An Effortless Christmas

Stephanie Kienle Gonzalez shares holiday traditions and how she puts together an elegant yuletide feast

“Christmas is such a busy season in Manila! I try my best to go through my days peacefully so as not to forget what the season is truly about,” says Stephanie Kienle Gonzalez, COO of furniture company Philux. “To me, more than materiality and fluff, it’s about being present, sharing genuine moments and cherishing that time with your nearest and dearest.”

For Stephanie, Christmas has always been an intimate celebration with her small, tight-knit family. She shares, “If we are in town, we usually have Christmas Eve at home with my parents and sister, over a lovely home-cooked meal, holiday tunes and sitting around a bright tree in the living room that is filled with meaningful ornaments.” On

Christmas day, her family would visit her husband Chris’ lola’s home for lunch, where their kids would enjoy their cousins’ company while they run amok in the garden.

When asked about her Christmas traditions, Stephanie explains that it’s all about making her children happy during the festivities. “We have our Elf on the Shelf visit a