Kultura’s Christmas Market brings new twists and tastes

When it comes to shopping for gifts, Kultura is like an open secret. Loaded with good buys that are charming and reasonably priced, Kultura goes the extra mile by providing new delights for frequent shoppers. You can find something for family and friends, for siblings and classmates, for the boss and for colleagues—all under one roof. What a time-saver!

The recent Kultura Christmas Market at MOA brought artisanal, original, and inventive gift ideas from producers across the country. A retrospective and nostalgic theme made Kultura’s roster of suppliers think of new twists to add to their product lines. These were not only attractive and useful, but also had stories that made them more relevant. And in a time when holiday spirits can be dampened by events beyond our control, finding a gift with significance brings a new purpose to shopping and even becomes a way to uplift fellow Filipinos across the country.

Here are just a few of those meaningful stories, covering items ranging from apparel to liqueur to healthy snacks.

Let’s start with the barong. While colorful and trendy styles sell briskly to Pinoys of all ages, the traditional beige barong in piña, piña silk and cocoon has never gone out of style. The barong in all its iterations has a place in our fashion life. The Fiestas collection of Barong Filipino highlights fiestas and festivals that take place across the archipelago. The fiesta is the very soul of the different locales where they occur, being rooted in the land, identity and values. The latest design, Higantes, is part of the Fiestas collection, which not coincidentally was being celebrated that week.

“We treat the barong as a garment of identity, of honor,” says Emil Nadres of Barong Filipino. “When you see the barong, you know it’s a Filipino wearing it with pride. It’s our national attire, and it should reflect what we should be as a people.”

Some products highlight the spirit of the place in which they are produced. In Sagada, one gets heady from the clear mountain air, the fabulous views of mountains and clouds, and meals made with the freshest ingredients. But one can also get giddy from two libations concocted right in this upland community.

Andrew Chinalpan Jr., head distiller at Sagada Cellar Door, explains, “Wild mountain botanicals found only in Sagada go into our gin, and two kinds of local lemons.” As for their white rum, it is made with sugarcane juice that provides an income for farmers in Sagada.

“These are liqueurs that pay homage to where they come from, so it’s not just another craft,” adds Joshua Shotwell, who works with Andrew. “It’s not just another botanical that’s made because it tastes good; it also tells the story of the place where it comes from. It’s really an expression of the land, and even the water used is sourced from mountain springs 6,000 feet above sea level.”

Another local rum defined by the place where it is made is Luisita Rum. Paco Cojuangco explains that the brand is single estate, allowing them to control the quality all the way from the farm to the final product. “It results in a rum that’s more intentional about being (Hacienda) Luisita, and that sense of place,” says this young businessman.

It’s admirable that fresh out of school—or even while still in college—Gen Z entrepreneurs are joining the marketplace with an eye on healthy products that are also sustainable and good for the environment.

“In 2022, I was 21 years old,” says Audrey Ong, owner of Sweet Kamote. “I was still studying, and I was an avid eater of chips. But my mom didn’t want us eating unhealthy chips, and I also love sweet potatoes. So I experimented, and I had the vision of helping local farmers here in the Philippines. Here’s our product, Sweet Kamote, and it was such an honor to join Kultura.” Her personal favorite flavor is the chili barbecue, which has a mix of saltiness, a bit of spice, and sweetness. “Our new flavors also include chicken inasal and sour cream,” she says.

“Working with Kultura is one of the biggest blessings our company has had,” says Frank Anthony Gaw of KangKong King, which he runs with his sister Ann and partner Andrew Tan Lee. “It’s the support they give us, the tourists they capture, and the way they really promote innovative Filipino products.”

These delicious chips are also part of a sustainable cycle. “The kangkong stems we directly donate to the zoo for the feeds of the turtles, the rabbits, and the deer,” adds Anthony.

And with health equaling wealth these days, healthy snacking is the way for Pinoys who cannot break that snacking habit. Mike Atayde is one entrepreneur concerned with providing healthy alternatives through his Orich and Healthy Tropics products.

“Our Filipino snacks and beverages are inspired by our unattractive superfoods, which are mouth-watering while still maintaining their health benefits. For example, the guyabano is not popular. We used the leaves instead to make a wonderful ready-to-drink tea that’s caffeine-free yet high in antioxidants.

“Malunggay is another superfood, so rich in minerals, especially green calcium. Eighty percent of Filipinos are calcium deficient, so this is a serious concern. How do we get the kids to like it? By making a delectable litro-pack juice powder using malunggay as the functionality. Then, dalandan is one of the best-tasting citrus fruits in the Philippines, where an orange and calamansi taste meet. Barley and wheatgrass are so popular now yet remain grassy-tasting, so dalandan makes them all better.

“Guyabano is full of annonaceous acetogenins, and mangosteen is full of xanthones. Why not combine both? We have the best natural ingredients in the Philippines, whether for natural flavor or for health benefits. The classic shing-a-ling snack has been a way for us to deliver more malunggay to the everyday snacker, adding malunggay flakes with a bit of salt and vinegar. This is a perfect snack alternative to your widely distributed junk foods, yet affordable. It’s not just about supporting Filipino-made products; it’s about buying Filipino snacks and beverages that are healthier alternatives.”

These are just some of the Kultura products that make the most thoughtful Christmas gifts.

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The next Kultura Christmas Market takes place until Dec. 14 at the East Atrium, 3rd floor, SM Podium in Mandaluyong.