Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

Dusit Thani Manila Lobby

I was at Dusit Thani Manila Hotel last December 1-3, 2010 for a significant company sponsored event on Renewable Energy.  I noticed some christmas trees with different themes displayed at the lobby.  I got  interested in it and took some photos since they were creatively designed and so beautiful ! I learned from one of the hotel staff that it was actually a Christmas Tree Competition hosted by Dusit Thani and launched last October, 2010 with the theme "Unity in Diversity".  It is participated by some companies and well-known individuals/personalities. The winning party gets Php 100,000 which will be donated to charity or cause of their choice.

This is me (left) with my friend at Dusit.  This candy house is interesting.  It is decorated with real chocolates, cookies, marshmallows and other edible stuff

Personalities and companies who joined Dusit Thani's Christmas Tree Competition include Canon, Celine Lopez, HSBC, Lifestyle Asia Magazine, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Rajo Laurel, School of Fashion and Arts, Teddy Manuel, Tesoro’s Philippine Handicrafts, Tessa Prieto Valdes, Thai Airways and Tim Yap.

Tessa Prieto Valdes' Christmas tree showcases diverse world-class Filipino fashion design through Barbie dolls. Each doll has been embellished with the finest fabrics and jewels representing each of the designer's exquisite fashion design sense including students of Slim's Fashion and Arts School. Tessa's beneficiary is the school of Fr. Gerard in Sorsogon that has over 300 young kids which needs better lights and ventilation.

Tess Prieto Valdes' Christmas Tree

So cute... accessorized with Barbie Dolls !

The Barbie dolls' costumes were creatively designed... so beautiful !

A work of art

Tess Prieto Valdes, a well-known Filipino fashion designer.  Look at her beautiful gown.

The Thai-inspired Christmas tree was designed by Rachy Cuna as commissioned by Thai Airways International to showcase the "Thainess" of its airline and nation to the Filipinos. It incorporates the corporate colors of purple, pink, and yellow reflects the corporate identity of the airline and the unique culture and traditions of Thailand. Thai Airways supports the GMA Kapuso Foundation which places focus on Health, Disaster Relief, Education and Values Formation.

Thai Airways' Christmas Tree

The color combination is so alive

Kaye and Me

The HSBC Christmas tree is fashioned from bamboo painted white with hand carved niches for candles. Designed by prominent export entrepreneur and artist Al Caronan, the red and white tree is decorated with stars made from plastic water bottles and ornaments hand sewn by the young girls of Tahanan Sta. Luisa. HSBC has been a long-time partner and supporter of Childhope Asia and Tahanan Sta. Luisa and lauds their efforts to provide these girls with a healthy home environment and brighter futures.

HSBC Christmas Tree

The Sharing Tree by Lifestyle Asia and joined by designer Junjun Ablaza is made up of wood products, traditional agricultural and garden tools, rakes, hoes, scythes, sickles, baskets and watering cans speaks of the relationship between the gardener and his garden. Lifestyle Asia is a proponent for the best of living which is marked by an elegance of spirit and supports the Make A Wish Foundation.

Lifestyle Asia's Sharing Tree

The House of Laurel Christmas tree, joint effort between Rajo Laurel and its beneficiary RAGS2RICHES, uses salvaged objects such as wire hangers, scrap metal, scrap fabric, old twine and colored paper. The tree is spiral-shaped with wire hangers designed in to look like wings, carrying the dreams and wishes of the impoverished community of Payatas, whose able hands all contributed in the creation of the tree.

House of Laurel Christmas Tree

Teddy Manuel's Christmas tree is a chandelier of blown glass balls, various blooms and lights. Hand blown glass balls are individually hung to form the shape of a Christmas tree. Each glass ball represents one person, unified into one beautiful output to shape the country, no matter what social and economic background he or she may have. The chosen foundation for Teddy Manuel Flowers and Events is Sagip Buhay Foundation which provides free medicine to indigent patients at the medical wards and ICUs of the Philippine General Hospital.

Teddy Manuel's Christmas Tree

The Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) Christmas tree features multi-media materials to represent unity in diversity. Among the materials used are dried Durian rind from Gongoog City, Pili Nuts from Iriga City and the dried mini Formosan Pineapple harvested from Daet, Camarines Norte and many more. LPU believes that the collecting and gathering of materials from nature's unwanted and discarded objects can be productive and economical or a beneficial entrepreneurial endeavor. LPU has chosen LPU Scholarships and Grants as their beneficiary - an organization providing tuition grants and discounts to the brightest and most talented students of the school.

Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) Christmas Tree

In the middle of the Christimas Tree, a mini Belen was created...Great Idea !

School of Fashion and the Arts, SOFA, built and designed their Christmas tree from used water bottles for the leaves, hand cut by the maximum security inmates of the Muntinlupa prison. The Christmas ornaments were made by the fashion students of SoFA which include pin cushions, dolls, stars, hearts, and other jewel-toned and silver accent materials. SoFA's chosen beneficiary is the group of talented and promising young designers, whose passion and skills overshadow their lack of educational funding, are developed to be the designers that they truly are through the SoFA scholarship program.

School of Fashion and the Arts (SOFA) Christmas Tree

Tesoro's Christmas tree consists of new products such as their table -- top trees made from local nuts and twigs, tree trimso of miniature baskets, Christmas balls and hats and twine of Capiz. Their "Pamaskong Pilipino" theme reflect a Christmas tree that is both traditional and contemporary, the best of Filipino creativity. Tesoro's chosen beneficiary is Carewell The Cancer Resource and Wellness Community which provides free support to those diagnosed with cancer and their families.

Tesoro's Christmas Tree

The Tim Yap tree is made of 100% recycled materials from the twigs of the tree to the fabric and buttons used for the Red Cross dolls that embellish the sculpture. The charity dolls were made by youth volunteers from fabric and excess materials from factories into creative little toys. Red Cross is Tim Yap's chosen beneficiary.

Tim Yap's Christmas Tree

Canon incorporates their technologies in their Christmas tree design, and the bridges that they have helped build and strengthen. Canon also re-imagines the moments where they have induced the most basic, yet considered to be the most beautiful indicator that they have been successful in our business and social mission, a SMILE. Canon further takes inspiration from their beneficiary organization, Kythe, which strengthens children's determination to battle cancer and other chronic illnesses. And in return, help them have a happy and memorable childhood, the moments that Canon is passionate in immortalizing through their products.

Canon's Christmas Tree

Dubbed the "Little Black Tree", Celine Lopez's Christmas tree is inspired by the Little Black Dress of Coco Chanel. Just like the LBD, the tree is intended to be classic, versatile, and accessible. Moreover, the Little Black Tree is similar to the LBD's indispensability and ubiquity, and is designed as simply as possible, adorned with white roses. Her chosen charity is the Coalition Against Trafficking of Women (CATW), which promotes women's human rights.

Cecile Lopez' Christmas Tree

Well, vote for your favorite Christmas Tree by going to the Dusit Thani Facebook page.  The photos of these Christmas Trees are posted there. Voting will only be until December 25, 2010, 12 Mid-night. The Christmas Trees will be on display until January 03, 2011.

HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!