There is a certain feeling that wraps us up when the roads are alive with festive light displays, the malls and hotels are decked with elaborate decorations, radio stations start playing season-appropriate songs, and the streets begin to smell like Christmas—you know, bibingka, puto bumbong, roasted chestnuts.
Suddenly the days become more special, and we can’t wait for more.
In the Philippines, Christmas is one of the most important and awaited holidays. There’s no other holiday we start counting down the days to 100 days before and no other holiday during which we make it a point to make it special—with colorful décor and gifts under the tree and a variety of food on the table.
But sometimes, the festivity can turn into a frenzy. With the madding traffic jam, the frantic rush to mall sales, the snaking queues everywhere, it’s easy to become the Grinch who hates Christmas.
We often forget what this season is all about. That the reason we brave chaotic roads is that we want to be with our families. We tackle all kinds of mall crowds so that we can get the best gifts that will put the biggest smiles to our loved ones’ faces. We subject ourselves to long lines to ensure this year’s get-together pushes through, sore knees be damned.
At the end of a hectic day, we like to spend Christmas with our families—may it be the people we were born into or the people we chose to call as such.
As part of Manila Standard’s annual tradition, we present this Christmas supplement, the first of two parts, that showcases the reasons why Christmas is considered “the most wonderful time of the year.”
Gather the family and, together, read stories about celebrating time-honored Filipino Christmas traditions and surviving awkward family reunions, among others.
After all, it’s all about spending time with our family and making each other feel loved and special while surrounded by festive lights and cheerful sounds.
From our family here at Manila Standard, Happy Holidays!