Christmas, Pinoy Style

"Thank you, thank you! Ambabait ninyo, thank you!"

Theses words are very familiar to us Filipinos. Whenever we hear these words, one thing comes to mind: it's Christmas time!

You can really feel the presence of Christmas here in the Philippines. Christmas lanterns hanging in our homes, people caroling and singing Christmas songs, bright lights in the streets, men eating and drinking booze, people going to church to celebrate the Misa de Gallo (a.k.a. Simbang Gabi), lots of shoppers buying last-minute gifts, yup, you can smell the spirit of Christmas in the air.

Christmas is one of the most peaceful times in the country, aside from when Manny Pacquiao steps into the ring. It's the time when our families get closer, when the community sets aside its problems and enjoy the joyous season, when almost all homes, whether small or large, glow because of al the Christmas lights covering them. It's the time when people forget their differences and get together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

One of the most well-kept Christmas traditions in the Philippines is the Noche Buena. It's a feast that's typically held when the clock strikes 12 AM, December 25. Typical food items here include ham, spaghetti, hotdogs, the typical party fare. However, it's not only eating that we do. There's also games and the famous gift-giving. All members of the family, from the toddlers to the grandparents, have fun and pleasure during this time of the year.

Christmas here in the Philippines certainly is different from that of other countries. Here, Christmas is a nationwide festive season, one that starts even before December. Yup, you heard right. In fact, some homes already have Christmas lights surrounding them in the latter weeks of November. Christmas in the Philippines is surely a unique tradition, one I hope will never change.