LIFE
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!
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.
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.
Old terracotta pots were made anew as available planters, all hand-painted with familiar colorful local avians.
The artist behind all these creative renditions of local life is Christian Cyrus Tito. An invaluable part of The Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club housekeeping department for the past five years, he's a self-taught painter who specializes in charcoal drawings, caricatures, and tattoo designs. He proudly showcases his talents during the milestone celebrations of the property, especially during Christmas.
For green thumbs, another treat awaits in the form of herbs and ornamental plants grown in their own garden, which are then repotted in recycled tin cans to bring a refreshing factor to homes in the metro.
Other creative endeavors for the season included the welcome face of Father Christmas himself — with a Filipino twist. Dried bamboo stems and coconut husks have been transformed into Pinoy Santa Coin Banks and Trinkets, explosions of cheery colors.
This green celebration was made a success by the trio led by carpentry head Mervin Gonzales, with Teodoro Perno Jr. and Johnjohn Salvid as his trusted partners. The triumvirate left no stone unturned — no two artworks were the same, each item customized, original and one-of-a-kind.
These creations likewise take center stage during other celebrations such as Chinese New Year, Valentines, Easter, Halloween, and more.
Throughout the year, they gathered leftover wedding flowers, which, instead of being disposed, were naturally dried. Together with weeds and twigs, these were formed into tablescapes, decors, and festive wreaths. There is no garbage — and absolutely no plastic!
Best of all, portion of proceeds went to the Children's Joy Foundation Inc., the chosen partner for this year's program.