By Anna Valmero
MANILA CITY, METRO MANILA—Tough economic times do not stop Filipinos from celebrating Christmas with a festive mood. In keeping with the merry mood of the holiday season, houses and offices are usually designed with glittery Yuletide decors.
Filipinos are known to be budget shoppers so vendors like Ruby Perea start to set up shop in one of the bustling streets of Quiapo to sell Christmas decorations as early as October.
One advantage of doing your shopping there, Ruby says, is you’re guaranteed a lower price. A 20-piece pack of colorful Christmas balls (which you can put in your Christmas tree), for example, is sold for P180 to P200, cheaper by up to two-thirds its price in malls, she says.
“Yung mga nanay na praktikal napunta talaga ng Quiapo para makamura kasi yung mabibili mo sa P500 mas marami talaga kesa kapag bumili sa mga malls lalo na kapag magaling tumawadc (The more practical go to Quiapo because here P500 can buy you a lot especially if you know how to haggle).”
The al fresco setup of makeshift retail shops also offers practical buyers the unique feel of Filipino shopping – include the heat, friendly chatter and haggling – which is lacking in the well-manicured environment of malls.
Christmas trees cost between P200 to P800 for two- to six-feet pine trees (undecorated). Stars (placed on top of the tree) measuring eight-inches cost from P40 to P50 apiece. If you want to add ribbons and tinsel trimmings, you can get a five-meter ribbon lace for P100 or less. Those with designs can cost P20 more.
Angel figures that can be used to replace stars atop the Christmas tree cost at P150 (cheaper than the same variety sold at malls for P250 and up). In fact, you can haggle for one piece for just P100 depending on the number of goods you bought. Usually, retailers would be glad to give you a bigger discount if you buy a lot of items.
Christmas lights sold at Quiapo cost from P150 and above, depending on the color and bulb design. To ensure safety, request a new unit in stock so you can test the product before buying.
Meanwhile, gift wrappers are also cheaper when bought in bulk as well as ribbons for gift wrapping. As for gifts, you can look for toys, T-shirts, towels, personalized mugs, jewellery and camera from other stalls or the nearby Carriedo mall.
For her small business, Ruby lets his daughter and niece tend to the small shop roofed by a huge umbrella when she gets her supplies from a community stock area.
The unpredictable rains during hot days are the only problem among vendors like her so she reminds hoppers to always bring an umbrella to protect themselves from the heat or rain.
This early, bulk orders for Christmas decors are already piling up so Ruby advises shoppers to get started with their Christmas shopping and to take advantage of the huge discounts offered by retailers.
When December comes in, she says items would have a markup of at least ten percent on top of the current costs.
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Filipino-designed Christmas trees symbolize efforts to save historic Pasig River
Quiapo is a melting pot of favorite Filipino street food
The sights and sounds of mystical Quiapo
Quiapo vendors appeal to Filipinos to keep Holy Week traditions alive
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