Christmas cheat sheet for men

Where is your gift guide?” said one e-mail sent by a reader a few days ago. I had come up with gift guides in this column for the past few years but decided to do away with it this time, certain that all of us have opted to donate our Christmas gift fund to the victims of Yolanda. But several requests have come my way and, to quote one reader, “The gift guide is for those who have earmarked a Christmas shopping fund after having donated to Yolanda victims.”

This year, simplicity is key. If you must give a present, let it come from the deep recesses of your soul, not your pocket: a hand-written, earnest love letter; a note of gratitude for all the times you failed to say “thank you”; even a single-word note saying “sorry” for all the times you’ve hurt a dear one. It’s all about appreciation and celebrating family, friends, and the things we still have, which our brothers and sisters in the Visayas have lost.

In case you want to take the extra step and enclose a material gift, here is my Christmas 2013 gift guide for men:

1. A donation to UNICEF or the Red Cross in your beloved’s name. Some find this lame, even annoying, but in the spirit of the times, it is invaluable. Put the certificate of donation in an envelope with a handwritten love note telling her how much she means to you. When she opens it, watch how it suddenly becomes Christmas. Visit donate.unicef.ph or redcross.org.ph/donate.

2. Bronze hand mold. You’ve seen bronzed baby shoes, right? They forever preserve cherished memories. The same principle applies to the bronze hand mold. Show your affection for your partner by having a model of her hands cast in bronze. It’s like having her immortalized in sculpture. Go to Bronzery.com for more information. Prices start at $80.

3. Portrait. Yes, a portrait is a portrait is a portrait, until you’ve seen one done by Filipina artist Tessa Mendoza — so unlike the typical portraits of coiffed matrons posing beside chaise lounges with a faraway look in their eyes. Mendoza’s portraits weave a Gustav Klimt-like enchantment that spellbinds the viewer. Visit her Facebook page.

4. Royal title. Make your partner feel like royalty by giving her a proper British title. Though you can’t purchase the title of “Queen” (that one’s already taken), other royal titles like Countess, Duchess, Baroness, or Lady can be had for a price with or without a small parcel of land to go along with it. English titles last a lifetime and can be used in passports, driver’s licenses, bankcards, etc. Visit Elitetitles.co.uk. The package includes a colorful certificate of Titles and a Title Deed starting at 195 British pounds. 

5. Jewelry. You can never go wrong with jewelry. Giving her a pair of beautiful earrings makes you an instant rock star in her eyes — the bigger the stones and more substantial the setting, the more Adam Levine you become, even if you’re middle-aged, balding, and sporting a paunch. Here is a list of trusted jewelers with the finest taste who will walk you through the selection process.

• Aji Tan. Aji offers one-of-kind works of art that any woman will drool over. Her pieces, inspired by her travels, are not available for retail sales anywhere else but her home and consultations are by appointment only. For more information, please e-mail me at cecilelilles@yahoo.com.

• Nesty Serrano. If you are looking for finely crafted pieces with colored precious and semi-precious stones and therefore lower price points than those set with diamonds, then Nesty is your man. His pieces look like they’re right out of French Vogue because the design and workmanship are of the same caliber as international luxury brands — all at very pocket-friendly prices. Visit his shop, Judy’s Jewels, at Market! Market!

• Doy Navarette. If your partner is partial to diamonds, then go and see Doy. His are the most exquisite pieces I have seen in a while. They are tastefully set and are stunning in their simplicity — sophisticated and classic at the same time. For more information call or text 0917-899-6280.

6. Trip. The newly inaugurated PAL direct flights to London come at the friendliest prices. Europe has not been this accessible and the trip not as convenient in a long time. Gone are the multiple stopovers and prohibitive airfares. Whisk your partner away for a few days to visit the Queen and have high tea or do a pub-crawl, depending on your type of girl.

If outdoor adventure is more your thing, take PAL’s direct flights to Sydney. Go on an outback camping trip to see Ayers Rock, jump out of an airplane at Woollongong, or if your partner is a girly-girl and would rather shop, then take her down Kings Street and leave her while you wait, pint in hand, at one of the countless pubs.  

7. Car. Get her a Land Rover Defender, the king of all SUVs. If you don’t have the budget for it just yet, get in touch with Marc Soong, the king of Land Rover Philippines, and he will schedule you and your girl for a Land Rover experience you will never forget.

8. Bicycle. If a car is out of your league and your partner loves anything on wheels, get her a Shinola bicycle instead. Shinolas are American-made urban bicycles of custom-level quality and classic designs. Shinola is a lifestyle company based in Detroit dedicated to producing high-quality American-made products, from bikes to watches to leather goods.

9. Salon day. Give her a day of pampering at the salon. You can get a gift certificate that includes the works: haircut and color, hair and makeup, mani-pedi, body massage, facial, foot spa, waxing. One of the best places for this is Teng Roma’s Emphasis Salon, thanks to the skill level of the stylists and their unparalleled service. Look for Teng for hair, Laeticia for makeup, Tess for hair color, and Lorna for waxing.

10. Dog. If you are in a long-distance relationship or your job takes you out of town frequently, get your partner a dog. Get an English bulldog if you prefer a macho-looking dog, but if what you want is one of those cute and fluffy pooches, get her a Bichon Frise.

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Thank you for your letters. You may reach me at cecilelilles@yahoo.com.