All those countless posts about foreign designer labels made me wanna look at our very own (yes, local) bags. We do have fantastic bags to offer too, and I’m not just talking about the Greenbelt crop of international designer labels (which by the way, already include Marc Jacobs!!).
It’s high time we look into our own country’s talent for bags to carry for the holidays. After all, we gotta help “window-dress” our country’s economy hehehe *grumble, it doesn’t help that some peeps tried sabotaging our economy a few days ago! Oh oh, and since I’m on that subject, might I add that the Peninsula Hotel is now open for business– in fact, all rooms are actually booked solid! So much for my dreams of staying at the Presidential Suite for a night for under US$100 hahaha ptoooey cheapskate!!*
Anyway, without further ado, let me share with you some of my local bag picks this month! Call it “Mrs.T’s flavors of the month” (Mamang sorbetero style)” *hehe nope, no bag Håagen-Dazs this time* 🙂
Vintage Restore. I pass by this bag boutique each time I go to Tresorie, and this bag designed by Lally Dizon recently caught my eye. 
I am liking the color of the bag– olive, mixed with gold and black patent. And if you must know, I was never really a fan of the color olive in the past, but I think these three colors come so nicely together– I may not like one particular color, but I thoroughly enjoy a good marriage of colors (colors which, on their own, I may not even like! Does that make any sense?). What I also like about the bag is its shape. It’s this nice rectangular shape which looks sleek on the body when carried on the shoulder. What a remarkable piece for just Php 7,450. There is another leather combination in this style, but this olive-gold piece is a winner in my book, hands down. Available at Vintage Restore— 2nd Floor Doña Consolacion Bldg, 122 Jupiter St Makati City.
Aranaz. I love the colorful display of bags in Amina’s boutique. It is so Christmas-y already 🙂 *Those bags on the “tree” range from Php 2,500 to about Php 5,500*
But there’s a little lady of a bag that really drew me into the store. You probably already know my fixation with intricately beaded evening bags, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to you that I singled this beautiful bag out. 
Made of Swarovski crystals and beautiful beads, the bag just gleams in the night, and you’d be sure to outshine anyone when you carry her. It’s just so perfect for those evening parties especially with the holiday season ’round the bend. The shape is rather unique too, quite a conversation piece if I may add. Priced at Php 12,500 for an intricate hand treasure, it’s really a “treasure” indeed. Aranaz is on the 2nd floor of the Powerplant Mall, Rockwell Makati.
And last but not least, Celestina. Celestina may already be internationally recognized, thanks to the Vogue features and the endless red carpet appearances the bags have made, but Celestina is proudly Philippine made, and is hence a local brand (just internationally renowned :D). At Celestina’s newly opened boutique at Greenbelt 5, fans of this label can now get their hands on bags which were once just reserved for a select few. Yay! No need to get them from net-a-porter.com or Barneys anymore! You can just walk into the boutique to admire the exotic materials used on the bags, as well as the workmanship of each piece. Popular pieces include the shagreen minaudieres as well as the silver weave clutches. More recently, Celestina produced croc- skin bags– the bag on the left is the most popular style.
While I found the croc bag on the left very feminine, I chose the emerald green boxy bag in shiny croc because to me, it has so much more character, and looks just like a bag from the past. (In fact it reminded me so much of a vintage Hermes bag)
The Celestina signature is on the bottom of the bag. 
And I loved every detail that this bag had to offer– from the H buckles that hold the straps and body together, to the bordered twist-lock opening. 
You can order this bag at Celestina at G/F Greenbelt 5, Makati. Priced at about Php 195,000 (depends on the US$/Php conversion for the day).
*Thebaghag grumbles… Ugh…. I’m seriously beginning to feel guilty each time “Confession time” comes up!* (Do I always have to be THIS guilty when I disclose yet another bag purchase? Shame on me for buying again… Pffft! Ok can someone seriously sponsor my bag habit now? Do penance for your sins and sponsor thebaghag!!! It’s Christmas already, darnit!! hahaha tsk tsk!!)
Confession: So I ended up with the Celestina emerald croc bag. But I’m just sooo totally in love with it (and because of this purchase, I am now officially broke *bawls big time!!!*). But hey, I’m glad I held out on a croc bag on my initial visit to preview the Celestina bag collection. This green “lady” is worth the wait! (That plus I can’t really afford to buy me an Hermes crocodile bag, so this is definitely a close second!!! I’m a happy woman… broke, but deliriously happy!! 😀 )
So there. Another bag added to this baghag’s Christmas pressie to herself 🙂 Muwahaha… and a partridge in a pear tree… hahaha… *I know, I know, this selfish bag- giving to thyself is becoming such a nasty habit! Pfffft!* In fact, the very words of Fabio’s godmum, AnnaS, were”sinner! sinner! sinner!”, to which I replied “repent! repent! repent!”. Ok I have the whole year of 2008 to repent hahaha… That’s gonna be the 1st on my list of New Year’s resolutions 🙂 Oye, and I’m sooo sure I’m not the only one that’s going to do the repenting 🙂 *looks straight at ‘cha… glare glare…. hehehe* 😀
Christmas Countdown: 21 days before Christmas…. 27 serious purchase ban days (before year 2008)…. Darn this purchase ban… But then, do I wanna go for broke and sell everything I own, right down to my stinky socks *hahaha ewww*? Errr no, I’d like to be spared of the humiliation please. At least not til the end of the year hehe 😀
xx
Mrs.T
and we thought WE went crazy at the homme et femme sale… glad to know someone out there is more nuts than we are haha!!
studyantesamorayta: If you must know, I have a habit of accummulating credit card bills (which is actually sooo not good!!). So if your definition of “mayaman” is to have a lot of credit card bills, then I fit the “bill”, no pun intended. *muwahaha hence my constant harping that I’m broke*. 195k can feed a hungry nation, for cryin’ out loud. But I also think that people who work hard for their money deserve to spend it whichever way they please– whether they give out to charity, to help other people in dire need of financial support, and to reward themselves with something luxurious. After all, you wouldn’t want people telling you where you eat, what you should wear, and who you should be friends with, right? Same bananas, watson. 😀
thefashpack: I guess I did go a bit overboard hahaha…. But I hope this is the last of it. Unless I win the state lottery in the US… HAHAHAHA (but then I don’t think I deserve that money hahaha)
what a lovely croc bag! this must be be my fave of the celestina line! do they come in other colors? congratulations!
madeupbygretch: We hope to do one there soon… we have to “explore” the possibilities or what nots. It’s really tiring work 🙁 *sob*
arthist: At Celestina, just look for Eva. The store carries a lovely purple shagreen minaudiere that your mum might like 🙂 *and try asking for a discount– you never know what answer they’ll give :D*
jdhoschka: This was the only color as of yesterday, but Mia Borromeo tells me that you can actually place an order for this bag in almost any color you like. 🙂
PEEPS!! JANINA by Jul Dizon is going to have a BeJul’d Sale tomorrow at her shop, JANINA, on the Mezzanine of The Manila Peninsula Hotel. Do drop by for the spectacular baubles on sale!! 🙂
how about a picture of you with the bag, Mrs. T? (just curious about how big it is)
That is one seriously beautiful green crocodile bag. The price is actually reasonable already because crocodile skin is expensive. I did not really find Celestina bags nice until this bag you posted. You mentioned a discount. Is the price you posted the full amount of the bag?
Pretty bag Donya…very pretty bag! Only right that you got yourself a nice gift for Christmas. You deserve it cuz you’ve worked so hard this year!
Dear Ms. Baghag,
I saw the green bag at celestina and love the shell detailing underneath.
Just wanted to ask.
Did you take a peek at the MJ store at GB4? How did you find their prices (i thought they were too much, i did salivate after the plastic ballerina flats though)
Congratulations on your delicious bag girl
Hi Mrs. T, love the green croc bag. Actually got to touch and inspect it when I visited Tina’s store last Sunday. You are one lucky bag hag! 🙂
Speaking about proudly Philippine-made bags, what do you think of FINO’s line? I have a mind to get myself one of their black Kelly-type bags for Christmas. I can’t afford Hermes; I’d have to give up eating for two years to get one of their goodies. 😀 *chuckles*
Lalaine Z.
Hello… Do you have all the style of Hermes bags please? My mom gave me a medium sized hermes in dark green leather. I’m 80% sure that it’s original but 20% not. The inside leather became sticky already and the little padlock is gone. It doesn’t say Hermes outside only on the inside. A serial number is posted on all gold hardwares. Thanks…