Gift Guide 2020: Thoughtful gift ideas that are under P1,000
The holidays may be different this year because of the pandemic but the spirit of the season lives on with the tradition of gift giving.
This year has brought many lessons and one of them is one can make someone’s heart smile without breaking the bank.
Spread the holiday cheer with these thoughtful gift ideas that are under P1,000.
Simoy ng Haraya holiday scents
Candles are no longer a cliché as gifts for the holidays, especially if their scents would remind you of the much-loved Christmas staples—puto bumbong and bibingka, for example.
Bring in the holiday mood with Simoy ng Haraya’s candles, which are made with 100-percent natural soy wax and premium fragrance oil blend. Each candle weighs 150 grams and has a 30- to 35-hour burn time.
Missing the after-Simbang gabi snacks tradition? Light up Simoy ng Haraya’s Bibingka candle, which has notes of egg, coconut, butter and brown sugar; or Puto Bumbong, which scent is a blend of coconut, milk and brown sugar.
There’s also Buko Pandan, ever-present in holiday parties, which has notes of coconut, pandan, milk, vanilla and cream; and Tsoknut, which will bring nostalgia with its notes of peanut and chocolate.
These goodies are P799, available at simoyngharaya.com.
Honest Oils PH’s Mindfulness Kit
As the lingering effects of the pandemic bleeds to our daily grind, give the gift of olfactory delight with Honest Oils PH’s essential oil blends.
Its essential oils are handcrafted and thoughtfully curated by its founder, fashion and lifestyle photographer Mau Aguasin, who is a wellness and self-care lover.
Aside from individual essential oil blends, Honest Oils also has curated oil sets like the Mindfulness Kit. Inside the kit are three calming and grounding essential oil blends in 10 ml. roller bottles: Fortress, a dedicated blend for managing flu symptoms, cough, colds and asthma; Focus, which is great while completing tasks at work for concentration, memory and motivation; and Stillness that works well for meditation, tranquility, jet lag, mood swings, rage, grief and trauma.
The essential oils trifecta of the Mindfulness Kit (P750) is a must-have on one’s workstation or in one’s to-go purse.
Click here to access the order form or visit Honest Oils PH on Instagram.
Unique kawaii earrings of Queer Ears
Miya Inomata of Queer Ears PH only started selling these fun and quirky earrings in October and her pieces sell out quick. She turns charms, key chains and miniature items into earrings.
Spread extra kawaii this year and give that fun and quirky friend a collection of these earrings that have designs like pencil sharpener, water dispenser, saltine crackers, and even colorful candies.
Visit QueerearsPH on Instagram and Shopee.ph/queerears.ph.
Abelilio’s locally made mules
One need not break a bank to get onboard the “support local” movement. These locally made and handcrafted mules from Abelilio are a nice gift to complete an all-local ensemble.
Abelilio footwear, especially its mules, are a favorite at pop-ups like Katutubo, Citizens by Century and Origin Fair. Its founders Dexter Gallanta, Raymond Balaoro and Micha Barcenas, who are hemodialysis nurses, conceptualized the design for their mules using inabel fabric from the Ilocos region and abaca from the Bicol region. Abelilio’s pieces, which range from size 5 to 10, are handcrafted by local shoemakers.
For inquiries, send them a direct message on Instagram or through Viber at 0956-8918404.
The Den Manila’s “Shapes of Escolta” shirt bundle
The “Shapes of Escolta” shirt bundle is perfect for that culture junkie friend, whom you’ve had many adventures with in the urban jungles of Metro Manila (especially in old downtown Manila), or someone you’ve had coffee dates with at The Den located inside the Escolta mainstay—the First United Building.
Inside the gift box is a limited edition Shapes of Escolta screen-printed shirt (available in Heather Gray/White, sizes are small to large) inspired by architectural design elements and motifs found around Escolta; a 250 ml. ready-to-drink cold brew; and an Escolta post card.
The Den’s “Everything in the Right Place Scarf Bundle” and “Culture is a Need Shirt Bundle” are also below P1,000. They are all available at www.thedenmanila.com.
Tres Brujas’ Yuletide Gift Set
Inside the Tres Bujas’ Yuletide gift set are gifts for spiritual healing—whether for a friend who have long-wanted to expand his or her spiritual path or for those who want to escape from the devastating effects of the pandemic. Or why not get one for yourself, too?
Included in the gift set, priced at P825, are a bottle of potion-like Elixirs loose-leaf tea (Butterfly Pea or Roselle Hibiscus), a California White Sage mini, which can be changed to other smudge herbs but prices may vary; an Ecuadorian Palo Santo; and a smudge guide. These are packed in a hard kraft box and wrapped in ribbon.
Tres Brujas’ smudge herbs are ethically and sustainably sources from a controlled area in California. Its Palo Santo sticks are from naturally fallen trunks and branches from the dry forests of Ecuador and Peru, where Palo Santo is abundant.
Send Tres Brujas a DM on Instagram or visit Lazada for orders.
Indayog’s “Sans Salawal” dusters
Since March, many who have been working from home ditched their power suits and 9-to-5 chic ensembles for their trusty pambahay.
Indayog’s Sans Salawal (“without underwear”) collection is the brand’s ode to “still feeling sensual and comfortable at home without having to wear an underwear or stifling bras.”
The adjustable dusters in the collection, two of them priced at P950, are made from dead stock fabric from Taytay, sewn by the beloved Aling Violy, who is known in the theater community for her costume work. The dusters’ sizes range from small to extra large.
Visit Indayog’s Instagram to order and check out more of its sustainable fashion pieces.