Christmas in the Philippines is one of a kind. As early as September, Holiday Season is in the air. You know it’s Christmas when carols are played on malls and radio, colorful Christmas lights abound, and bazaars are everywhere.

Millions of Filipinos outside the country long for this Christmas “feeling.” Many choose to come home every December despite considerable travel expenses. Those who choose otherwise come up with creative ways to enjoy the season away from loved ones in the Philippines. Let’s see how our fellow Filipinos in the different parts of the world celebrate:

“Sa totoo lng ‘di pa ko nakaranas ng Christmas dito na tulad ng sa ‘Pinas. Alam mo naman ang mga Hapon, puro work. Kaya sa eight years ko ritong Pasko, trabaho lang ako then after work, inuman with friends. Tapos the next day, work ulit. Gano’n kasi ang mga Hapon eh. Pero ngayon, ‘di ako nagwowork tsaka iba na ngayon, may asawa na ko at baby. Baka maiba naman ang Pasko ko. And since Sunday ang Pasko this year, sama-sama kami. Siguro sa Filipino restaurant kami magcecelebrate since maraming Pilipinong maggagather doon. Kain-inom. gano’n. Baka mamasyal din kami sa DisneyLand. Meron pa ring mga Filipino families na nagsisimbang-gabi rin tapos Noche Buena pero bihirang-bihira ‘yon, mga matatanda siguro tsaka ‘yong mga active sa church. Ang mga Filipinong maraming kaanak dito, sama-sama rin siguro sila kaya ang Pasko nila, parang sa ‘Pinas din. Pero ‘yong mga katulad kong dating nag-iisa lng, medyo malungkot. Tuwing Pasko nga, iyak ako eh. Nag-uubos ako ng pera kakatawag. The best pa rin sa ‘Pinas, sama-sama kayo, kahit mga matagal mo nang ‘di nakikitang mga kamag-anak, nakikita mo ‘pag Pasko. May caroling, masaya. Dito wala. New Year lang ata medyo nakakabawi eh.” – Haydee, Japan

“I am here in Tucson with my whole family. Hindi ko pa alam kung anong mangyayari this Christmas pero we celebrate it na parang sa ‘Pinas lang. There are food and presents, the same with other Pinoy families.” – Nex, US

“In Wellington, New Zealand, since we have a Filipino Community, we still observe the Simbang Gabi. After the Simbang Gabi, there are some groups of people who prepare some food to feed to all the mass-goers. There is puto-bumbong for sale as well outside the church. Then, during Christmas Eve, the mass is usually held at 8pm in the Sacred Heart Cathedral. After the mass, we go to friends’ house. Mega-chika lang. But, before Christmas Eve, we have to make sure we're already home. At home, it's a very simple Christmas Eve celebration with sumptuous food, with either wine or beer to go with the food.... Then, we pose in front of the Christmas tree for picture-taking. Afterwards, gift giving and opening. On Christmas Day, that's the busiest kasi kanya-kanyang gimik with friends, like picnic in a park with matching barbecue ‘yon ah kasi free ‘yong ihawan do’n. Mayroon ding mga palaro ‘yan for kids and adults and then bingo. Tapos, bush-walking ang trip o kaya chika lang. Usually, mga hapon up to midnight, isang malaking party for all families and friends, which we usually hold in a community center. Of course in everything, the spirit of sharing is obviously practiced here. We all share for the cost of hiring the venue. Then, each family is asked to "bring a plate", pati na rin drinks, rice, plates, cutleries, cups, rubbish bag, etc. Then each family is asked to contribute $20 for kiddie loot bags and parlour game prizes. Mayroon ding Monito-Monita. Then after the program, of course, sayawan na.” --- Jhoie, New Zealand

“Noche Buena lang kami ako with friends kasi sila na ang family ko rito. Pahinga lang kami sa mismong araw ng Pasko dahil karamihan sa’min lasing dahil sa Noche Buena… at ‘yon lang din naman ang araw na walang pasok. ‘Pag nakayanan naming lumabas, sa mall lang din ang punta naming para mag-shopping. There’s no other place dahil sobrang lamig ‘pag winter.” – Erlin, Canada

“We just celebrate at home as if we are in ‘Pinas. May Misa de Gallo na rin dito since two years ago. We are with whoever housemates we have at the time of Christmas (we usually move places, lipat-bahay depende sa pangangailangan --- so kung sino ang kasama mo sa bahay ng time na ‘yon, sila kasama mo sa Pasko). We eat, as usual, have games and papremyo, videoke and drinking.” --- Mariz, United Arab Emirates

“We've been here for just three years, and so we celebrate Christmases here in basically the same way we did in the Philippines except that the relatives are physically absent. What we do though

is video chat via YM or Gmail on the 24th with family and relatives in the PH. We also go to the Catholic church here in the city and attend Christmas Day mass. Walang Simbang Gabi here. I guess it's because of logistical issues kasi napakakaunti ng Filipinos here or Catholics for that matter so lugi sa electricity to heat up the whole inside of the church. Food-wise naman, we cook the same Filipino dishes, except for the special delicacies na we can't prepare kasi walang ingredients available locally like Bicol Express (walang shrimp paste) or Pili cake, etc. (we're from Naga City kasi)… And since 99% of Japanese are not Christians, Christmas here is really just a marketing event for them. They give each other gifts, greet each other "Merry Christmas" and bring out the whole family to Kentucky and have a special Christmas Kentucky fried chicken. I know - why Kentucky ‘di ba? Ewan din, but that's the way here. People go to Kentucky. I guess that shows how successful Kentucky has been in co-branding itself with Christmas. And so the Filipinos here who are married to Japanese, gano’n ang ginagawa nila. Sa Kentucky sila. Essentially I'd say Christmas here in Japan is very lonely kasi wala ang long family reunions na nakasanayan na natin diyan. Here we work on the 24th and 25th so we have to take a day off and lose money so we can go to church on the 25th.” --- Ito, Japan

“Here, we do the usual naman. We put up a Christmas tree around first week of December. We go to church and we prepare for Noche Buena and all that jazz. Saka we are logged in naman sa Skype or YM video chat 100% of the time so somehow we can feel na we still have our family with us despite the distance. I think technology really has made everything bearable for an OFW kasi now you have easy access to instantly communicate with family back home. On Christmas Day, we hear mass, we eat out and go to the mall or Global Village. Ganun din lang. The only difference lang siguro is we invite other Filipinos we know who do not have any family here to join us in Noche Buena with non-stop videoke. Sila talaga kasi yung nakakaawa. ‘Yong mga Pinoy na nakatira sa accommodation provided ng company and who do not have laptop or internet to access Facebook or YM regularly. ‘Yong hindi kasama ang pamilya nila sa bahay, kahit pinsan man lang or tiyahin. Nakakwentuhan ko last year ‘yong iba sa kanila and usually daw kung walang nag-iinvite sa kanila for Christmas, after phoning their relatives back home to greet, nagkukulong lang sila sa accommodation to sleep, cry, drink alcohol or all of the above. Heartbreaking when you hear their stories. What I observe lang is kung sa Pinas bawat pamilya they have their own Christmas celebration at home, here abroad we're really like a community. As in every Pinoy you meet and befriend you is instantly treated as your family. Automatic reflex na ‘ata ‘yon since you're away from your own family, your tendency is to extend your family para you don't feel that lonely.” --- Aizza, United Arab Emirates

“Sa past two Christmases ko rito sa Japan ay nag-Noche Buena kami kasama ‘yong ibang Filipino friends and other Japanese and foreign friends dito sa Osaka. Bale ang ginawa namin noon ay nagluto sa isang bahay at doon nag-Noche Buena. ‘Yong ibang kakilala ko nagtitipon sila with other Pinoy friends to celebrate. Catholic ako, by the way. Mayroong ginagawang Christmas party ‘yong Filipino community sa church. ‘Yong pari ay Filipino at mostly Filipino din yung church-goers. May mga sumasama ding ilang Japanese at foreigners doon sa Christmas Party. Exchange gift, meron din. Ginagawa ‘yong Christmas Party after Christmas Day. Mayroong Simbang Gabing ginagawa sa isang church sa Hyogo area, doon kasi naka-station ‘yong Filipino priest na nagmimisa sa pinupuntahan kong church sa Osaka. Mayroon ding ‘yong Christmas Eve mass. Basically, nagtitipun-tipon ‘yong mga Pinoy to celebrate Christmas here.” --- Julius, Japan

“Well, the first time I spent Christmas abroad was last year in Jakarta. I celebrated with my boyfriend, his brother and our boss -- American-style because they were all USAers, eating turkey and mashed potatoes and playing drunk Scrabble. It was hard to celebrate there Pinoy-style because, as a Muslim-majority nation, they don't have much pork foodstuff and I couldn't enjoy lechon, chicharon or the traditional Noche Buena. This year, I am planning a trip to the Great Wall of China, where I intend to spend my birthday on the 23rd up to Christmas. I hear in Beijing and most other parts of China, Christmas is not as big as Lunar New Year, so it might be quiet. If the plan doesn't work out, I might just stay in Hong Kong and have a quiet dinner and drinks with friends at my apartment. Since it's Westernized, there are a lot of places that sort of hype up the Christmas spirit, especially hotels and shops.” --- Kristine, Hong Kong