This is funny actually because just before I started this post, I was writing about Christmas Decors from Designer Blooms. But in that post, I first started with the things I miss the most about Christmas Holidays in the Philippines before I get to designing for Christmas Holidays in particular.

As I was typing away, I noticed how the post got longer and longer without even starting to write about the topic itself. Haha! Perhaps I got all too excited! Thus, I decided to write the things I miss about Christmas Holidays in the Philippines on a separate post. After all, it deserves to have an entry of its own, especially that the list continues to grow as I type to this very moment. Haha. Well, go ahead and click to see the things that I miss about Christmas Holidays in my beloved country, Philippines.

The things I miss about the Philippines during the Christmas Holidays

1. Christmas Decorating – The more, the grander, the better For more info about my Christmas Decorating Splurges, visit this post.
2. Decorating the office/own work space – With mini Christmas Decors. There’s usually a contest for the best decorated work space.
3. Christmas shopping – For self, for hubby, and for dear family and dear friends and for self!?!
4. Exchange gift/Kris Kringle - Exchanging gifts with the barkada (Filipino slang for closest friends/group).
5. Exchange gift/Kris Kringle – Exchanging gifts with the officemates, with teammates, with colleagues (Yup, there’s usually an exchange gift within the Office Barkada, then another within the teammates, then another within the department or the whole company – we Filipinos are so generous)
6. Simbang Gabi/Misa de Gallo (Night Masses) – This goes for the Roman Catholics. For the last 9 nights/early mornings before Christmas eve, we go to Church to attend mass – either at about 11pm, 12am, 3am, or 4am. It’s a sacrifice we make (but not an obligation). They say that if you were able to attend all nine masses, you may make a wish and it will be granted. I remember back then when Hubby would pick me up to attend mass at St. James Parish in Ayala Alabang. There was this one time when I overslept and he and his brother were in the car waiting outside my house for me to wake up. He kept calling and when I finally woke up, I peered through the window (since my room’s window overlooked the front of the house) and they were there! I was in a hurry to prepare. It was embarassing. Hehe. Good thing I’m just 5-10 minutes (according to Hubby – coz of the humps and speed limit) away from the church during that time.
7. Noche Buena (Christmas Eve Dinner) – After the last “Simbang Gabi” we would all prepare for the Christmas Eve Dinner. We would stay up late preparing foods or perhaps singing Karaoke (Magic Sing). There may be a dose of alcohol involved. But anyway, our usual Noche Buena would consist of Festive Ham, Queso de Bola (even if my Mom and I don’t eat them yet serve them because we get a lot from family friends and companies), Hot Chocolate, Spaghetti/Pasta/Birthday Noodles (Christmas is my birthday), Cake (Christmas cake/roll, my bday cake is for later during the day), Beef Sukiyaki cooked on the table (my fave, I always serve them when hosting parties), Ice Cream, and Fruit Salad/Potato Salad/Macaroni Salad (all these are available for the party later on during the day but we already serve one of them for the Noche Buena). The Noche Buena is not a heavy dinner because after all, it’s just a midnight snack! As we celebrate Noche Buena, we love playing Christmas songs as our background music.
8. Opening gifts during Christmas Eve – I don’t open everything but I usually open up something from the special people in my life. I usually open or just peer into the presents from my parents and hubby. Even if I open them up, I return them to their boxes/bags and return them under the Christmas tree. I only remove the gifts under the Christmas tree after the Christmas party / Birthday Party on Christmas Day.
9. Dressing up for Christmas – Of course, as a Fashionista, I’m so excited to dress up for the holidays. I’ve been accustomed to wearing pretty girly dresses ever since I was a kid. Of course it changed over the years as I aged, wearing something trendy for the season. Nevertheless, it’s the time when I can go all out and spend on what I want to wear because not only is it Christmas, it’s also my birthday!
10. Christmas Day Party – It has been a tradition in my family that Christmas is celebrated in our house. It has been like that ever since I was introduced to the world. After all, it’s also my birthday. So every year, my relatives already know where to go during Christmas Day. Sorry I don’t have scanned pics.
11. Barkada Christmas Party – Filipinos love Christmas Parties and we don’t just celebrate it for one day. Each group has its own Christmas Party because Christmas Day is usually reserved for the family. Thus, we make our own dates for a Christmas Party of the barkada/closest friends/best buds. We enjoy exchanging gifts, eating, playing poker, singing Karaoke, dancing, and drinking the night away. Fun, Fun, Fun!
12. Office Christmas Party – Each year, I’ve always been one of the Office Christmas Party Event Organizers. I don’t know why but perhaps they’ve come to recognize my sense of fashion and style. Haha! As I always say, fashion is not just about clothing but about everything you see – decors, ambience, location, etc. etc. etc. I always look forward to helping out organize office events because atleast I get to have a say on how to make an office event a success. But of course, we Filipinos are democrats so it’s up to the majority to decide. I just love to help.
13. Eating Bibingka (Native Rice Cake), Puto Bumbong (Another Type of Rice Cake), and Roasted Chestnuts - The most popular favorite Christmas foods would be these three and you won’t find it anywhere else (except roasted chestnuts), but in the Philippines. Of course there are a few who have brought these recipes abroad but in general, it’s only in the Philippines that one would find a widespread of people eating these delicious native delicacies during the Christmas season. But anytime I miss puto bumbong, a quick snack at Via Mare is all I need. Their puto bumbong is the best! And if I miss bibingka, just go to Ayala Mall’s Glorietta and head on to the Food Court. There’s a place there called Bibingkinitan where you can buy bite-size Bibingka’s and probably take home some more! If it’s still the same store and same quality I’ve tried when I was back there, then I recommend you trying one. But of course expect to pay mall prices! They’re so soft and delicious!
14. Long Christmas Vacations – Since majority of Filipinos are Catholics, we recognize Christmas as a very important occasion. Thus, we have long Christmas breaks unlike other countries. Usually, there’s not much people to be seen working from the 22nd up to after New Year! Of course, outsourcing companies who have clients from around the globe do not count.
15. Christmas Bonus – I just love working in the Philippines during Christmas because all companies are required to give a Christmas Bonus: the 13th-month pay! Imagine, you get extra 1 month of salary just because it’s Christmas time! Weeee! That’s perfect for doing all your Christmas Shopping. But, you’ll be more surprised because in some bigger companies, they give out up to 20 (or was it 24) extra months of pay. So on the last month of the year, you get a total of 8-12 months worth of salary. But in some companies who offer this to employees, they release the bonuses on a quarterly basis. Meaning you get extra 2 to 3 months worth of salary at the end of each quarter. Yay!
16. Christmas Packages/Gifts – Not sure about other companies, but in mine, all the employees receive a Christmas package each year. What does the Christmas Package include? It usually comes in a HUGE Christmas Basket filled with all the goodies you’ll need for a hearty Christmas Meal. The company I work for in the Philippines, gives out a package comprised of Wine, Queso De Bola (big ball of cheese), Ingredients for Spaghetti (Pasta, Sauce), Festive Ham, Fruit Salad Ingredients, and I can’t remember what else but those are at the least the basic things we get during Christmas. At the same time, my department’s biggest client from the USA (hint, you’re probably using their Operating System right now, hehe), never forgets to send us gifts! I’ve already handed down my M_*_t Flash Drive to my brother-in-law. I can’t remember where I left the lovely pens and desk decors I got from them.
17. The True Spirit of Christmas – when you’re in the Philippines during the last quarter of the year, you surely won’t forget that Christmas is drawing near. We always have Christmas countdowns and you’ll see most of the major roads lit up with Christmas lights and decorated with Christmas decors such as Christmas lanterns or what we call “Parol”. You surely won’t miss the line up of “Parol’s” when crossing the intersection of Zobel Roxas and Quirino Highway, not to mention those along Roxas Boulevard. Of course, I won’t forget to mention that Ayala Avenue is so bright during the holidays. The villages are also well decorated. In Ayala Alabang, all the big Trees lining up the main entrance roads are filled with Christmas lights! At the same time, homes all over the country are filled up with Christmas lights and decors. There’s even a certain house along Concha Cruz (in B.F. Homes Paranaque), where you won’t see a single space without a Christmas Light. Seriously! The Christmas Lights were spread all over the roof, the walls, the grass, the plants, the trees, the windows, the house’s panels – everywhere! I was told that the homeowner owns a Light Factory so that explains. It’s always my route to and from B.F. Homes and Alabang so I always see the house and yet I always get excited or look forward to seeing it everytime. I even see people going out of their cars and taking photos of the house. I think it was featured on TV several times.
18. Fireworks – During Christmas Season up to New Year, almost each and every family has their own fireworks display. Fireworks are so common in the Philippines as we inherited the tradition from the Chinese. During New Year, it is said to bring luck, driving away Evil Spirits in the air from the smoke and fire brought about by fireworks. In the village, you’ll see a display of fireworks of all kinds. You’ll see everyone outside their homes lighting up fire crackers of their own. Of course, malls such as those from Ayala Malls have a weekly Fireworks Display going on during the Holiday Season.

19. 19. EDIT: Additional – Christmas Bazaars - Thanks To Lush Angel for leaving me a message on my other post. I was reminded that I missed a very important item in this list – Bazaars! How will Christmas in the Philippines be ever complete without Christmas Bazaars? I remembered because we both share the love of selling stuff during Bazaar season. But of course, she’s the more experienced and successful when it comes to selling items in Bazaars. I miss having to gather items, reserving a stall, bringing my items, setting up, and selling to shoppers! I’ve had fun memorable experiences each year (not to mention my desperate use of Chinese language just to bargain)! At the same time, I also enjoy shopping at Bazaars. In short, I sell items to buy for my own! Haha! 

20. Family and Friends – Lastly, what I miss the most during such special occasions is the company of my Dear Family and Friends. For ages, I’ve been spending my Holidays with them. Yet for the 3 consecutive Christmases including this year, Hubby and I have been away from the people we hold dear. Forget the food, the fireworks, the shopping, the bonuses, and the gifts. All we want for Christmas is to be with Family and Friends. I miss my Mom, Dad, and Joshua (my Chow dog) the most. Just yesterday, I was chatting with my Mom (an everyday thing we do so as to not feel we’re far apart) and my cousin was talking about what shirt Joshua (my pet) will be wearing for the Christmas Party. Hehe. It surely is sad not to share such special moments with them personally. But of course, like last year and the previous, we’ll be video chatting again this Christmas. I still get to chat with my cousins and Tito’s (Uncle) and Tita’s (Aunt) and especially my Parents, and get to see Josh during Christmas even if I’m thousands of miles away. Well that’s about it. I hope I didn’t miss anything.

xoxo

Tags: christmas, holidays, philippines | Category Fashion Juice Anything