For instance, coconut fruits are painted in metallic gold then used as Christmas tree trimmings in place of the ubiquitous metallic balls. Coconut leaf fronds are cut and trimmed into fan shapes, painted gold and utilized as accent pieces. Dried coconut flowers are dyed red and gold then sprinkled with glitters and glued on round spheres to form textured Christmas balls of varying sizes.

There are parols formed out of coconut stalks. Coconut beads and flat wicker fruit baskets festoon the banister of the grand staircase together with star-shaped bamboo strips.

Even the lowly walis tingting (coconut palm ribs) given a spray of red paint becomes a lovely table centerpiece combined with gold tinsels and seashells.

At the lobby reception desk are towering arrangements of dried branches, coconut leaves and glass teardrops all in the bright red theme that dominates practically all the decorations. Even the balut wicker basket in Cuna’s creative hands becomes an elegant vessel for festive compositions of coconut fruits and flowers. Coconut husks (bunot) are used as table accents and as main materials for Christmas trees.

A must-see is the towering Nativity tableau (belen) at the hotel’s main driveway. Gold-painted wicker baskets are wired tightly together to produce a lacy callado effect for the robes of the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph and the Child Jesus. Glass mirror discs are scattered on the robes for a shiny beaded effect. The faces of the Holy Family were hand-carved by Filipino artisans from the town of Paete.

Aside from the visual delights they bring, InterContinental Manila’s Coco Pasko pieces are proof that a fortune need not be spent to come up with drop-dead gorgeous decorations. There are so many inexpensive native materials around us. All we have to do is to let our imagination take flight.