Christmas Décor Shopping in Paete: Santa Overload!

Ber months shopping in Paete is fun and worthwhile, first because you can buy more affordable Christmas decors compared to those for sale in the malls, second the distance between you and the local craftsman is shorten, you can even go to the makers themselves and buy direct from them, supporting them, supporting their family in a more direct way. Third, there are items that you can’t find in the mall. Fourth, you can haggle for discounts especially if you are buying in bulk.

Update September 2017: Every year since 2012 we always go to Paete, we try our best to go at the end of September or early October. We once tried going late November and the stores are almost empty. Lol. This 2017 will be going again, our target is next week, maybe September 20. 😉

Penfires will be sharing the new finds in Paete Christmas decors and shopping for this year 2017.

Case in point from our Christmas decors buying experience yesterday when we went to Paete, the goods is that the total price of the goodies we found was only 1,100 pesos, net of discounts given by the store owner.  Plus one Christmas tree hanging décor costing P40 but given to us for FREE. 🙂 If you are bulk buying you could negotiate for bigger discount.

Now, the cons to Paete Christmas shopping is that you have to consider the distance. It is far especially if you are coming from Manila. You also have to factor in transport cost from your home to this Laguna outskirt town. We were lucky since we are based in Liliw so Paete is closer to us – just two rides away per way papunta and pabalik.

If you are from somewhere far like Manila and your budget is less than P2,000 – I don’t recommend going to Paete especially if buying Christmas ornaments is the only reason why you are going. Consider the transpo cost via public commute or the gas and toll fees you’ll incur if you are bringing a vehicle. But if you are going for other reasons too like sight-seeing or visiting relatives in nearby towns, or just wanting to go for the unique Paete experience, weekend getaway etc etc  then go, go, go there!  Consider this: The Paete Church – Saint James the Apostle Parish Church – is  beautiful! Plus you get to see the other works of the local carvers/artists – mapapahanga ka!

**There are Christmas bazaars in Manila which offers crafts and decors from Paete, the prices may be a little higher.

PROUDLY PHILIPPINE MADE!

Dear Santa Claus, the beloved Christmas icon in red and white bringing cheer and joy especially among kids is again the main design focus being offered in this shopping haven. You can find tons of variations of Mr. Santa, paper mache santa in small, medium and large, flying santa, sitting santa, santa on a car, santa on an airplane, santa chef, santa doctor, santa on a chimney, the quirky santa doing #2 – yep Nazareno Handicraft store has it lol. These are just few decors and figurines samples that you can find in Paete shops.

Stores put forth new designs every year, to see the old designs from 2 years ago check this: PAETE CHRISTMAS DISPLAY

Aside from Santa, you can also buy complete set of the Nativity Scene or Belen with different designs; our budget was limited so we were not able to purchase one. Hopefully next year. There are also snowmans! Perhaps you’ll find Olaf in there =)

We were looking for a wooden, non-glittery, solid color  ‘Merry Christmas’ signage tabletop but unfortunately none was available in the shops. The available items are ‘It’s Christmas’ signage peppered in glitters and individual letters that spells ‘Christmas’, as well as a tightly-pack sign of ‘MerryChristmas’ –  these signages are made of fiber-glass.

If you are looking for small items for your Christmas tree – they’ve got little santa designs with loop ready to hang on your holiday tree. We bought 5 at P40 per piece (then was given one freebie yey!), the other store we checked sells these for P50 a piece. So it is best to window shop first. =)

The store we bought from has no signage; you can find it on the same street in front of Kafe Kesada. The owner – attendant also said that they have rented the store space only for the Christmas season and will be gone by January. They’ve got the best displays if I may say so, and their shop occupies a big space with two annex showrooms. Door one faces Quesada Street,  the other faces F. Sario Street.

For those hunting gifts in bulks, there are also shops which sell decorated tissue boxes in rectangle and square shape, mini-wooden baskets, among others. You can also find vintage designed items there.

Paete Christmas Decors Sample Prices

Hanging Santa Claus paper mache and those standing tall price range from P650 to P1,500.  Nativity scene small P550.   “It’s Christmas” table top sign  is P700 (we have no sample picture on this), “Merry Christmas” tabletop and “Christmas” sign in individual letters costs P550.

Note: Different shops, different prices.

 These are tall Santa Clauses Paper Mache! But there are still taller and bigger ones on display!

I don’t know if there are formal Big Sale season in Paete. We might go back there post-Christmas  who knows the stores may stage massive sale and bagsak presyo since Christmas would have passed. Hmmm, puede bang mag ready na ng decors for Christmas 2018? Hehe

More Santa Claus decors in Paete!

With our limited budget, we were able to buy these Christmas ornaments below for P1,100, all from Paete shops.

**I’ve put a one piso coin in santa’s feet so you’ll have an idea about the size of the Christmas figurines.

Santa on the car price: P400

Family carolling figurine: P350

Mini Santa with gift: P150

Smallest santa: P40 per piece

… we got to window shop more! 🙂

I love Christmas and I super love Christmas shopping, so yesterday was a giddy happy day! =)

Maligayang Pasko from Paete!!! How will you Celebrate Paskong Pinoy? 🙂

Pahabol Tip: If you are commuting, when you get to Santa Cruz or Pagsanjan make sure that you will ride a Paete bound jeepney that bears the sign ‘Paete Loob’. If you can’t see “loob” don’t take this as this will not pass by the town center where you can find the congregation of shops. Alternative are jeepneys going to Siniloan, just ask the driver if they will pass by Paete bayan / loob.

Pahabol Pa: Follow Penfires on Facebook to get the latest blog updates! Go na, Like Na! hehe 🙂

Start your Christmas decor shopping early to save!!! Excited na for Christmas 2017!!!