Even when the months of beginning to end with "-ber, Filipinos are full of waiting for that special magic of the Christmas season never fails to yield. In any other part of the world, Christmas is a December" thing " . Here in the Philippines, however, lasts all the way on the Feast of the Three Kings, sometimes on the Chinese New Year. In fact, with all the holiday hoopla, Christmas in the Philippines is far from boring.
Christmas the Filipino way would not be the same without the "people traffic" in and out of stores and tiangges as buyers clamor to get the best buys of the season. Pinoys at home in the meantime, spiffy home decor and strategically placed speakers, from which the sounds of Christmas will be heard.
You also have restless children and parents too anxious and yayas corrupt children "to be" good, otherwise Santa Claus does not come for a visit this year. Everything for that red fire trucks or Barbie doll, the kids might think, but how would you know if Jolly Ol 'St. Nick is just a scam or not? In any case, the trick is revealed to be only a good method of discipline for any other day of the year, as Christmas time.
Several traditions are uniquely Filipino. The Misa de Gallo, for example. Filipinos have been religiously attending these dawn masses, more commonly known as Simbang Gabi, when Fray Diego de Soria is widespread in Mexico in 1587. In the Philippines, Simbang Gabi novena devotees brave the dark and chilly morning in the morning to preserve the tradition. Sure, there's always the lure of fresh and bibingka Puto bumbong stiffle to prevent the yawns and heads nodding to sleep.
The assault parols, paper lanterns made from Japanese paper glued onto a frame of bamboo-shaped star, is another unique sight to behold. These configurations can be seen shimmering hanging everywhere: from window sills, bedecking a tree on the lawn or hanging from lampposts, even places on the highway. Sometimes people set parols atop one end of a long pole while the other end buried deep enough into the ground to keep it stable. The parols more modern ones of 10 feet, more urbanized, decorate the facades of office buildings and hotel lobby. Rightly, the more modest are the kind you see hanging houses. Whatever the size or shape, parols will always be part of the Filipino Christmas.
Along with the words, Belen is also a main attraction closely identified with Christmas Pinoy. The sight of the Holy Family in a manger with animals and the three kings around him, makes a certain serenity to the family --- a sense of holiness that just about anyone can use a little 'this season.
Of course, every Filipino Christmas is sure to include a buena noche. Sometimes it's a feast of jamon, queso de bola, relleno, roasted turkey, castanas, and fruitcake. Sometimes, it is normal pancit, fried chicken, hot dogs and lugaw. It 's a celebration, however, and should not matter as long as the family is together. Getting ready for the noche buena, for saving up, decoration and presentation of cases can start as early as right after the meal this year. Year-in and year out, people are putting away any amount of extra money could be hoping to add yet another table noche buena "provided" for next year.
The Filipino way of celebrating the yuletide not be the same without hope of children "hand POS" --- sometimes in churches, often in their homes and ninongs ninangs. You also have songs from yesteryears played on virtually all radio stations in the city. Of course, the same song can vary a bit ', depending on the version of the disk jockey chooses (Gary Valenciano and Regine Velasquez "Pasko na Sinta Ko"), but listeners do not usually mind until the songs add to their Christmas merry-making.
Of course, what would be Christmas without the usual caroling and Christmas songs? In the suburbs, children as young as six years are taught Christmas carols, accompanied by the tinkling of flattened bottle caps tied together through the middle by a thin thread. They are then encouraged to go around the neighborhood and sing along the streets to spread some Christmas cheer for motorists tired.
As Filipinos are generally musically inclined, there are many people who would not dare pass up a new album, especially if it is a Pinoy Christmas album. A refreshing change for original Pilipino music on the airwaves instead of listening to "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas," many Filipino artists now have their records Christmas music in various bars.
An album so that is definitely OPM Bukas Palad Music Ministry is "Pasko Na!", Which is distributed by BMG Pilipinas. Consisting of 18 original songs, largely written by P. founders. Manoling Fransisco, SJ, Jandi Arboleda and Norman Agatep, "Pasko Na!" Filipino and lives in a single season Christocentric.
For those unfamiliar with Bukas Palad, is a liturgical group consisting of university students and young professionals who first met in Ateneo de Manila University in 1986. It was they who gave strong mass appeal for the songs of the Catholic faith as "Tanging Yaman", "Take and receive," "Anima Christi" and "Hindi Kita Malilimutan. After eight albums and more than 13 years of concerts around the nation, Bukas Palad provide the public with their latest album which is flavored with its own style of the group, a mix of pop, jazz, soul, gospel and Broadway music inspiration.
"Pasko Na!" is filled with energy and soul of becoming modern, but traditional Filipino Christmas. The album guarantees that people are still able to make a Christmas that is liberating and joyful, despite whatever problems may have tired a year away. These themes are reflected in songs like "Himig ng Hangin" and "Pasko ng Paglaya" by Jandi Arboleda and Fr. Manoling, respectively. A must for the Christmas season this year, "Pasko Na!" is now available in all record bars nationwide.
The Filipinos do not really have to be more fluid with wealth to enjoy Christmas. expensive decorations and a feast fit for a king at the table buena noche are things that most Filipinos can do without. Afterall, while there's family to celebrate the season with that tradition and make it more meaningful, the Filipino Christmas is always special, meaningful and affectionate one.
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