Christmas in Our Pinoy Hearts
Christmas 2003

Christmas has always been a special time for Filipinos. It is a time for gatherings, celebration, and family. A time to relax, enjoy, reflect, give, and share. We asked some Filipinos, both here and abroad, to share their thoughts on Christmas and this is what they had to say.

What does a Filipino Christmas mean to you?

Christmas to me is sacred. Why? This is the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a time where one reflects on the birth of our Lord. It is also a time when you give to the need and rejoice in their happiness.
-- Perla, Los Angeles, USA

I think a Filipino Christmas is all about strengthening the ties that we have. Be it with friends or family. Just having a merry old time thru food or parties.
-- Alfonso, Paranaque, Philippines

Filipino x'mas means a lot to me. It reminds me of the early morning mass that starts on the 16th of Dec. & ends on the midnight of Dec. 24th. It reminds me of the happy faces of kids receiving presents on christmas day.I remembered those kids going house to house knocking in each door for a couple of candies or some loose change.
-- Remy, New Jersey, USA

Christmas is being with family and celebrating God's love with the birth of our Lord.
-- Junnie, Manila, Philippines

Being the only Christian nation in the far east and as Filipinos we have brought up to this practice to remember and focus our eyes once a year for the coming of Messiah (Jesus) which brings love, peace and joy to earth.
-- Charlie, Saudia Arabia

I guess what really makes Christmas celebration in the Philippines very interesting and close to heart is the way we, as a people of the country celebrate it. Even if there has been a lot of similarities on the way Christmas is celebrated around the world, there would always be a unique and special way in each. The close bond and ties we have with our family no matter what issues or conflicts we may have accumulated over them over the years, it is always the once happy Christmas time that the heart would ache and long for. Perhaps having a Catholic faith and background also add to the special celebration. The doctrines of the faith make the meaning of Christmas more special, meaningful, and bring families back to each other again. It is also what we, the Filipino people have experienced in the past, our history as a country that makes our Christmas celebration a truly heartfelt one. Our beautiful customs and traditions, especially during this time of the year has never been surpassed by any of the glitter and whatnot of the way Christmas is celebrated abroad. Filipino Christmases is always in the air whenever the time comes. Its spirit penetrates down to the bone, no matter what. It will always make one who is away from home, come home.
-- Tess, California, USA

To me, a Filipino Christmas means: a season of togetherness with all the members of my family--grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and even neighbors and close friends whom I've come to regard as family. Christmas won't be Pinoy without a lot of people gathered around the dining table during noche buena, or by the sala during gift-giving time. I don't really care much for Santa Claus and his reindeer. As long as friends and family are there--with lots of food--then Christmas will always be Pinoy.
-- Nines, Manila, Philippines 


What makes you think of Christmas?

When I see ham in the supermarket, I am always reminded of Christmas (haha). I know this is not eaten only during that season but a Noche Buena feast is never complete without this sumptuous delicacy. My favorite, actually (yum yum). 
-- Janine, Quezon City, Philippines

Misa de gallo, foods, kids, gifts, and more fun.
-- Perla, Los Angeles, USA

Christmas bonus, ham, christmas songs as early as Sept.
-- Junnie, Manila, Philippines

I remember being dragged from my sleep during ungodly cold hours by my grandmother who was a devout Catholic to attend the 'simbang gabi'. I remember drooling throughout the sermon and being woken up to stand and kneel down during the mass . I can almost smell and taste the puto bungbong waiting for me outside the church. My mother would decorate the whole house with Christmas streamers, Christmas tree made out of aluminum standing on a block of concrete. My brother and I would hang these plastic balls, and Christmas cards we made from colored paper, and tinsel garland around the aluminum tree. I remember hanging my good socks by the window so santa klaws will fill them with goodies. I remember having hot chocolate before going to bed around eight o' clock and waiting for santa to come and not being able to sleep until my mother would wake me up to eat noche buena around 12 midnight and open gifts from santa klaws. 
-- Myra, California, USA

Christmas songs, chilly nights, my boyfriend J
-- Anami, Manila, Philippines

Ryan Cayabyab's Christmas carols! The cool December breeze... and parols and Christmas lights blinking by the lampposts on the streets.
-- Nina, Manila, Philippines 


Let's see... I remember our little silver Christmas tree... it had a silver frame and the leaves (although they resembled anything but leaves) too were made in silver. My mom had a wide array of decorations to hang unto it, collected through the years. For this reason, the tree had no color motif or design... just bits and pieces here and there. When I was small, the tree looked grand. As I got older, it looked to me like the tree progressively got smaller... maybe I grew bigger and my eyes got accustomed to things more grand than that silver Christmas tree.
-- Jet, Singapore

What traditions do you normally follow during Christmas?

I remember Christmas eve at home... we'd all be together sitting around the dining table. My dad would start off with a prayer and it was always a beautiful one... thanking God for the year past, that we're all still together, that we've endured whatever trials there were, for all the blessings we've received. Then we'd start the meal. Christmas eve meals would always be simpler than New Year's. We would have pancit molo, ham, queso de bola (which I've never eaten), spaghetti, bread, some salad or another, and fruits. There would always be hot cocoa after meals. Sometimes we just ate, often the kids would be bickering and teasing each other. After meals, we would gather around the Christmas tree and my mom would be handing out gifts...
-- Jet, Singapore

Attending midnight mass, exchange gifts..
-- Perla, California, USA

Simbang Gabi and heavy eating and gift receiving on the eve of the 25th. I used to do carolling, until i got bitten by a stray dog. 
-- Junnie, Manila, Philippines

What I miss the most during x'mas is the traditional carolling, family reunions, and of course the original puto bumbong. We do have it here in Filipino Stores but nothing can compare w/ the original. Although I am married to a non-christian we still attend the midnight mass as a family & we exchange gifts & give all our friends & their kids presents.
-- Remy, New Jersey, USA

Noche buena ba or medya noche basta yng eating pag 24th , going to mass.
-- Emilia, Manila, Philippines

Decorating the tree right after Halloween--that's always a major family production; gift-giving to practically everyone we know; media noche with paella, salpicao (care of chef Nines!) ensaymada, fruit salad, and lots of walnuts, almonds, oranges, apples, and pears; opening select gifts at midnight, then waking up early on December 25 to open the rest of the gifts.
-- Nines, Manila, Philippines 

A typical Filipino or any Christmas for me would be going to my best friend's house because my parents would never be home during Christmas. I was pretty much expected at the Madarang residence during those times and I thank them for letting me be a part of their joy. I even had my own chair at their dinner table. It's still a tradition I practice to this very day, just with snow and freezing temperatures.
-- Mike, Chicago, USA



What are the things that when seen/heard/felt/remembered reminds you of Christmas?

Whenever I hear slow Christmas carols (especially when played in the early "-ber months"), I always get nostalgic. I would always remember how fun and excited I was for this season when I was a kid because things were simpler then. It's different when you're older because you don't get delighted that easy--and this is sad. 
-- Janine, Quezon City, Philippines

Christmas lights, trees, castanas , bazaars etc.
-- Ana, Manila, Philippines

When I think of Christmas... I have a sense of cold air, lights, activities, colors and food. Christmas and food... Anyway... food. We always have the usual... spaghetti, pancit molo, ubeng halaya (yam), fruit salad, embutido, morcon, ham, queso de bola, stuffed chicken (served only on Christmas eve or Christmas lunch cause bawal daw pag new year... lilipad ang suwerte... hehehe), potato salad. Nowadays the morcon has been replaced with lengua (probably my mom's best dish ever) and the stuffed chicken has become an occasional thing.
-- Jet, Singapore

Ayala Avenue Lights, Garbage Truck in the morning, envelopes from Village guards, mailmen, bill collectors....
-- Junnie, Manila, Philippines

Lanterns, Christmas lights, Christmas songs..
-- Perla, California, USA

THE COOL CHRISTMAS AIR!!! The "Christmas constellations", shops all decked up for the holidays, Christms carols, castaņas being sold at groceries, parols and blinking lights, the Christmas tree in our living room.
-- Rica, Manila, Philippines

Undeniably, Christmas for Filipinos is always very special. From food to family to weather, the season always brings an extra oomph that brings joy to all of us. Here's wishing all of you a wonderful, happy, and meaningful Yuletide season. Merry Christmas!


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