Anton Huang tells us it’s christmas with trees and tablescapes  

When Anton Huang declared the start of the Christmas season last Monday at Rustan’s, it was with a sense of nostalgia and, at the same time, modern takes on this, every Filipino’s favorite time of the year.

Christmas at home revolves around two things: the Christmas tree and the dinner table where the family celebrates Noche Buena and Media Noche meals.

So Rustans invited some creative personalities to design Christmas trees and tables this year: Alice Eduardo with her beary merry Christmas in red and gold; Beng Dee and Bea Soriano Dee with their Asian Christmas setting with a French flair; Katrina Ponce Enrile with her Moroccan-inspired Christmas tree; Bambi Manosa Tanjutco and Gelo Manosa with their holiday vignette as envisioned by an interior designer and architect; Tessa Prieto with her usual whimsical style; Odette Pumaren with a winter wonderland tree inspired by her grandchild Mateo; Jet Acuzar with some nostalgic Filipino comfort designs; Christine Nick delos Reyes with a minimalist vision; and Pinky Tobiano with her red and gold tree.

I fondly remember past Christmas launches at Rustan’s with the late Nedy Tantoco and Ambassador Benny Tantoco welcoming guests amid Santa’s laughter, the smell of bibingka and puto bumbong wafting in the air, and children’s singing voices accompanied by bamboo instruments.