I DID IT MY WAY – WITH FRANK SINATRA!

Last Christmas I had a Pinoy tree adorned with Filipino Santas, capiz stars (parol), woven leaves of organic material like sinamay, buri, pandan, abaca bags (bayong) and cut-out cards of Filipino heroes and legends, Komiks characters, and folk riddles.

- LETTY JACINTO-LOPEZ

Favorite fiesta food like our homemade, street-peddled sorbetes (gelato), halo-halo and native cakes and pastries (kakanins) included.

In years past, it was truly enjoyable to follow a decor theme like sunflowers and ducks, Royal Copenhagen Christmas plates, Spanish fans and lace, Exupéry's Le Petit Prince, Russian matryoshka dolls, and framed velvet photos of family and friends.

This year, when I heard Frank Sinatra crooning "I'm doing my Christmas dreaming a little early this year," a light bulb went off in my head. Why not a Frank Sinatra tree? After all, his music, concerts and movies have continued to delight and entertain several generations. There just isn't any way for the interest to fade or taper off.

Searching the internet for Sinatra bits and bobs, it confirmed my belief that there's still a whole lot of marketplace that caters to old but giggly fans' every whim. In fact, a new group called "Respectfully Sinatra" has stirred up more hype to jump on the bandwagon of Sinatra fan-atics. We're hooked on keeping Sinatra in our lives. Why?