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?
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
Hey Toronto, how would you like to wake up long before dawn and go to church?
Most Catholic Filipinos would be doing that this Christmas season in a long-held tradition called the mass of advent or “Simbang Gabi”. Beginning in December 15 to mark the season, masses are held around 4:00-5:00 a.m. every day until December 24. Simbang Gabi culminates with a 12 a.m. mass called Misa de Gallo (literally, Mass of the Rooster).
With Filipinos now scattered all across the globe, it is not seldom to find a Mass of Advent in that foreign city where a Filipino …read more
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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.
Have you considered going to the Philippines this Christmas? And I’m writing to both expats and foreign travels who are planning a destination get-away for the holiday.
Consider going to the Philippines this December, and staying on till the New Year. With almost 3 weeks worth of Christmas season, and holiday traditions unlike any other, the Philippines should be on your short list.
A travel agent I talked to said the fares are still relatively cheap, although that won’t last long with the holiday travel looming next month.
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I could have titled this as “Wordless Wednesday”, but decided against it. The story behind this picture needs to be told, and I could not wait for Christmas.
This is a typical Filipino Christmas Star Lantern, or Parol in Tagalog. It’s quiete easy to make, nothing to it, really. Circular frame, a few wires, colored crepe and japanese papers and lights are all it takes, and you have one like this in your home. But this one is rather SPECIAL.
It was made by Joey’s dad… I’ll let Joey tell the story –
Tatay (Tagalog for Dad) made this Parol several …read more
It’s almost Christmas! Yiii!!!!
If you’re not Filipino, you would be thinking ‘but it’s still 5 months away?!”. Not to a Pinoy, it isn’t. September signals the start of the Christmas season.
Just ask Devy, who says she just watched the Filipino cable channel and saw the anchor news desk all decked out in Christmas decor. Don’t be surprised to hear carols being sang at the malls and radios. One family starts hanging its parols and lights outside the house and the whole neighborhood follows soon enough. Yes, in September.
Pinoys are getting ready for the biggest holiday of …read more
Somebody turned off the rain and at last it’s starting to feel like Christmas. I can feel the cool, crisp Christmas breeze in my bones. Hopefully it continues to be like this, so I can take Raine and my mother out tonight to watch the colorful bright displays in town. My family is just going to have a simple Christmas.
We are just fortunate to be together and well at this time of year, some Filipinos aren’t so fortunate.
It really sucks when natural calamities hit at such a time.
Really, I am just thankful that my family has got a roof …read more
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I’ve found a gateway to Filipino Christmas called Paskong Pinoy 2005.
Check it out. Might be interesting for those balikbayans looking for what’s hot and what to do in Manila (and the Philippines) for the holidays.
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Christmas wouldn’t have been without the Christ. There’s just no escaping it however much most of us try to deny it or “roam around the bush” on this topic. Sure this is the season to spend time with family, to take the long-needed vacation, for loving, sharing and forgiving; the classic “peace on earth and goodwill to mankind” . But isn’t all this the very essence of why Jesus was born on that manger in Bethlehem?
Of course, Filipinos believe in Santa Claus too (most of us have at least heard of him!). I for one have been hanging socks on …read more
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