BAYAMBANG, Pangasinan—This first class municipality in the central part of southern Pangasinan perhaps reflects the joy and preparation of predominantly Christian Philippines for the birth anniversary of Jesus in the next few days.
The former seat of the fifth capital of the Revolutionary Philippine Republic, this town of some 115,000 is in full blast in preparation for the nine-night Midnight Masses—as witness the lights in its Parish Church of St. Vincent Ferrer established in 1614.
This town, 197 kms north of Manila, reflects much of the Yuletide tradition in the Ilocos and other parts of the country which received the Cross in the 16th century.
Christmas lanterns are galore in the Ilocos as elsewhere, including Metro Manila as well as urban centers and the country south of the capital.
As in many other Christian towns of this Southeast Asian republic, discovered for Europe by Ferdinand Magellan on March 16, 1521, this town has its share of lanterns and carols in the run up to the beginning of Christmas celebration on Dec. 16 and exotic foods at home after the Midnight Mass or the Misa de Gallo, the Mass of the Rooster—following nine successive night Masses in Church.
On the front yards of Catholic and Aglipayan churches in many northern towns, rice cakes—the indigenous bibingka, sumallatik, bitsobitso, linapet, sinuman, puto bumbong, dudol and kalasukos—and steaming cups of chocolate and coffee are sold to those attending the Masses.
Many say Yuletide in this country—one of only two predominantly Christian countries in Asia, the other being East Timor—is a mixture of Western and native Filipino traditions.
Santa Claus, the Christmas tree, sending Christmas cards, and singing carols have all been inherited from the cultures of the West although these have been adapted to fit the nature and character of the Christian Filipino.
Perhaps not as many attend the first to the eighth night—or dawn—masses, but the ninth which falls on Christmas Eve, one of the traditions most Filipino families celebrate, is on the main a night without sleep and a continuing celebration sliding right into Christmas Day, when, ironically, dishing out of Christmas carols become already ant-climactic.
Some say as December 24 dawns, the last Mass of Simbang Gabi—called Miatinis in many Ilocano towns and Misa de Gallo among Cebuanos in Central Philippines and in Mindanao—is attended by the elderly, those in mid-life and even the young ones.
In many towns, preparation begins for Noche Buena, which is a family feast that takes place after midnight, where near relatives and close friends are welcome.
Plates of rich foods—served often in buffet style—are aplenty on the covered dining table, including, but not limited to, lechon (pan-fried roast pork); kare-kare (oxtail stew in peanut butter sauce); gupi or igado; mechado; rellenong manok (baked stuffed chicken); pinakbet; crispy pata; pata tim; fried prawns and other sea foods which make a fisherman’s platter; pancit; barbecue; rice; adobo; cakes (Western and native rice cakes), lumpia (spring rolls) and fruits in season.
There are also bottles of basi, the fermented sugar cane juice, among the Ilocanos, or tapuy, tuba and lambanog in other regions and even bottles of imported hard drinks.
Given the Christian orientation of nearly 88 percent of the 105 million people, Christmas—from up north in Batanes to down south in the Christian towns in Mindanao—the celebration of Christmas is understandably important and revered holiday for most Filipinos.
Some say whether you are in a small town or in the urban areas, Christmas is a time for family, for sharing, for giving, and a time for food, fun, and friendship.
