In the Philippines, we have sari-sari stores — small shops usually attached to a person’s home, selling different sorts of goods. As a child, I dreamt of having my own, but I guess this is the closest I’m ever going to come to it. Sharing different stories — sari-sari stories — most especially from my experiences and learnings as a daughter of the King of Kings, as wife of my husband King, and as mom to our three princesses. 😊
Victory Sta Rosa had their Christmas Traditions event last Saturday called Pasko at Pamilya. Ptr Janssen and his wife Ging Morados shared that Christmas traditions should be spiritual, centering on Jesus. They should be relational, bringing the family and also friends together. They should be missional, reaching out to others so that they can know Jesus too. Their 3 eldest kids (they have 4) shared their favorite traditions as well. It was so nice to hear them tell us that they enjoy and appreciate their traditions as a family. It encouraged me to keep ours up and maybe start some new ones.
I was invited to create a Filipino-themed Christmas kiddie tablescape. It wasn’t the main feature or anything but it was a privilege to be part of it and a joy to support spiritual family. It was a challenge and a good opportunity to get creative, since I don’t think I’ve ever done a Filipino-themed anything haha. Now I can do something similar for our table this year. 🙂
I cut up some tiny banderitas and stuck them on my well-used cup cake stand. It signifies fiesta here in the Philippines, and Christmas is always a feast around here. I made the parol (lantern) using a Christmas ornament I bought from Kultura in SM. I just cut up some crepe paper and tied it around the bottom corners with a fuzzy wire. I wrapped a pair of chopsticks and stuck it on the top to hold the lantern up.
I wanted to put puto manapla (white puto that has banana leaves as liners) but I didn’t have time to buy them. I got small cupcake liners instead and put some special colorful pastillas in them. I used our very old sungka (a Filipino game played with sea shells), which I use to hold Christmas balls in at home, for other Filipino treats like Polvoron and Goya chocolate coins. I even made small balls out of coconut leaves to add another Filipino touch.I made it a table for 3, for my 3 girls. I was able to buy cool little jeepneys in Robinson’s and I used them to hold up the place cards. I asked Danae to do brush lettering for the place cards. I made the placemats out of cartolina (craft paper was just too thin and flimsy) and designed them with banderitas.On the sungka, I also placed small colored pencils tied with fuzzy wire, embellished with ribbon made of paper twine and small berries. The kids can use the placemats to doodle on. I just noticed that the placemat is upside down hahaha.Another inverted placemat! I researched on ways to fold the table napkin and I saw a picture of this one. I figured this was best so I could insert the parol ornament. The napkin kinda looked like a bahay kubo too, I thought. I also thought to make a yema spiky ball. Filipinos love sticking hotdogs on sticks on pineapples or cabbages. I wanted to do the same but with yema. I placed a small cabbage ball onto our old wooden bowl, and I worked my way around the cabbage using toothpicks. I then put a bow around the bowl using paper twine.Thanks to Victory Alabang Kids Church for lending me the cute chairs. I cut up and placed big banderitas around the table cloth (it’s actually a blanket). I bought baby pillows and wrapped them with my old scarves. Noelle was the one who came up with the designs for the pillows using stickers. It’s always good to involve the kids.
Enjoy preparing for Christmas, everyone! Maligayang Pasko! 🙂
I am Phoebe Torres-Lucero, wife of a loving husband & my best friend, King, and mother to three wonderful, smart, active princesses who keep me on my toes.
Phoebe means bright and radiant. Torres means towers. Lucero means light. Put together, my name speaks of a tower of bright, radiant light. And that is what I hope to be as I write and share my sari-sari stories with you. 😊
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3 thoughts on “Pasko at Pamilya: Christmas Kiddie Tablescape”
Wow, super creative! I don’t think I can ever come up with that kind of table setting, hihi. You really outdid yourself this time. Galing everything – from the sungka, to the yema, to the little banderitas, the bahay kubo napkin and the parol. Wow!
Phoebe's Sari-Sari Stories 
Wow, super creative! I don’t think I can ever come up with that kind of table setting, hihi. You really outdid yourself this time. Galing everything – from the sungka, to the yema, to the little banderitas, the bahay kubo napkin and the parol. Wow!
heehee thanks peer! 🙂