Retailers upbeat about Christmas despite headwinds

MANILA, Philippines — Retailers expect a strong Christmas season ahead despite economic headwinds that could trigger more cautious spending patterns among Filipinos, said Alice Liu, president of the Philippine Retailers Association.

“It may be a little bit more tempered because people will be a little bit more conscious about how they spend,” Liu told reporters. “But you know, with Filipinos, they never really cancel Christmas.”

Liu, who heads Golden ABC Inc., which handles six major Filipino apparel brands, including Penshoppe, Regatta and Oxgn, said the company began feeling the holiday surge in November.

“We saw it mid-November,” she said. “Probably because when the government bonuses started to be released, some people started spending already.”

She cited the appointment of Finance Secretary Frederick Go as another reason to be optimistic, saying his business experience as a former Robinsons Land CEO could help improve business confidence.

READ: Who is Frederick Go?

“Coming from the business sector, he will really be able to understand the pains of retailers and can help stir the economy again to make the playing field more even,” she said.

Plans

Liu said Golden ABC remains bullish heading into 2026, planning to open 50 to 80 new stores in malls nationwide with a capital allocation of about P100 million.

By the end of the year, the company expects to operate over 1,000 stores nationwide.

READ: Alice Liu takes the helm at Golden ABC

“Growth plans continue. The malls continue to open, so we need to be able to continue to position well with them,” she said.

“We just have to be agile and be able to react well, depending on what circumstances happen.”