THE Christmas season in the Philippines is a unique and cherished time, celebrated longer than anywhere else in the world. As early as September, festive decorations and holiday music fill malls and public spaces, signaling the start of a monthslong celebration. For many, the familiar carols and twinkling lights evoke feelings of joy, generosity and nostalgia. But have you ever considered how these elements — especially the music — impact the way we shop? Retailers carefully craft the holiday ambiance to create an experience that not only captures the spirit of the season but also influences our buying decisions in subtle yet powerful ways.

The Jose Mari Chan meme is becoming a usual trend over the social media every month of August. It's an indication that Filipinos are quite excited about a long Christmas celebration that will happen. Then the moment malls open on the first day of September, the long-playing Christmas songs will start to play that will last even until January of the coming year.