Filipinos are excited as early as September sets in the calendar, as countdowns of the coming Christmas day is closely monitored especially by the TV Broadcast and even shows short footages related to Christmas.

As early as October through November people are beginning to look for Christmas ornaments, adornments and trimmings. Others would just be contented setting up their old Christmas trees adorning them with colorful, and glittering Christmas balls, ribbons, bells and the likes, icicles and chains, lanterns are taken out and displayed outdoors, Belen (miniature depiction of the Birth of Jesus with the cast consists of Mary, Joseph, the Three Wise Men, and some farm animals and Baby Jesus) and other decorations.

As December comes, expect people in groups, children or adults patrol the streets to look for homes to render their Christmas carols with guitar and musical instruments (often children have ingenious way of accompanying their Christmas songs by smashing stones together to sound like that of a percussion instrument and uses empty cans of milks or the likes as drums).

What makes Christmas in the Philippines is the “Simbang Gabi” (mass held at dawn that starts as early as 4:00 am from December 16 to 24). People from all walks of life, young and old, poor and rich, wear dentures or not nyahahaha, religiously attend to his traditional mass. After the mass the people will look for food around to eat and their favorite would be the “Puto Bumbong” a yummy violet-colored rice cake, “Sotanghon” vermicelli cooked with boiled eggs and richly flavored broth.

Ninong (Godfather) and Ninang (Godmother) are Philippines equivalent of Santa Claus, they are the ones that provide kids (their “Inaanak” - Goddaughters/Godson) their toys and other treats.

Santa Claus is also famous here in the Philippines. Often Filipino parents or other adult members of the family makes children believe that Santa exists so that they will be good. Playing Santa while the Kids are sleep the parents secretly places money, toys and other treats on the socks of the kids.

Most Filipino family put their children to sleep during December 24, but wakes them up at midnight to observe the Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) to open presents (some disguised as coming from Santa’s nyahahaha). On Christmas day Filipinos traditionally go to church with their kids or even with relatives.

My nineteenth hub in the HubChallenge... (2nd batch)