Green Christmas by the cove
Throughout the year, they gathered leftover wedding flowers, which, instead of being disposed, were naturally dried. Together with weeds and twigs, they were formed into tablescapes, decor, and festive wreaths. There is no garbage — and absolutely no plastic!
WOODEN reindeer. | PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF PICO DE LORO
A curious little stall bursting with sustainable holiday items merrily greets you the moment you step into the open-air breezy lobby of The Pico Sands Hotel in Nasugbu, Batangas.
With the theme, Green Christmas, the property's staff gathered, salvaged, and foraged residue, fragments, and scraps throughout the 40 hectares of Pico de Loro Cove, to create natural and upcycled Yuletide décor and artisanal gifts.
Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club housekeeping and creative team members Mervin Gonzales, Christian Cyrus Tito, Florencio Garcia, and Teodoro Perno Jr.
Debris such as logs and twigs were repurposed into reindeers, which come in a set of three. The horns, fore, and hind legs came from branches that were culled during pruning season, while the eyes originated from palo santo seeds.
Meanwhile, discarded wine bottles were upcycled to have a second life as condiment containers, where they donned new paintings of the Pico birds, of which there are an estimated 150 species in the area.
Not to be outdone are brand-new bayong bags, skillfully weaved utilizing dried leaves such as buri. These were then inked with the endemic and migratory feathered fledglings.
Terracotta planters.
