There’s nothing quite like Christmas in the Philippines. With stunning light displays and holiday decor, the cheerful jingle of Christmas carols, and the mouthwatering aroma of puto bumbong and bibingka, no wonder we celebrate Yuletide festivities for over four months.
It’s indeed the most wonderful time of the year. But if you add exacerbated traffic problems, jam-packed malls, and multiple monito-monita exchanges to the equation, the holiday season is also one of—if not the—most stressful times of the year.
To make it easy for you, we've come up with a primer on gift-giving etiquette and tips on buying gifts during the holidays.
5 Gift-Giving Rules of Etiquette in the Philippines
Before buying Christmas gifts, check out this quick guide on gift-giving etiquette:
✔️ Don’t Expect Anything in Return
Ever received a gift and awkwardly realized that you have nothing to give in return? If the opposite happens to you this time around, remember that just because you added them to your Christmas list doesn’t mean they have to add you to theirs. The point of gift-giving is to bring joy, not to get a gift in return.
Plus, you never know if someone might just not have the budget for gifts.
✔️ Don’t Overthink the Price
Speaking of budgets—if you’re wondering how much you need to shell out for gifts, the rule of thumb is to spend whatever amount you’re comfortable with. Save the expensive gifts for your loved ones. An acquaintance or coworker might feel uncomfortable with the idea of presents bearing hefty price tags, too.
If you're participating in a monito-monita gift exchange, it's best to settle monetary limits with all parties beforehand.
✔️ Make It Personal
They say it’s the thought that counts, but don’t show up with a rushed, half-baked present. It might end up regifted to someone else, or worse, thrown in the trash.
Stumped? For easy parameters to follow, consider the 5 rules of gift-giving: get your recipients something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read, and something to experience. You don't have to give each recipient all of these, but this gift-giving tip can certainly help streamline the process.
In addition, come up with Christmas gift ideas tailored to your recipient’s interests. This is easy if you know your monito or monita well or if they prepared a wish list, but if not, try to (sneakily!) ask around about their preferences. Otherwise, you can’t go wrong with useful items such as skincare sets and food gift boxes.
If all else fails, there's nothing wrong with a gift certificate. But do try to make sure it's still in their field of interest—like a Sephora card[1] for a kikay officemate, or a Fully Booked card[2] for your bookworm bestie.
✔️ Avoid Handing Out Presents in Front of a Group
Say you're meeting up with a group of officemates or friends for a Christmas party. You don't have the budget to buy gifts for everyone, but would still like to get a token for your favorite work buddy or high school bestie.
In such cases, try to discreetly hand them the gift. Better yet, wait until you two are alone. This is so the others won't feel left out.
In turn, if you're the recipient, wait until you're at home to open the gift—don't do so in front of others who haven't gotten anything.
✔️ Show Your Appreciation
For recipients, this is the most important rule. Whether you like your gift or not, remember to thank your giver for the sweet gesture.
If you plan to regift the item, make sure to do so with a new recipient who doesn't know the original giver. Also, consider whether they would appreciate the gift more than you did. If not, don't just dump the gift on them.
5 Tips on Buying Gifts in the Philippines
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Searching for the perfect present and witnessing your recipient’s reaction is a key part of the holiday fun, but let’s face it—the logistics of it all can be quite a nightmare, especially if you’re shopping for lots of people.
Whether you’re planning to send individual gifts to family, friends, and colleagues or bulk ones to clients, partners, and employees, read on for tips on hassle-free Christmas shopping.
🎁 Make a List (and Check It Twice)
Think of a Christmas list like a grocery list—you need one to stay within your budget and finish your shopping as quickly as possible. You don’t want to waste time ambling around aimlessly, looking for gifts in the wrong places.
Write down who you’re giving gifts to so that no one gets left out. If you can, jot down gift ideas for each recipient and your price range for each gift. This way, you won’t get any unpleasant surprises once you see the receipt. You can then stay within your Christmas budget.
🎁 Shop Online
Hate the idea of wrestling your way through a throng to find a gift within holiday mall hours, queueing for hours, and struggling to hail a taxi back home while lugging heavy packages around? Do your holiday shopping online instead.
In the past couple of years, online shopping has become the norm. Aside from convenience, you get to enjoy exclusive discounts and perks such as free shipping and cash back.
For even more benefits, use a credit card when shopping online. Here are some of your best options:
| Credit Card | Online Shopping Perks |
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Metrobank Titanium Mastercard®
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HSBC Red Mastercard
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Security Bank Gold Mastercard
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BPI Rewards Card
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UnionBank Lazada Credit Card
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🎁 Beat the Holiday Rush
Whether you decide to shop online or offline, do so in advance. As mentioned, shopping in physical stores gets stressful during the holidays.
Plus, for all its perks, online shopping still has its limitations. What with the massive volume of orders online shopping platforms receive during the holidays, you might end up receiving your own package well after Christmas.
So don’t wait too long, or that perfect gift you’ve been eyeing might get sold out!
🎁 Impress with DIY Gifts
No room left for presents in your budget? Nothing beats a lovingly crafted DIY gift. You’ll simultaneously save money and show your loved ones just how much you care.
For instance, you can fill a hamper with self-care goodies such as homemade candles and essential oils for that workaholic officemate. If you’re gifting a health-conscious foodie, whip up a gift basket with organic snack bars. Lastly, your K-Pop-obsessed friend will love a package chock-full of photocards and themed merch.
🎁 Send Out Your Gifts via Delivery Apps
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No time to meet up and give your gifts in person? Thanks to on-demand delivery apps, you can now book online gift delivery in the Philippines, as long as you’re connected to the internet.
For last-minute gift-giving, take advantage of same-day delivery. Certain apps such as Lalamove, Grab, and Joyride also allow multi-stop deliveries if you have several recipients.
Caught up in the holiday rush and have no time to buy gifts yourself? Use a pabili service, such as those offered by Grab, Angkas, and Lalamove. You can ask your driver to buy and deliver anything on your behalf.
Final Thoughts
Take advantage of precious time with your loved ones this Christmas taking note of these tips on buying gifts. Avoid embarrassing moments at reunions and parties by following the rules of gift-giving etiquette as well.
Lastly, focus on staying fully present and finding ways to make the festivities memorable and special for everyone. After all, Christmas comes only once a year—make the most of it!
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