Favorite Christmas gifts

MANILA, Philippines - Two things you always have to remember when going Christmas shopping: have a list and know where to go. The first is a bit difficult and can get very messy; the second, however, can be a no-brainer: Go to the mall. It saves time. Everything’s under one roof. And it’s air-conditioned.

At Ayala Malls, particularly, Christmas shopping is as breezy as the December air. Each of their malls houses boutiques, specialty shops, and department stores that have anything for everybody: fashion brands for style-philes, bookstores for tome lovers, specialty shops for hobbyists, home stores for the newly-settled. Plus, you don’t need to pay an entrance fee to get in.

And if not knowing what to give is still a problem, take some tips from a few Philippine STAR writers. They’ve made their list and not checking twice where to go.

I have not started my Christmas shopping yet but, offhand, I can be sure of shopping at Greenbelt boutiques such as ac+632 for absolutely beautiful things you don’t really need but should have, Youji & Me for classic wooden things, and Royce for those who have a sweet tooth. I am also shopping at Bench for gift packs for Juliana’s classmates.  — Lucy Torres-Gomez

My list includes home accessories from Kish and placemats from ac+632, both at Greenbelt; running gear from Runnr store and North Face packs from R.O.X at Bonifacio High Street; and Amazing Grace cologne from Beauty Bar.  — Tanya Lara

I am giving cool T-shirts from Topshop, jewelry from Firma, books from Powerbooks and National Book Store, and gift certificates from Debenhams and Marks & Spencer.  — Therese Garceau

I prefer to give pragmatic gifts like music CDs and books (I believe there’s an ideal book for every one) from Fully Booked at Bonifacio High Street or Powerbooks at TriNoma or Greenbelt. I also like giving fresh fruits — healthy gifts.  — Wilson Flores

I like makeup gift sets, particularly from Awake at Rustan’s Makati.  — Cecile Van Straten