Every year around Christmas, Filipinos all over the world send balikbayan boxes to their relatives in the Philippines. Either they send the boxes via door-to-door cargo delivery or send it with someone going home. The infamous balikbayan box takes center stage in the latest video courtesy of impersonation mistress Christine Gambito singing “More Processed Meat” to the tune of “12 Days of Christmas“.
What’s in your balikbayan box?
The Singkil dance is the most difficult of the Philippine traditional dances. It requires skill to navigate the bamboo poles while gracefully dancing with a fan, an umbrella or ones bare hands. The dance is native to the Maguindanao people, and is performed alone by a woman of royal blood who is advertising herself to suitors. With the modernized steps of folk dance companies, singkil now includes an entourage of dancers. Tinikling is nothing compared to Singkil, although both use bamboo poles.
A group of my friends attempted to perform the Singkil and I can’t tell you how many times …read more
Let’s start something new!
"FS Feedback" is a new series at Filipina Soul to give our readers (that’s you) a chance to voice their thoughts on a particular topic or issue. To spearhead this series, I’m giving away a Christmas bonus!
A random drawing will give you a chance to win your choice of a $20 gift card to Amazon or Paypal account, or an equivalent amount in Philippine peso of your choice of Phone cards.
So, our first Filipina Soul Feedback question:
What was your most memorable Christmas celebration?
We love to hear from you!
As to the …read more
Here’s a round-up of recent Philippine-related news:
Remains of first American naval officer killed in the defense of the Philippines in WWII identified (source)
ABS-CBN buys $5 million minority stake in Multiply (source)
Chevron invests $20 million in ethanol expansion in Philippines (source)
Pirates raid two cargo vessels in Philippines (source)
Qtel, San Miguel in Philippines mobile partnership (source)
Petron Shares Surge as San Miguel Negotiates Stake (source)
‘Arroyo fingerprints all over fresh Chacha moves’ – bishops (source)
Philippines starts talks for flights to Russia (source)
Ford cuts Philippine office staff by 15 percent (source)
How to Make a Parol: A Filipino Christmas craft (source)
Manila Banks on Its Expats …read more
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What do Filipinos search for on the internet? From celebrities, to television shows, Yahoo! Philippines released the Top 10 list of "what piqued Pinoys’ interest in 2008".
CELEBRITIES
Angel Locsin
Angelina Jolie
Anne Curtis
Hayden Panettiere
KC Concepcion
Marian Rivera
Piolo Pascual
Vanessa Hudgens
Wu Chun
Zac Efron
TELEVISION
Amazing Race Asia
American Idol
Dyesebel
Gossip Girl
Hannah Montana
Heroes
Marimar
PBB (Pinoy Big Brother)
PDA (Pinoy Dream Academy)
Prison Break
MUSIC
Arnel Pineda
Avril Lavigne
Charice Pempengco
David Cook
Eraserheads
Jonas Brothers
Ramiele Malubay
Regine Velasquez
Rihanna
Sarah Geronimo
OUR FLAVOR
Ako Si Kim Sam Soon
Deal Or No Deal
Mall of Asia
Moymoy Palaboy
PEP
Pinoy Channel
Pinoy Fear Factor
Survivor Philippines
Troy Bisaya Version
Urduja
LEISURE
Chris Tiu
Grand Theft Auto
Lotto
Manny Pacquiao
Maria Sharapova
NBA
Olympics 2008
PBA
Rubik Cube
UAAP
Source: PhilStar
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Street caroling in the Philippines is a little like the US’ Halloween trick or treat, where kids stand in front of some random doorstep and wait for candy. Except they don’t say "trick or treat", they just start singing Christmas songs.
The singers come in all shapes and sizes, age and styles. They belt out a few Christmas carols and then linger around until the homeowner comes out with money. I really don’t know why we give money; it’s just part of the spirit of giving.
Anyone can do caroling too. One doesn’t have to be a good singer …read more
CNN viewers voted the 1982 Filipino film “Himala” (Miracle) as the Best Asia-Pacific Film of All Time, announced the Asia Pacific Screen Awards in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia on November 11.
I’m trying to remember what this film was all about, and why it generated such a buzz. “Himala” was a 1982 film by Ishmael Bernal and starred Nora Aunor as a faith healer who gave hope to everyone in her town when people started getting healed. At the end of the movie, she admitted that there was no such miracle.
The Inquirer calls this win “a spellbinding victory for …read more
Ah, there is a way to travel and enjoy fresh air too!
I blogged about this before, but I can’t help but be fascinated that this is such a common site in the Philippines. Mind you, all those people are still asked to pay the fare!
Images: Flickr creative commons licenses here, here, here.
Christine of HappySlip orients us on the fall season in the US – candy corn, Tootsie rolls, hebycot and punkins.
What kinds of things do I associate with the fall season? CHRISTMAS! A family friend has already put up her decorated Christmas tree, and I have the carols playing in my iPod.
Bacolod City in Negros Occidental celebrates October like no other in the Philippines, when the city celebrates its Charter Day. It’s one whole month of gaiety and festivals, street dancing and competition, food and a charged atmosphere of fun.
The month-long activities culminates with the MassKara Festival, a street dancing parade through the main highway of Bacolod by locals and tourists wearing elaborately decorated masks and costumes. This video montage captures the festival’s fun-factor:
Now one of the most sought after festivals in the Philippines for its 10-scale decibel of fun, the MassKara was born out of adversity and crisis. …read more
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