The Filipino in me is always bursting with nationalistic pride and glow! Even if the Philippines has deteriorated in the last decade (I strongly feel and observe the downhill changes. From the time that I moved to Spain, April 2008, I am fortunate to have visited the Philippines 4 times. Praise God!! And during these 4 visits, I have seen how the Philippines has changed. Sadly, the beautiful nature within the city has been destroyed and replaced with booming (or will it be a bane?? tsk. tsk) residential sites and traffic is horrendous!! Terrible! But this is a positive post. Jejejeje I make sure that I am a good ambassador of my country (even if I am superbly unknown hahaha)
As a Filipino living abroad, one of the things I miss the most is the flamboyant hahaha Christmas celebration!! The moment August 31 ends and September 1 commences, it sorts of signaled the Christmas countdown! Hahahahaha
Commercial centers, business establishments, offices and homes start to put on their best Christmas decors!! (our family though start to put ours after the All Saints Day; here in Spain, during my first 9 years hahaha I followed that tradition, as early as September 1, I have all my Christmas ornaments in place hahaha hahahah except for this year, I put ours this November 11) hahahah. Makati area, the business and financial district in the city is known for its bold display of the Nativity and christmas lights! Our christmas decors are definitely more fun than the ones here in Madrid hahahahahaha..
To celebrate the upcoming Christmas, companies start organizing their big, annual Christmas parties. Teams within the companies also do the Kris Kringle where you pick a name of your colleague (your baby) and you have to give small thematic gifts to your baby. The reveal is usually a date before our Christmas break! Hahahah
*** photos lifted from the internet. ctto***
Makati City (Rockwell, Makati Avenue and Ayala Triangle)
From a Catholic perspective, we continue to celebrate the Advent season which is basically the 4 weeks of waiting prior to Christmas. The first 3 weeks are marked with a purple candle which means penance, where we cleanse prior to the birth of our Savior and the 4th week is the week of Joy, marked by a pink candle. We continue to go bigtime with the Misa de Gallo or the Midnight Mass, from the 16th of December to the 24th of December. You have the option either to do the dawn mass or the anticipated mass, the night before. Noche Buena, which is the pre Christmas midnight dinner commences with the celebration of Mass. Gift openings are done on the 24th and 25th of December!!
Post Misa de Gallo staples are the typical Filipino Christmas pastries, usually made of glutinous rice cakes. We have the typical puto bongbong and bibingka!! And they taste just heavenly!!
We also receive a lot of Christmas carols. The Christmas caroling usually takes place on the 16th of December to the 24th of December. Christmas songs are rendered by the children or special organizations (nuns, non-profit and the proceeds will go to a good cause).
*** photos lifted from the internet. ctto***
Our classic Christmas decor is the Parol, Christmas Lantern. It used to be made of sticks, shaped in a star and covered with cellophane or crepe paper. Now, with the modern times, our Christmas Parols/Lanterns come with Christmas lights and are more sophisticated looking. Hahahah
*** photos lifted from the internet. ctto***
And there´s the Christmas stocking, christmas socks family tradition. From December 16th to December 23rd, we, the children, would put out Christmas socks at nighttime. When we wake up the next morning, there will be a little something for us - coins or candies!! Our parents said that during nighttime the 3 Kings passed by! Hahaha The big gifts happen on the night of the 24th of December!! Hahahah!! I really believed that the Three Kings were real! Until when I was 14 years old hahaha when I woke up on the morning of December 24 and I told my mom that our socks were empty Hahahaha hahaha She told me to go back to sleep but I did not, I pretended to be asleep. Hahah When I got out of my room, the socks now have something! An that´s when my illusion about the 3 Kings became a reality. Hahaha
*** photos lifted from the internet. ctto***
We also go bigtime with Aginaldo. It is the tradition where the children would line up and the adults would give them cash gifts!!
My maternal grandpa, whome we fondly called Lolo Pogi (Handsome) leading the aginaldo! Good memories!!
Christmas memories engraved in my mind and in my heart. Noche buena, family celebration, karaoke, good food, laughter! Just PURE LOVE!!!
Noche Buena table
Christmas Tree
My beautiful mom and our Christmas tree
Family Karaoke - the year when Sweetie and I got married! Hahahaha!!
Christmas 2007. When we were young!!
I am now in my early 40s but the magic of Christmas still lives in me! It continues to be my favorite part of the year!! I strongly believe that people are nicer, kinder, more generous, more considerate during the Christmas season. My personal stand though is Christmas is everyday as we have to be love filled, kind, generous and considerate always. The grandeur of December 25 is the gift giving and family gathering!!
Rejoice, our Saviour, Christ is born!! Advance Merry Christmas!! Maligaayang Pasko!!
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