Doing Christmas on September

Traditionally, Christmas really begins on September in the Philippines. The “ber” at the end of the name of a month tugs a chord in the heart of every Filipino. This is started by the playing of Christmas carols on the radio. Recently, greetings have been posted in social media. This gives  credence to the conventional wisdom that Christmas is celebrated longest in the Philippines.

In department stores and retail outlets, there is already the effort to dispose of existing stocks and replenish them with holiday items. The Philippine economy, being consumer driven leans towards this sales strategy.  That it is the Philippine version of the Black Friday sales in the U.S. but somewhat longer in duration. Another evidence is the preponderance of “Tiangges”  in almost all open spaces where people congregate.

It is also at this time that the Christmas List is prepared by those who do not want to be involved in the mad rush during the last days leading to Christmas. A smart alternative is to begin shopping for gifts and give-aways as early as September. It is also during this time that the above-mentioned disposal of stocks promoted as “SALE” are undertaken.

But having a good head start in buying gifts for the season does not only save the shopper from the stress generated by crowded shops and malls. This also offers the opportunity to choose gifts that are more meaningful and unique.

The 30^th Negros Trade Fair gives the smart shopper a wide array of products to choose from. Be it foodstuffs unique only to Negros to handicrafts, woodcrafts and even furniture. These products are made by the people of Negros and showcases their 3 Cs. These are Culture, Crafts and Cuisine. 

So be smart this coming Christmas. Shop early. Head to the 30^th Negros Trade Fair at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati city. The trade fair starts September 16, 2015 to September 20, 2016. Like Christmas, the Negros Trade Fair happens only once a year!