December 12, 2005
Filipino Christmas Symbols: Part 3
What would be a Filipino Christmas without food? Of our many delicacies, there are two that are closely associated with Christmas: Bibingka and Puto Bumbong, both rice-based delicacies.
Once you see them being cooked and sold on the streets, along with the crisp cold night breeze, signals that Christmas is near. In the old days, these are usually sold near church gates for people to bring home when they get off from simbang gabi (advent dawn mass). These days they are available in every street corner starting at around September (or whole year-round in some places).
For us Filipinos, nothing beats bibingka and puto bumbong with hot chocolate or coffee on the break of morning after mass.
