Rustan’s Unveils Exclusive Holiday Tableaux Featuring Top Filipino Designers

Rustan’s kicked off the holiday season early on September 18 by unveiling a series of festive table displays on its home floor, designed in collaboration with renowned Filipino hosts and creatives. This initiative is part of Rustan’s Christmas Shop 2025, showcasing artistic interpretations of holiday traditions alongside the brand's grand Christmas decorations and festive window displays set to debut next month.

The distinguished group of contributors includes Sofia Elizalde, founder of STEPS; Michelle Suzuki; restaurateur Happy Ongpauco-Tiu; architect Miko de los Reyes; floral designer Pam Lopez; interior designer Myze Bangayan; and designer Jia Estrella. Notably, Mr. de los Reyes and Ms. Lopez are members of the Tantoco family, Rustan's proprietors.

Highlighting her table arrangement, Ms. Elizalde shared, "My mother (Bea Zobel) always brought out her best piña tablecloth for such a special evening, paired with her favorite plates and elegant crystal glasses for water, white wine, red wine, and champagne." She added white magnolias, inspired by her love for New York City, as the centerpiece to complement the Filipino piña fabric, incorporating sweet treats and playful motifs inspired by her favorite Christmas ballet, The Nutcracker.

Michelle Suzuki drew inspiration from ikebana, the traditional Japanese floral art, featuring a vivid red Christmas tree decorated with cherry blossoms, red berries, and jewel-toned ornaments in ruby, fuchsia, and pink hues. Architect Miko de los Reyes showcased Rustan's signature blue shade alongside toile de jouy prints, while Pam Lopez presented a tropical-themed tree using indigenous plants rather than a typical pine.

Interior designer Myze Bangayan created a warm, inviting tea setting, and designer Jia Estrella incorporated various shades of blue—including a bejeweled blue Christmas tree—drawing inspiration from Morocco's Majorelle Gardens. She also hand-painted blue and white patterned chairs as part of her display.

Restaurateur Happy Ongpauco-Tiu opted for a timeless aesthetic featuring black and champagne tableware with crystal glassware. She reflected on her affinity for themed events, stating, "At home, I also like traditional and elegant pieces. It depends on the theme of my parties, as I love doing themed parties based on the cuisine I serve." Ongpauco-Tiu mentioned previously using Moroccan tagines as centerpieces and revealed plans for a Latin American-themed Christmas dinner, specifically Peruvian, envisioning an elaborate eight to ten-course meal.

All elements displayed, with the exception of Lopez's tropical tree and Estrella's hand-painted chairs, are available for purchase at Rustan's Makati store.

This curated collection promises to enrich the festive atmosphere for shoppers and enthusiasts, blending cultural artistry with elegant holiday spirit at Rustan's Christmas Shop 2025.