Frantic scenes before Christmas Day

Ten days before Christmas Day, we note some frantic scenes everywhere – in the malls, especially in activity centers which have been converted into selling areas, in stores big and small, in restaurants, in tiangges, in wet markets. Mothers and even fathers have their kids in tow. People of all shapes and sizes, all genders, walk past each other with anxious looks their faces, carrying bags and supots that contain various items they have bought. Many have their lists, checking them over and over. We saw a young mother trying to extract her kid – who must be between 4 and 5 years old – from one of the toy bikes on sale. It was difficult for the anxious mama.

The tiangges go on. The big ones have all sorts of merchandise from cooked food to garments and plants. At the weekend market in Alabang Village now situated in front of De La Salle campus, we were able to get young garlic (bawang na mura) in stalks, to cook with our fish cardillo, and sweet corn which a friend of ours would make into soup. The regular vegetable shoppers get their fresh produce from most tiangges and weekend markets, one of which is regularly held on Sundays at the Evia grounds on Daang Hari in Las Piñas.

The big supermarkets are not without their own near-Christmas sales. Oriental Merchants – whose products (Spanish and Italian imports) are sold mostly at the Pacifica Deli in the Makati Supermarket – conducted a very attractive sale in Alabang. We got a gallon of Ybarra Extra Virgin Olive Oil for P1,500 plus, with discount; Robo brand sun-dried tomatoes, 280 gms, for P140. Other items included Belgian cookies, different kinds of pasta, lotions and body creams, among others.

Last week, we precisely made a trip to SM in the Mall of Asia complex, frantic for the ramekins which we badly need to make our chicken liver paté. This is one item that is quite difficult to find, as we can no longer locate the original supplier. Lo and behold! SM has them! The medium and small ones are tagged at less than P40 each. Speaking of SM, they have the best lounge among the malls in the country. Open to holders of their Prestige Club cards, it is the best place to rest tired feet, even read the day’s newspapers.

Metro Supermarket in Alabang has fresh cherries. But you better have a fat purse for them – they are sold at P1,600 a kilo! An amount that is enough to feed an average family with a modest meal. But it is Christmas time and if part of one’s yearly bonus is still intact, maybe it can be used to buy some cherries. Cebu lechon is flown to Metro Manila daily. It costs less than the others at P 545 kilo. The head and legs are perfect to make into paksiw. They are sold at P350 a kilo.

Imported queso de bola, Marka Piña and Pato, are found in practically all supermarkets, selling at P945 per. You can order your hams from The Plaza of Millie Reyes or some other suppliers.

If you are cooking your Christmas meals, this is the time to re-check your list, go through it once more. Then relax until it is time to prepare for the big day.

Have a a joyous season!

E-mail me at [email protected].