Invitations came our way to attend many a Christmas tree lighting over the years — an affair that used to be exclusively for sterling hotels and massive supermalls. But one specifically stood out among the rest, bar none. While most focused on the bounties of the earth and heavenly depictions of holiday solidarity — Pico de Loro instead chose to dive deep underwater.

Situated within the Hamilo Coast, the exclusive enclave consists of a 40-hectare beachfront residential resort village outfitted with the latest recreational facilities above and below water where many a vacationer found their new home — temporary or otherwise — away from home.

The highlight of the evening, dubbed Joys of the Sea, consists of not one, but two Christmas Trees — indoor and outdoor — with similar motifs.

The grander, 30 feet tall, was situated on the open space was a conical shape covered with banig — specifically artistically hand painted in various shades of blue to indicate the sea and its different depths.
"Pico de Loro has stopped using plastic materials for some time now. Even our drinking water comes in tetra packs," said Cheryline de la Cruz, Housekeeping Manager of the Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club.

"If we ever use aluminum cans for sodas, once empty, we religiously collect and immediately surrender them to a third-party partner for recycling," added Supervisor Florencio Garcia.

However, guests unavoidably bring in plastics. Instead, Pico de Loro sorts waste after disposal for repurposing — otherwise, they have a fear that these will somehow end up discarded into the ocean.
And so, for this year, the property has focused on one Yuletide mission — to incorporate marine life protection into their ornaments by solely using recycled materials for their Christmas Trees.

Some highlights include jellyfish, which used reshaped containers for its head and tentacles from cut-up plastic strips. Bottles were likewise flattened to resemble the shape of fish and masterfully snipped to recreate the mouth and the tail, while paint took take of the details on the fins.
More bottles of plastic were flipped upside-down and bore holes to resemble bubbles undernearth the sea. Starfish were constructed out of paper and cardboard, while the caps were resourcefully turned into their recognizable mounds and spines.

Bunt out rubber tires, sliced up trash cans, and chloride containers — all cleaned up and sanitized — were also transformed into the ever-present, yet endangered coral reefs.

At the very top of the Yuletide icon was a giant symbol made of broken Capiz, which has been repurposed into a star. The resort has used this same topper for six years now — and counting. Talk about commitment to the cause!

Each and every ornament from both trees were all organically styled and created in-house courtesy of the Housekeeping Department, where the officials and staff – and the rest of the hotel personnel – were schooled and trained on trash management and how this damages marine life. Their mantra remains "Never throw, only recycle — find some usefulness from all the rubble."

The honors of the lighting were commenced by Vice Mayor of Nasugbu Mildred Sanchez, SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation president and chairman Elizabeth Sy, Pico de Loro president Rita Dy and Pico de Loro general manager Walid Wafik.

The Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony was made even more festive by a four-man vocal group QU4TRO, who serenaded the attendees with classics and Christmas carols. Meanwhile, individuals from nearby communities prepared kakanins with their own specialties and displayed handicrafts they were known for, all in various stalls.

The event was the brainchild of SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation Art Consultant Nes Jardin.
Dinner soon followed at the all-Spanish Arribada Lounge. As the Hispanic music continued throughout the evening, we all took in Pico de Loro's institutional mission to save our bountiful marine underworld.