Philippines Christmas celebration has been rejoiced by many nations around the world, perhaps even envied because Philippines is the only country who celebrates Christmas as soon as the month "ber" starts and hence, Christmas starts in September and ends on January 6th, until the Three Kings Day.
You will find full on display of Christmas trees fully lit up, Christmas music playing everywhere, vendors selling Christmas decorations, Parols twinkling on the streets, and stores selling Christmas gifts. It is indeed an experience to be in the Philippines in September.
This year, Fil-Am of SCV celebrated Christmas depicting the traditional small town celebration of "Pasko sa Nayon", which simply means Christmas in the village. People around town would come to attend the evening mass and after the mass, they are greeted outside with the sweet smell of puto bumbong, the burnt smell of the banana leaves for baking the bibingka, and the pipping hot tea, and rows and rows of street vendors.
Fil-am of SCV did just that. They sold bibingka and puto bumbong paired with hot tea! They had rows of local vendors selling Christmas gift items, an array of Filipino food were served courtesy of our members for our potluck dinner, popular Philippines Christmas songs were playing abound, live song performances from a couple of our FilAm Scholars entertained the crowd, a video showing the history and celebration of Christmas in the Philippines was shared, they paraded the Parols made from the Parol Worskshop, and what will Christmas be without Santa?
Yes, Santa did not disappoint. He holly jollied his way in our party, shouting "HoHoHo ... Merry Christmas", with loads of gifts for the young and the young at hearts!
Our artists from the Parol workshop proudly paraded their creations and the top three most artistic Parol was announced.
The evening was festive, it was traditional, it was lively and it's simply heart-warming, and once again, Fil-Am of SCV was able to showcase a touch of the traditional Philippines Christmas celebration. Well done!