In the typical Christmas rush to buy, buy, buy stuff for the people in your life, sometimes we forget (or run out of funds) to help the less fortunate in our country.
Do both! Buy from brands that support or employ local communities, charities, or marginalized groups.
Your recipient gets something awesome and handmade, and the makers receive a portion of the payment to finance their own needs. Everybody wins!
We’ve even suggested a few gift ideas for your loved ones below!
For Your Barkada
Since you’ve got a lot of friends to shop for, keep it simple and just bulk-buy one or two items everyone can use.
Shampoo Bar by Squeaky Clean Kids
PHP 225, The Good Store PH
Squeaky Clean Kids is a brand on a mission to provide environmental and hygiene education to kids nationwide. Purchase their cruelty-free bars and soaps to help them conduct more activities like their Good Hygiene Toiletries Drive at Gawad Kalinga!
Their shampoo bars and conditioner bars are perfect for packing on a trip and bringing some much-needed bounce and shine back to damaged hair! Here’s what happened when someone from The Good Store tried out their shampoo bar for a month.
For Your Mom and Titas
Domesticity’s catalog is so pretty, you wouldn’t know that it’s a local brand, or that it’s partnered with Gawad Kalinga’s Dr. Rafael San Agustin Legacy Village.
Price Range: PHP 285 – 20,000
They’ve got everything from bed linens to baby items to tableware, and each piece exudes as much class as any high-class home ware brand. Painted patterns, delicate weaves, and rustic charm evoke a very nostalgic “old Manila” feel.
For Your Pets
Life Is Pawsome should definitely be your go-to brand when you want your pet to look as dapper as you do for a special event!
Maximus Pet Necktie by Life Is Pawsome
PHP 260, The Good Store PH
They’re another Gawad Kalinga-based brand that creates quality pet neckwear and accessories while advocating for sustainable social change. And when you buy from The Good Store, a part of your purchase price also goes to PAWS Philippines!
For Your Brother
Rippletwyne specializes in sneakers made from cow leather and hand-loomed fabric from the artisans of Mang Abel Ti Abra.
Cappia Sneakers by Rippletwyne
PHP 2,800, Things That Matter
Each pair is lined with soft pigskin leather and has padded insoles for additional comfort. Best of all, they come in local sizes seven to twelve to fit most guys!
For Your Family’s Bunso
Mayown’s crocheted plush animals and keychains are lovingly made by the skilled housewives and local women of Pandacan, Manila. Most of them now crochet these cuties full-time to express their creativity and provide for their families!
Rainbow Unicorn Pastel Blue by Mayown
They’re made with 100% cotton thread, safety eyes, and polyester stuffing! They’re safe for infants to teeth on and can be thrown in the washing machine with the rest of your clothes.
Best of all, they come in a wide range of cute animal shapes, like unicorns, mermaids, penguIns, and hedgehogs! You can even get them to make a plush version of your real pet, for a price.
For Your Dad
A rice wine made with locally harvested glutinous rice (malagkit) is the perfect gift for the Dad of discerning taste. It’s got a sweet and tangy taste and comes in a bottle so pretty, you can skip the wrapping altogether.
Tapuey Mountain Rice Wine by Proudly Promdi
PHP 500, The Good Store
Proudly Promdi makes food and drink items like these, produced by craftsmen from Ilocos Norte and Cagayan, more accessible to everyone via online shopping.
There’s plenty more where that came from. Just search socially-conscious online stores like The Good Store PH and Things That Matter PH for more gift ideas!
Shop online from October 25 – 29, 2018 and pay with PayMaya to get a 30% cashback (maximum of P200) on your first purchase! Learn more about the promo here!
