THE holidays are here and everyone’s on the hunt for the perfect gifts for their loved ones. Make the holidays even sweeter and give a little gift of the homeland by supporting Filipino-made products this Christmas. Come and get them all at the First Filipino Christmas Bazaar at Sentro Filipino/San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center this Sunday, December 18 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at 814 Mission Street, San Francisco.
You will have varied choices from several artisanal entrepreneurs, including Arkipelago Books, Hara, Barbara Lee Jewelry, Filiflavors, Oodaalolly Chocolates, Pilip & Blu, Malaya Botanicals and Concepcion Resort Wear from Los Angeles.
To make your choices quick and sweet, we’ve rounded up 10 gift ideas for the ones you love this holiday season.
For Mom: Peep toe abaca tie-knot slides, natural shell coasters and a capiz shell trinket dish to hold all her favorite things from Hara’s selection of artisanal homeware handmade by indigenous and female artisans in the Philippines. Add some sparkle to her life with a dazzling pair of Malaya statement earrings from Pili & Blu or a timeless heirloom necklace from Barbara Lee’s Filipiniana collection featuring traditional rosary-style necklaces and pearl jewelry.
For Dad: Bamboo bottle opener, peacock abalone coasters or from Oodaalally and Kasama Rum’s special rum-infused holiday collection of chocolate bars to tie it all together.
For the little ones in your life: Help the bright-eyed babes in your life stay warm this Christmas with a children’s puffer jacket covered in butterflies from Shop Concepcion. Add a green and purple sodsod banig mat hand woven by the women of the Tagolwanen tribe in Malaybalay, Bukidnon for their next playtime session and pair it with a banig utility basket to hold all their toys!
For the friend who needs some R&R: Have a friend who needs a little self-care this holiday season? Help them relax with Malaya Botanicals’ Relax CBD Gift Set featuring a CBD Massage Candle, bath bomb, roll-on and massage oil. Add a Oodaalally’s signature dark chocolate bar infused with calamansi for an extra dose of sweetness or Filiflavor’s Something Vegan Box.
For the friend who loves to travel: Give your friend with wanderlust a little taste of home with Filiflavor’s Special Sweet Surprise Box featuring classic and much-loved treats from the Philippines. Pair it with some beachy accessories for their next tropical excursion like a bright Ginhawa Tikog Fan, bohemian abaca tie-knot slides and Marikit Visor from Hara.
For the fashionista: Shop Concepcion’s show stopping green velvet suit, perfect for a night on the town. Pair it with Barbara Lee Jewelry’s classic Gloria earrings to complete the look.
For the friend who loves to host: Deck out your dear friend’s next dinner party with a handwoven Inabel brocade table runner and matching set of Solihiya placemats. Pair it with festive Inabel napkins and Anahaw napkin rings for the perfect dining experience.
For the friend who loves to read: Arkipelago Books carries books such as the acclaimed novel “The Son of Good Fortune” by Lysley Tenorio. Does your friend also love to cook? Try “I Am a Filipino… and This Is How We Cook” by Nicole Ponseca & Miguel Trinidad.
For the teenagers and college students in your life: There’s Honey bracelet from Barbara Lee Jewelry featuring peach, cream and purple pearls.
For more information, visit the Facebook page of Sentro Filipino: The San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center, or their website at www.sentrofilipino.com. (Sentro Filipino/FCC Release)
