IT is 101 days before Christmas, but its spirit is already felt in the Philippines.

The early Christmas season in the country is not new to other nationalities, even Mariah Carey knows her “Filipino lambs” celebrate Christmas for months. 

Due to the expected high demand for Christmas decorations, these items are readily accessible at markets and malls as early as September.

Among those who went shopping early were Kate Yoshinoya, 47, and Rachelle Sanvictores, 45, who visited Dapitan Arcade to look for materials to create their Christmas motif this year.

Sanvictores shared with republicasia that she bought Christmas balls, flowers, and a money tree for her decorations. Meanwhile, Yoshinoya said she bought a Christmas tree, ornaments, garlands, and artificial flowers for her vase.

For this year’s theme, Yoshinoya said she plans to go with the classic red and white Christmas.

“As Filipinos, we start Christmas [during] the first month of ‘Ber.’ In September, we normally prepare the Christmas decors in the house,” Yoshinoya said.

Sanvictores said she started shopping for Christmas while the prices of decorations were still low.

“Kasi mostly tumataas ‘pag mga October na, November. Medyo mas mataas yung price kaya medyo sinasamantala natin habang medyo mababa pa,” she said.

Dapitan Arcade in Quezon City is known for being a one-stop shop for home decorations, furniture collections, and other good-quality crafts. The place is also popular for its wide selection of Christmas ornaments.

If you are looking for cheaper yet well-crafted Christmas decorations, you might want to check out these items at Dapitan Arcade.

Figurines

One of the key Christmas decorations is the belen, which depicts the birth of Jesus Christ in a stable in Bethlehem. 

The nativity scene usually shows Mary and Joseph with their newborn Jesus, but there can also be the three kings and farm animals.

There is one shop in Dapitan Arcade that makes belen figurines in different sizes. 

If you opt to put your belen on top of a table, EVM Decors offers five-inch belen figurines for only P500. But if you are looking for life-size displays, the store has six-foot three-dimensional sculptures that cost P85,000.

Aside from belen, they also have figurines of Santa Claus, which cost from P200 to P2,500. 

Small Santa Claus figurines can be bought either per piece or in sets of three.

“Ang kadalasang binibili po sa amin [ay] mga belen po,” 19-year-old vendor Rommel Pacleb said.

They also have hanging figurines of Santa Claus that can be bought for P300 to P1,200.

The store also has cute tree ornaments such as ice cream cones and doughnuts.

Christmas lights

Nights won’t feel alive without gleaming displays of colorful lights that appear to groove to Christmas carols.

Vendor Mary Ann Dy, 32, has a variety of Christmas lights in her store. 

Prices range from P150 to P1,800, depending on the number of lights, she said.

Christmas tree

Of course, Christmas decorations won’t be complete without the iconic Christmas tree.

In Christy Morales’ store, the price of Christmas trees depends on their design and height.

According to vendor Richard Costiniano, 33, the prices of their Christmas tree range from P1,500 to P10,000.

A P1,500 Christmas tree is only a plain one. But Costiniano said that they also offer decorated Christmas trees, which are popular among their customers.

“Kasi konti na lang yung nilalagay nilang decor eh. Nakakatipid na sila,” he said.

“‘Yung plain lang madalang,” he added.

A Christmas tree from Christy Morales’ store costs P1,500 for 5 feet, P2,500 for 6 feet, P3,500 for 7 feet, P4,500 for 8 feet, and P10,000 for 10 feet. 

Christmas lanterns

Another iconic symbol of Christmas in the Philippines is the Christmas lantern, locally known as “parol.”

Christmas lanterns in Clark Presko’s store are currently priced at P700 to P5,000, depending on their size. However, there is a possibility that these lanterns will become more expensive in the following months.

“Pagdating ng Christmas, tumataas po kasi yung mga price dito. Kaya habang hindi pa tumataas yung [presyo], bumili na sila,” Presko said.

Other than Christmas lanterns, Presko also sells Christmas balls for P1,000. The vendor said that the item is the most popular in his store.

“Sa parol, sa ngayon hindi pa mabenta. Bihira pa lang yung mga [bumibili],” he said.

Snow lanterns, Christmas villages

If you are searching for a different or additional Christmas decoration, you might as well visit Stall No. 49 in Dapitan Arcade, which sells snow lanterns and Christmas villages.

Stall No. 49’s snow lanterns have a variety of designs, including the red telephone box-inspired lantern that has a Santa Claus figurine inside. There are also snow lanterns that display figurines of the Holy Family and belen.

The prices of these snow lanterns range from P800 to P1,000.

Meanwhile, Christmas villages cost P1,700 to P4,500. The store also sells other home decorations and gift items.

The most popular item in the store is the snow lantern, according to 40-year-old vendor Josephine Celestial.

“‘Yan ang mga mabili kasi ‘yan ang mura ay afford ng tao,” she said.

Other Christmas decorations

Trina’s flower shop has a different selection of Christmas decorations that customers can choose from.

Among its popular items are Christmas balls, garlands, and wreaths, said 26-year-old vendor Jeron Contreras.

The selling point of the shop is probably its option for customers to request personalized garlands that will match their Christmas theme.

“‘Yung mga customer po pwede pong magpa-sadya sa amin ng kung anong motif nila sa Pasko,” he said.

The prices of Christmas decorations in Trina’s flower shop did not change, according to Contreras.

Garlands with different accessories like gifts, ribbons, and Christmas balls usually cost P1,200 for 8 feet.

Personalized garlands also have the same price, but it may vary depending on their length. Contreras said that they charge P150 per foot. 

The biggest size of a wreath costs P2,500, while the smallest is only P400.

“Minsan po may kumukuha [ng garland] 50 pieces. Tapos yang mga [wreath] din po meron pong kumukuha din ng 50 [pieces] ‘pag sa mga government [establishments], sa mga offices,” he said. 

The prices of Christmas balls are also based on their sizes, ranging from P100 to P500.