Our Favorite Things (the article formerly known as our Holiday Gift Guide)
Better late than never, our holiday list of our editor's #FilAmJam Favorite Things to give and receive.
Move over Oprah, we’ve got a few of our favorite things and favorite people on this list. Get to know these creative and talented Filipino-American artist-entrepreneurs! Learn about THEIR favorite Holiday Dishes and Traditions. Then go shop at their online stores, visit their brick and mortar businesses or stop by their booths the next time they pop-up.
Step into the enchanting world of Para Sa'Yo, founded by sisters Michele and Anna-Marie Josue. “Para Sa Yo” is Tagalog for “For You.” This online retail shop goes beyond mere gift-giving, spotlighting the diverse talents of the Filipinx community through meticulously curated, hand-packed gift boxes. Whether a heartfelt surprise or a cherished keepsake, Para Sa'Yo transforms every occasion into a moment of connection, offering a personal and artful touch to the timeless act of giving.
Check out the Pinoy Pride box which features Carlos Bulosan's memoir "America is in the Heart: A Personal History," "Made in the Philippines" or "Filipino AF" Unisex or Women's cotton t-shirt from Araw-Araw store, Philippine heart enamel pin from Le Petite Elefant and a “So Filipino” sticker by designer Lorenz Ortiz.
Another one to try, especially for the foodies in your life, is the Kain Tayo (Let's Eat) box which features the New York Times Best Cookbook "I Am a Filipino and This is How We Cook" by Miguel Trinidad, 2 handwoven Inabel placemats, and Philippine artisanal sea salt (Ilocos asin)
We asked Michele Josue, an Emmy Award-winning Filipino-American Director, about her own favorite holiday traditions and her favorite dish.
Photo by Nailah Barcelona
“Growing up, every Christmas Eve, my family and I would wait until midnight to open all our Christmas presents. So that’s a tradition that we have stuck to up until now,” said Michele. And her favorite dish during the holidays? Cebuchon! “I save up my appetite all day for it, “ she said.
Michele’s critically acclaimed feature-film debut "Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine" is the winner of 10 Best Documentary and Audience Choice Awards from festivals worldwide and boasts a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. She was also the Executive Producer and Director of “Happy Jail,” a Netflix Original Documentary Series about the Filipino jail that is home to the world-famous “Dancing Inmates” known for their viral Michael Jackson dance video.
Erwin Ong is the self-taught Filipino-Chinese artist/illustrator behind A Duck Amuck Art and Gifts, an online store selling prints, apparel, cards, notebooks and stickers with his original whimsical designs. He also does pop-ups and art commissions. If you’ve been to a Fil-Am Market in New York, then you’ve probably seen A Duck Amuck around and chances are you met the friendly artist.
According to Erwin: “My favorite Filipino Christmas tradition is hanging my parol at home 🌟”
The first thing you notice about any Filipinta product is its gorgeous design and whimsical vibe. Filipinta Beauty is a small beauty brand that aims to celebrate Philippine culture, all while enhancing and embracing the unique, distinct beauty of every Filipina. The name "Filipinta" is a clever fusion of "Filipina" and "pinta (to paint),” embodying the concept of "face paint for Filipinas."
Conceived by New York-based multimedia designer Hana K. in 2019, Filipinta Beauty emerged as a passion project that blossomed into a thriving small business with a supportive community. Hana, the Creative Director, lends her design prowess to craft alluring packaging and design materials, seamlessly blending her love for product and packaging design with a commitment to elevating her motherland's rich cultures, beliefs, and people. She also gets help from product developer Jasel who is in charge of the creation and curation of products, as well as management in the Philippines. More than just a cosmetic brand, Filipinta is a testament to the creativity, humor and passion of Filipinos, as exemplified by the brand’s founder and designer Hana K.
Collaboration with Jollibee. Photo courtesy of Filipinta.
Filipinta products like “Banana Ketchup lipgloss” and Lumpia eyeshadow palette evoke nostalgia and whimsy.
As for holiday favorites, Hana says: “I love how Christmas starts as early as September and the holidays just stretch out till the 2nd week of January. My lola would blast Christmas music nonstop all December and put up so many Christmas lights outside.”
Favorite dish: “Cathedral Jelly Cake!!”
No Noche Buena feast is complete without delicious ensaymada, handmade brioche buns made from yeast, butter, sugar and topped with grated cheese. And our favorites are from the Ensaymada Project, Chari Heredia-Reyes' baking project that began in 2009. Chari is a teacher turned baker who still uses her mother's original ensaymada recipe. However, she has created a variety of flavors as well. You can get Chari's ensaymadas from her store in Newhall, CA or at one of her pop-ups. On Sundays, you can find them at Smorgasburg in LA.
In addition to traditional ensaymada flavors Queso de Bola and Classic Cheese, Ensaymada Project also offers flavors like Mocha Nutella, Maple Bacon, Mango, Ube Halaya, Thai Tea Oreo and more.
Chari shares: "My favorite Christmas tradition is Misa de Gallo (Dawn Mass) with my mom! Waking up at 330 am to catch the 4 am mass that goes for 9 days till Christmas Eve because we would always have puto bumbong and all those special kakanins (rice cakes) after, and it was the best way to celebrate Christmas!
My favorite holiday dish is "ensaymadas with jamon (ham) that my mom would make only for Christmas!"
Teofilo Coffee is a family-owned specialty coffee roastery serving freshly roasted Philippine coffee. Since 2017, their focus has been to reintroduce Philippine coffee through its unique characteristics and flavors. Teofilo's founder, Ron Dizon, confesses to not really being a "coffee guy" (in the beginning) but is driven by wanting to "give back." In his words: "So the big goal here is to make people realize that the Philippines has special coffee, why can't we be regarded like Guatemala, Brazil,Italy, Kenya, etc.etc in the late 1700 hundreds we were the biggest coffee producers. Now the way I see it, this can help the Philippines economically because they will stimulate their coffee production and improve the coffee standards. It can also increase tourism for people to view coffees being processed in return to help the country."
Visit the cafe in Los Alamitos, CA. Shop online at teofilocoffeecompany.com or find them at a pop-up or Filipino festival.
Ron shares some of his favorites: “My favorite Filipino holiday tradition is celebrating with extended family on Christmas Eve and having Filipino breakfast with immediate family (on Christmas morning). My favorite food is sinigang, and bola bola soup , coffee🙏🙏🙏😎”
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