishermen’s and shrimp catchers’ baskets hanging with twisting vines from the ceiling, coffee tables made of braided reeds and weeds, serving trays lined with woven mats, embroidered jusi balls hanging on the tree, capiz shells scattered all over the dining table. Not surprising that the caterer of the day, Alex del Rosario, served an all-Filipino merienda cena that was capped by a drink of edible pink flowers floating in ice-cold coconut water.
A pity Tourism Secretary Berna R. Puyat was not around to cut the ribbon with Senator Nancy Binay, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, and DFP COO Vico Angala. In her signature modern-Filipina attire Ms. Puyat would’ve turned heads as guests toured the new mall’s two floors of merchandise aimed at pleasing a girl’s heart at gift-giving time. According to Mr. Angala, DFP raked in $4.2 million in two days in mid-November, mostly from shoppers from China. And why not? China, said a DFP supplier, “is not cheap if you’re buying luxury goods; Japan would be cheaper.”
Alas, also not cheap are PH products of a certain class and quality. Ms. Binay, who was garbed in a jusi blouse, not barong, and carried a cute pouch with a basket weave, heads the Senate tourism committee. Privately, she confessed that her wish is that more women can afford more of our boutique-quality articles.
With Senator Nancy, Secretary Puyat, Rep. Loren Legarda, and VP Leni Robredo leading the roster of Filipinas who wear their heart on their sleeve, let’s hope it won’t be long before prices of fabrics, sewing, beading, embroidery, and other items done by hand come down, if only for fashion’s sake. Genuinely heartwarming to hear Marian Rivera announce that she’s altered her wardrobe by junking foreign fashion brands and replacing them with made-in-PH creations, which are just as fashionable if not more wearable and practical. Looking good, ladies!
