When my editor at The Capital City Hues requested that I write an article about Christmas in the Philippines for this week's issue, I said, "Okay," but I was actually hesitant to do it because thinking about Christmas brings back very happy memories as well as very sad ones. On second thought, I told myself that it's not about me; it's about the Filipino Christmas tradition, how it is celebrated, and why it is a very important season for Pinoys (slangy version of "Filipinos"). On further thought, I don't mind sharing some of my own Christmas experiences, especially the very happy ones. As the only predominantly Catholic nation in Southeast Asia, the Philippines inherited this religious tradition from the Spaniards who colonized the Filipinos for more than 300 years. While the colonizers had long been gone, their religion has stayed with us. Pasko ( from Spanish word pascua, or Christmas) is perhaps the most awaited, the longest, and the happiest, celebration in the Philippines. Most people are on vacation for more than one week during this season. Pasko ng Pinoy is about spirituality, love, family unity, community togetherness, giving, and looking "within" to create a "new" self in the coming New Year. As I wrote this article, I was transported to another place and time. It is the '60s all over again, and the place is my hometown, Santa Cruz, in the province of Laguna. Caroling A group of children is singing carols in front of our house, just below the window where a lighted parol (a star-shaped lantern made of bamboo sticks and colored paper, that symbolizes the star of Bethlehem) gently sways with the wind. The children don't have any musical instrument with them, but a ring of wire strung with flattened aluminum bottle caps (tansans) and an old aluminum pot that serve as their tambourine and drum, respectively. They sing: Sa maybahay, ang aming bati, Meri Krismas na malualhati, Ang pag-ibig na siyang naghari, Araw-araw ay magiging Paskong lagi. Ang sanhi po ng pagparito Hihingi po ng aginaldo, Kung sakaling kami'y puwerhisyo Pasensiya na kayo't kami'y namamasko! Translation: To the homeowners we greet you A glorious Merry Christmas With love reigning Every day will be Christmas Day. The reason we're here Is to ask for some gifts Please forgive us if we're a burden But it's Christmas! My mom count the children, then give them coins from her just-broken piggy bank. The children respond by singing a thank-you phrase: "Tenk yu, tenk yu, ang babait ninyo, tenk yu!" (Thank you, you are so kind.) I actually am part of an older youth group that sing carols almost nightly during the Christmas season to raise funds for our church, the Immaculada Concepción Iglesia Catolica. We send letters to homeowners in advance. A guitarist or a violinist is always accompanies our repertoire. Most of the time, we are invited inside the home and offered food in addition to an envelope with some money in it. Funds from our caroling go to our catechism classes (snacks, booklets, etc) and our choir uniforms. Simbang Gabi Every day at around 4 a.m. from December 16 to December 24, my mom and I go to church for the traditional Misa de Gallo (Rooster's Mass) or Simbang Gabi. It is a very important tradition because it is considered a nine-day novena or public devotion to obtain special graces. I was told that the nine days have to be completed; otherwise the blessings that we prayed for won't come. The church is decorated with a belen (a tableau of the Nativity scene). [In my school, our Christmas presentation also has the belen as the finale.] After hearing the mass, my mom buys bibingka (rice cakes), puto bumbong (purple sticky rice with brown sugar and coconut shavings), and salabat (hot ginger tea) or tsokolate (hot and thick cocoa) for our breakfast. It is such an awesome sight to see these food vendors lined up outside the church, with their small clay stoves with red, hot coals on top and under each of them. Misa de Aguinaldo The big night is on December 24, before midnight. My siblings are with us in church, although the younger ones are very sleepy. The church is filled with people, young and old, all dressed up. Before the high mass, the panunuluyan (looking for lodging) is reenacted by some parishioners to commemorate the journey of the Holy Family to Bethlehem. The mass is said in Latin, as well as the songs that we sing in the choir. It is a bit longer than the regular mass partly because there are hundreds of people lined up to receive the Holy Communion and to kiss the feet of "baby Jesus." Noche Buena Our Noche Buena (family dinner) has been prepared before the midnight mass, but the family has to eat this only after attending the Misa de Aguinaldo. The children are excited to eat arroz caldo (sweet rice porridge with chicken), hot dogs, and fruit salad. Adults seem to like lechon (roasted pig), kaldereta, pinapaitan (goat-meat dishes), kalamay (ground sticky rice in coconut milk and brown sugar), etc. All I can say is, there's too much over-eating going on until the next day. Christmas Day Early morning, we open the gifts under the Krismas Tri. My mom tell my younger siblings that some gifts came from Santa Claus. I notice that there are still many boxes of gifts that are reserved for others. Ah, mom is expecting some other people to come! Relatives, mom's godchildren, and friends come throughout the day. Young ones pay respect to older folks by touching their foreheads to the elders' hands and saying, "Mano po." The elders then give their blessings. There are some mending of relations as some adults talk privately. We children also visit other homes that day and come home with more gifts, money, and food! Pasko ng Pinoy doesn't end on December 25. Every day is like Christmas until December 31 when we prepare another set of holiday food. It's our Bisperas ng Bagong Taon (New Year's Eve). We go to church before midnight and come home to a sumptuous dinner called Media Noche (Midnight Meal). Virtually every one lights firecrackers outside the homes, bangs pot and pans, and creates the noisiest noise to welcome the new year. Pasko is a tradition that I hope we Filipinos, wherever we are, would keep. |
| Pasko ng Pinoy (Filipino Christmas) |
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| Heidi M. Pascual* Publisher & Editor * 2006 Journalist of the Year for the State of Wisconsin [U.S.-SBA] |
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