Pinoy Pasko Finds
posted on Monday, December 01, 2008
The recent years have seen a big boom in our local market's consumer goods, thanks to creative and passionate entrepreneurs that strive for their products to be globally competitive. And with Christmas only a few sleeps from now, the more of these quality made 'by Pinoy' goods are made available to bargain hunters through online shopping, bazaars, and expos. In the recent Buy Pinoy Exporters Fair, the crowd ate and shopped to their heart's content with its big bargains and unique finds. After an hour of strolling around the venue, a good number of the stalls have caught my attention for having good holiday gift ideas. Here are some great gift items that are proudly Philippine made that made it in my list.
Casa Miara Trading
What amazes me with Casa Miara's bathroom decor is their rock-bottom prices for the quality and design of their products. This Nueva Ejica business offers wonderful bathroom decor with keen attention to quality and detail. If some of their items seem familiar-looking, it's because they supply a popular department store. The huge difference, of course, is price. In their booth, nothing exceeded P300.
Square set, P195
Rectangular set, P250
Dark wooden and clay pieces accentuated with some bronze and bamboo can recreate a Zen or Asian feel of a spa in your own bath area. A spa enthusiast will be tickled pink with a gift set, complete with a hand towel and pumice stone laid out in a bowl and tray. Their bigger clay jars can also add some character into one's bedroom or living area.
Set with mini jars, P300
Ordering direct from them will save you a whole lot, especially if you buy in bulk as they give discounts.
For orders and inquiries, their telefax number is (044) 486-7801.
Baleña Multicraft
My friends and I think their trinkets are absolute steals. All the pretty colors of the rainbow are found in their Cebu-made pieces: chunky bangles, dramatic earrings and bold necklaces.
All earrings worth P50/pair
When I asked for the prices, my jaw nearly dropped, because their most expensive items are these beatiful intricate necklaces worth only P150 each. And funky dangling earrings cost only P50 a pair. What a deal! Similar pieces would sell for double, even triple their price in other tiangges or mall stores. I had to contain myself from hoarding their stall, since I'm such an accessories freak. This is a great, great Christmas idea for my girlfriends and aunts. And myself.
Bangles are sold P100 each
Necklaces at P100 and P150
If you've missed out on their stall last weekend, fret not as they have a Manila office where you can buy them all. Why not bring along your girlfriends to the store and make them choose whatever item they want -- with very affordable prices, you can tell them it's on you!
Visit their Manila office at 32 Riviera Street, Merville Park Subdivision, Parañaque City. Call or text (0916)385-5574.
Village Handcrafters
These handmade soaps from Antipolo, Rizal are not only locally produced, but also empowering the poor. Teaching the marginalized to create papers, soaps and boxes with their own hands will make them go a long way.
Each handmade soap is priced at P80, and you can choose among pleasant fragrances like coconut, peppermint, vanilla oatmeal, lavender, cinnamon, sandalwood, aloe vera and rose. A good gift idea is to purchase their soap sets, as they do come in lovely packaging.
A pack of two soaps is P150; a pack of three nestled in a wooden container sells for P190 and it comes with a handmade gift bag. For P250, you can get three pieces in a rectangular wooden case that comes with a loofah. These wooden containers are compact and can serve as a bathroom rack for your other toiletries, so the packaging doesn't go to waste.
Contact Dong Laurente at (0920)585-5938 or visit http://villagehandcrafters.com
Dory's Lambanog
These colorful babies are a modern and classy twist to the local lambanog. With its sleek bottle and liquor tinged with eye-catching hues, the Lambalites (P300 each) is a great gift item for your drinking buddies, and a cool item to bring along to those Christmas potluck parties.
Add P30 for this gift packaging
My favorite flavor is their melon (they also have blackberry, bubble gum and strawberry). At Dory's stall, they even printed out some cocktail mix suggestions that go perfectly with a flavored lambanog. Here's a yummy one I tried that day:
They also sell Lambajack (jackfruit version of lambanog) and the original Lambanog.
Contact Ms. Babes Enriquez at (0917)-938-0344, (0918)489-5828 and doryslambanog@yahoo.com. Their products are also being sold at Landmark, Trinoma, Metro Gaisano Legaspi branch, LCC Naga, and Royal Duty Free Subic.
Amu’in
Aromatherapy always soothes me, and when you can bring home that spa experience, even better. The wellness products of Amu’in look and feel very classy. Their scents are also heavenly. For busybodies and people leading a more hectic and toxic work schedule, perhaps the gentle healing of Amu’in' products are perfect gifts to de-stress.
From the people behind Tagaytay's great escape in Nurture Spa, comes three lines of wellness products of lotions, oils, soaps, and sprays. The 'Alaga' line soothes and cares for weary bodies; 'Sigla' promises a perk-me-up energy boosting experience; 'Hulay' relaxes the body and spirit, and 'Gayuma' makes one in the mood for romance.
Amu’in's 'Gayuma' (Romance) line
I particularly liked the citrusy notes in their Sigla Body Lotion with Mango Extract (P395, 250 ml), which uses shea butter, mango extract, and scents of lemongrass, peppermint and lemon. For people who need to moisturize skin but prefer a non-sticky or creamy application, the different lines of Dry Body Oil (P415, 100ml) can be your best alternative. Right after shower is the best time to spritz on the scented oil and massage on skin, and immediately it absorbs without that greasy feel. All the Amu’in products come in dark brown canvas totes, and for a little extra you may opt to have them in gift packs or convenient travel kits for that spa-on-the-go experience.
'Sigla' (Energy) Body Lotion and Dry Body Oil
Visit their office/showroom at 2/F Air-Rich Building, Km. 19.5 East Service Road, Sucat, Paranaque. Call (0918)8888-SPA, (0920)950-5724, and 838-0073. You can order online at http://www.amuinwellness.com
There you go, some of my holiday finds that are proudly Philippine made, and export quality at that. Not only will you make your loved ones smile with each gift you will give them, you'll also help our local businesses flourish. Have yourselves a proudly Pinoy Pakso!
Casa Miara Trading
What amazes me with Casa Miara's bathroom decor is their rock-bottom prices for the quality and design of their products. This Nueva Ejica business offers wonderful bathroom decor with keen attention to quality and detail. If some of their items seem familiar-looking, it's because they supply a popular department store. The huge difference, of course, is price. In their booth, nothing exceeded P300.
Square set, P195
Rectangular set, P250
Dark wooden and clay pieces accentuated with some bronze and bamboo can recreate a Zen or Asian feel of a spa in your own bath area. A spa enthusiast will be tickled pink with a gift set, complete with a hand towel and pumice stone laid out in a bowl and tray. Their bigger clay jars can also add some character into one's bedroom or living area.
Set with mini jars, P300
Ordering direct from them will save you a whole lot, especially if you buy in bulk as they give discounts.
For orders and inquiries, their telefax number is (044) 486-7801.
Baleña Multicraft
My friends and I think their trinkets are absolute steals. All the pretty colors of the rainbow are found in their Cebu-made pieces: chunky bangles, dramatic earrings and bold necklaces.
All earrings worth P50/pair
When I asked for the prices, my jaw nearly dropped, because their most expensive items are these beatiful intricate necklaces worth only P150 each. And funky dangling earrings cost only P50 a pair. What a deal! Similar pieces would sell for double, even triple their price in other tiangges or mall stores. I had to contain myself from hoarding their stall, since I'm such an accessories freak. This is a great, great Christmas idea for my girlfriends and aunts. And myself.
Bangles are sold P100 each
Necklaces at P100 and P150
If you've missed out on their stall last weekend, fret not as they have a Manila office where you can buy them all. Why not bring along your girlfriends to the store and make them choose whatever item they want -- with very affordable prices, you can tell them it's on you!
Visit their Manila office at 32 Riviera Street, Merville Park Subdivision, Parañaque City. Call or text (0916)385-5574.
Village Handcrafters
These handmade soaps from Antipolo, Rizal are not only locally produced, but also empowering the poor. Teaching the marginalized to create papers, soaps and boxes with their own hands will make them go a long way.
Each handmade soap is priced at P80, and you can choose among pleasant fragrances like coconut, peppermint, vanilla oatmeal, lavender, cinnamon, sandalwood, aloe vera and rose. A good gift idea is to purchase their soap sets, as they do come in lovely packaging.
A pack of two soaps is P150; a pack of three nestled in a wooden container sells for P190 and it comes with a handmade gift bag. For P250, you can get three pieces in a rectangular wooden case that comes with a loofah. These wooden containers are compact and can serve as a bathroom rack for your other toiletries, so the packaging doesn't go to waste.
Contact Dong Laurente at (0920)585-5938 or visit http://villagehandcrafters.com
Dory's Lambanog
These colorful babies are a modern and classy twist to the local lambanog. With its sleek bottle and liquor tinged with eye-catching hues, the Lambalites (P300 each) is a great gift item for your drinking buddies, and a cool item to bring along to those Christmas potluck parties.
Add P30 for this gift packaging
My favorite flavor is their melon (they also have blackberry, bubble gum and strawberry). At Dory's stall, they even printed out some cocktail mix suggestions that go perfectly with a flavored lambanog. Here's a yummy one I tried that day:
They also sell Lambajack (jackfruit version of lambanog) and the original Lambanog.
Contact Ms. Babes Enriquez at (0917)-938-0344, (0918)489-5828 and doryslambanog@yahoo.com. Their products are also being sold at Landmark, Trinoma, Metro Gaisano Legaspi branch, LCC Naga, and Royal Duty Free Subic.
Amu’in
Aromatherapy always soothes me, and when you can bring home that spa experience, even better. The wellness products of Amu’in look and feel very classy. Their scents are also heavenly. For busybodies and people leading a more hectic and toxic work schedule, perhaps the gentle healing of Amu’in' products are perfect gifts to de-stress.
From the people behind Tagaytay's great escape in Nurture Spa, comes three lines of wellness products of lotions, oils, soaps, and sprays. The 'Alaga' line soothes and cares for weary bodies; 'Sigla' promises a perk-me-up energy boosting experience; 'Hulay' relaxes the body and spirit, and 'Gayuma' makes one in the mood for romance.
Amu’in's 'Gayuma' (Romance) line
I particularly liked the citrusy notes in their Sigla Body Lotion with Mango Extract (P395, 250 ml), which uses shea butter, mango extract, and scents of lemongrass, peppermint and lemon. For people who need to moisturize skin but prefer a non-sticky or creamy application, the different lines of Dry Body Oil (P415, 100ml) can be your best alternative. Right after shower is the best time to spritz on the scented oil and massage on skin, and immediately it absorbs without that greasy feel. All the Amu’in products come in dark brown canvas totes, and for a little extra you may opt to have them in gift packs or convenient travel kits for that spa-on-the-go experience.
'Sigla' (Energy) Body Lotion and Dry Body Oil
Visit their office/showroom at 2/F Air-Rich Building, Km. 19.5 East Service Road, Sucat, Paranaque. Call (0918)8888-SPA, (0920)950-5724, and 838-0073. You can order online at http://www.amuinwellness.com
There you go, some of my holiday finds that are proudly Philippine made, and export quality at that. Not only will you make your loved ones smile with each gift you will give them, you'll also help our local businesses flourish. Have yourselves a proudly Pinoy Pakso!
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