Gone are the days when dried mango, puka shells, and barrel men were the only products of Pinoy pride. If you are what you buy, then these unique gift ideas—from B-boy shoes in the true Team colours and fancy ube chocolates, to organic skincare that also cares for local communities—are the perfect way to spread some lokal love. Those dried mangoes are still pretty fantastic though.

1. Nike Hyperdunk (Php6129)

Blue Eagle or Green Archer, UST Tigers or UP Maroons, we all root for one home team: Team Pilipinas
2. Rags2Riches Maria Rosa Tote by Aranaz (Php2550)

Haute couture doesn’t have to translate into “high price” (for the Earth, that is) when you’re supporting the recycled-cloth weaving of the nanays of Payatas with an R2R bag. (Available at Aranaz, Greenbelt 5)
3. Machiavelli Chocolate, box of 14 (Php1015)

With flavors like “Purple Yam Yum,” “Negros Crunch,” and “Yema de Manila,” a box of gorgeous Machiavelli chocolates gives your loved one a taste of the Philippines in every bite. (Available at Rustan’s, Glorietta 4)
4. Zen Honey Shampoo (Php 180), Goat’s Milk Body Butter (Php150), Dark Chocolate Body Scrub (Php 350)

 Forget very-berry hair care or olive oil lotions; only homegrown products can give Filipina skin the love it needs. Perhaps the same can be said for our women… (Available at Echostore, Serendra)
5. Federico’s Island Wine: Duhat (Black plum) flavor (Php295)

 An organic fruit wine that’ll get you as tipsy as any Merlot. (Available at Echostore, Serendra)
6. Lanuza Surfing Company, Bamboo Surfboard

As we discover the beautiful and powerful waves to be had in the Philippines, our craftsmen give a surf salute to indigenous, natural materials with this bamboo surfboard. As lightweight and tough as, well, bamboo, these surfboards, handcrafted by Lanuza Surfing Company, are perfect for riding the waves, Pinoy style. Not to mention they’re gorgeous and eco-friendly. Now we can add one more thing to bamboo’s million-and-one uses. (www.bamboosurfing.com; for board orders in the Philippines, contact Arnel Mejia at arnel@mejia.dk or +639285033819; custom orders accepted)
7. Echostore Philippine Barako Coffee (Php175)

Tough, virile, and powerful are words to describe a barako – a stud pig, a macho Batangueño or this strongly flavored coffee. The Philippine Barako Liberica has everything you want to jolt you into existence when you need it. (Available at Echostore, Serendra)
8. Echostore Tablea Chocolate (Php120)

In Noli Me Tangere, Jose Rizal writes "Chocolate eh? means espeso, thick; and chocolate ah means aguado or watered down." Whichever you prefer, this tablea, made from organically grown cacao from Sorsogon, makes for a serious cup of hot chocolate that’ll chase0 away the rainy days better than any Swiss Miss ever could—no matter how many of those ‘mallows they throw into the mix to convince us otherwise. (Available at Echostore, Serendra)
9. Human Heart Nature watermelon and sugarcane organic hand sanitizer (Php100), mango lip balm (Php70)
 
It’s almost ridiculously simple: human heart nature, nature heart beauty, and we heart super yummy flavors like mango and watermelon. We could actually stop there, but we don’t want to. With these organic, locally made beauty products (which also include shampoos, facial wash, and even perfume), there’s a lot of love going ‘round: for the environment since all products are completely chemical-free, for those lucky rabbits that escaped animal testing, for your wallet with the line’s budget-loving prices and, of course, for your skin and health. (Order online at www.humanheartnature.com and they’ll deliver right to your doorstep; their products are also available at Echostore, Serendra)
10. Mascobado Rocks (Php60)

Mascobado Rocks your coffee, your cake, and your body. This unrefined sugar is made organically and cooked without chemicals. With Mascobado rocks becoming the choice of diabetics and health buffs everywhere, it’s time to think out of the (sugar) cube. (Available at Echostore, Serendra)

*Photography by Iya Nakpil-Roxas