Earth-friendly Christmas at Sta. Lucia

MANILA, Philippines - Even before climate change made recycling a buzz word, Sta. Lucia Mall already had its take on making the old look spanking new. The mall’s management has made it a point to economize and contribute to the worldwide goal of greening the planet and making it safe for future generations.

That’s why Rene Labrador, the mall’s longtime visual display manager has been converting the skeleton of the 30-foot Christmas tree he first used in 1996 into a sight to behold.

This year, he again resorted to the now time-honored practice of saving Mother Earth. He has taken out the rolls and rolls of the mall’s used streamers and came up with the dazzling Christmas tree right smack at the mall’s Fountain Area.

“See those colorful candy pieces on the tree?” he asks. “They came from a big lantern ball. I fashioned a tiny tail on both ends of the body.”

Rene also found a use for otherwise disposable coco cloth he found in the mall’s storage area. His artistic eye turned them into dried leaves that festooned the entire length and breadth of the tree. Then, Rene used a generous amount of used spangles and glued them on the tree leaves. 

The result: A glittering Christmas tree that saves energy because it doesn’t need electricity to sparkle and shine.

All the other pieces of décor on the tree are made of recyclable materials: The candy cane, red flowing ribbon, the wheel-style ornament painted a festive red, green, white and pastel colors.