In a display of the Yuletide spirit, the Manila Bulletin together with SM Department Stores has again launched its annual Newspaper Christmas Tree-Making Contest, which is now on its eighth year.

This year’s edition of the contest features a new category – Christmas trees made from recycled materials – to promote environmental awareness in an age of dramatic climate change around the world.

The original competition, which still offers the bigger prizes, has entries that are all made from old Manila Bulletin newspapers and magazines to promote creativity and bonding among Filipino families who share time and effort to produce stunning works of art as seen in previous years’ entries.

Christmas trees made from newspapers and indigenous materials are currently on display at the lobby of the Manila Bulletin Head Office in Intramuros, Manila, turning the spacious lobby into a colorful forest made up of at least 59 entries.

Entries in the Newspaper Christmas Tree category range from paper mache, Japanese-inspired origami, and newspapers intricately woven into mats which are then shaped into pine trees.

Meanwhile, entries in the recycled materials category are made from a wider variety of discards ranging from empty juice bottles and plastic caps to computer keyboards, junk appliances and mussel shells.

Christmas trees in both categories are required to be between 4 and 7 feet tall and should be able to stand alone during an exhibition. Originality is greatly considered during the judging of each entry.

Winners in the competition would be announced on Dec. 22, 2 p.m. at the Atrium, The Block, at the SM City North EDSA.