It's the thought that counts
It was a hectic holiday season where most everyone got caught in the frenetic pace of shopping and attending endless parties and family reunions. Every year I resolve to avoid the commercialism that goes with the holiday season. I remind myself to buy my presents way before Christmas but the resolution stays written on sand and not on stone so it is never accomplished. My friends and I keep telling each other that we will just give to charity in lieu of giving each other presents but we still end up giving each other presents, no matter how small and inexpensive they are. After all, it really is the thought that counts. Getting to that state of mind when one realizes that the best gifts are not necessarily those bearing the six-digit price tags is reacquiring the core values that were imbued in us by our parents and the good nuns and priests. Youth’s folly is equating the price of the gift with the love of the giver. I am sure we can all relate to that at one point or another in our life. Of course, price tag is relative and what is expensive to you and me may just be peanuts to your multi-millionaire friends.
I attach sentimentality to thoughtful gestures of relatives and friends and value their gifts even more than material ones. This year, my sister Loudette who lives in Paris surprised me by having my favorite beat-up, vintage Chanel bag repaired. This was my favorite bag for years but I guess it rebelled from my relentless use and abuse by breaking its lock. It got its much-needed rest for many years as how can I use a bag with no lock. During my last trip to Paris I showed it to my sister who just shrugged her shoulders, her way of telling me to forget about having it repaired. So I resigned myself and said goodbye to my dear old Chanel and left it in her house.
To my surprise, I saw beneath the Christmas tree at my parents’ house a small white package, meticulously wrapped in white paper with the emblematic Chanel Gardenia flower on the black and white Chanel ribbon. It was my vintage Chanel reincarnated to a brand-new life, thanks to my sister’s persistence at Chanel, Paris to put a new lock on it! Not only that, she asked them to change the tarnished chain as well and polish the scratched parts of the bag. A total facelift, it looks almost brand new. She would not tell me how much the repair cost but her thoughtfulness for me is priceless.
The author’s trophy, from Human Hearts Nature, which depicts a farmer, carved by artisans from GK Banglos, Quezon * * *
My friend Karina Mantolino, master colorist and cutter of Regine, brand ambassador of L’Oreal, among her many titles, asked me to visit her salon at Link Bldg, second floor. She wanted to show me Inoa, their new hair color product that was ammonia free. She knows that I am so particular about using products that have the least harmful chemicals in them. After two hours of coloring my roots with Inoa and reinstating my highlights with peroxide-free Magimeche, my hair has a new sheen to it. Karina wanted my hair to look especially nice for the holidays, and I truly appreciate her concern for my crowning glory. I am so happy with my cut and my new highlights, thanks to Karina’s Christmas gift.
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Two years ago, Dylan Wilk and his wife Anna Meloto informed me that they were putting up a company called Human Heart Nature, selling only organic beauty essentials. They could not understand why the organic products sold in some stores cost so much when in fact the ingredients are inexpensive as they are coming from nature. By putting up this company, the Wilks’ main objective was to help the poor farmers increase their produce, hence, their sales. When they opened, I immediately wrote about them and featured photos and prices of their many products. For instance, their 200ml. aloe vera shampoo costs P94.75 as compared to P600 to P800 of the imported organic products. Because of the price difference and the excellent quality of their products, Human Heart Nature sold in torrents, even if their products could only be acquired online or by ordering directly by phone. Two years to date, and Dylan proudly informed me that they sold their two millionth product. He also told me that a lot of buyers would use as reference, my article that I wrote two years ago. The Wilks showed their appreciation by sending me this Christmas a carved wooden trophy of a farmer. I was so touched by this trophy and it is proudly displayed in my living room. On it is a golden plaque that reads “Human Heart Nature sincerely and gratefully thanks Mayenne Carmona for your personal sacrifice and contribution to uplifting our countrymen through Human Nature.” The trophy was carved by artists from GK, Banglos, Quezon, using illegal logs that crashed into their town during a big typhoon years ago. The Wilks also sent, aside from their products, Organika products derived from coconut oil, coconut sugar, coconut vinegar and coconut syrup. Organika is a new company put up by new graduates of Ateneo de Manila to help our country’s poor coconut farmers. Their products can be bought by calling or texting Kara Rondina at 0917-5333384. Human Heart Nature Products are available at Market Market or online at humanheartnature.com.
