Fresh take on Christmas: PSID-Ahlen’s D.O.C.E. dazzles Greenhills

Insider Spotlight

• 12 student booths reimagine Filipino Christmas with global flair
• Themes span Brutalism to Rustic Soirée, each rich in texture and story
• Designs of Christmas Exhibit (D.O.C.E.) runs Sept. 27–Oct. 31 at GH Tower
  

The Philippine School of Interior Design–Ahlen Institute (PSID-Ahlen) is giving the country’s most beloved holiday a bold makeover with its 48th graduation showcase, Designs of Christmas Exhibit (D.O.C.E.), now open at GH Tower in Greenhills.

The show spotlights 12 student-designed installations that play with culture, color, and chronology—proof that Filipino Christmas décor has evolved far beyond the days of giant spoon-and-fork wall sets.

“Through the years, Filipinos have evolved in their design sensibilities,” said interior designer and PSID professor Pojie Pambid. “Gone are the days when houses were decorated with giant spoon-and-fork sets or tinikling dancers on the wall. Today, design is more curated, more personalized and more experimental, even during Christmas.” 

Why it matters

From heritage nods to future-forward concepts, the exhibit shows how local design education embraces experimentation while staying rooted in tradition. 

“Altogether, the exhibit reminds us that Christmas is a living tradition that unites us across time, culture and imagination,” said Joel Benitez, president of the graduating batch.

The holiday lineup

Visitors can stroll through 12 themed booths, each a mood board of textures and stories:

• Brutalism – concrete partitions and warm lights for unplugged fun
• Victorian – steampunk twists and Arcane-inspired ornaments
• Art Deco – velvet seating and feathered trees in Manhattan glamour
• Mexican – Las Posadas vibes with Otomi patterns and papel picado
• Brazilian – Rio Carnival energy with tropical curves and wood
• Filipino (Simoy ng Pasko) – a serene dining lanai inspired by Simbang Gabi
• Velvet Frost – chocolate-plum hues and a sculptural tree lamp
• Liloura Lush – lilac and icy blue elegance
• Spiced Ember – whisky lounge warmth in russet and flame
• Noël Aurora – Icelandic tones that glow like the Northern Lights
• Urban Cosmopolitan – origami lines and a bold red tree
• Rustic Soirée – French provincial hearth with a ceiling-hung tree

The “Designs of Christmas Exhibit” is open to the public from Sept. 27 to Oct. 31 at GH Tower, Greenhills—a festive stop for anyone craving a stylish, next-level Christmas.  —Ed: Ramon C. Nocon