Live in the Philippines

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Thanksgiving in the Philippines

Holidays / by

Well, Thursday November 22 is Thanksgiving this year for Americans.  I know that Canadians also celebrate Thanksgiving, and I believe that they celebrate in October.  As far as I know, other countries do not celebrate Thanksgiving.  I know that a number of countries, particularly in Europe celebrate Harvest Days, which is a similar celebration, although not the same.  First, let me start off by wishing everybody a Happy Thanksgiving!

Although we have lived in the Philippines for over 7 years now (this is our 8th Thanksgiving in the Philippines), we still celebrate Thanksgiving, and we do so much as we would if we were still in the States.  When we first moved here, we lived in General Santos City, which is not nearly the size of Davao.  Down there, we were unable to find any turkeys in the stores.  I remember, our neighbors there had a dozen or so live turkeys that we would always see around their house.  We asked them if we could buy one and have it slaughtered for our Thanksgiving table.  They were happy to oblige, so we ate turkey even that first year that we were here.  Honestly, that turkey was pretty old, and the meat was tough, and not so flavorful.  But, we had turkey, and that is what was important to us!   Thankfully, for us, here in Davao, imported turkeys are readily available in the grocery stores around town.  We can actually purchase a Butterball or Norbest turkey any month of the year!

Another thing that we have had trouble with over the years is the stuffing for the turkey.  My Mom’s recipe calls for the use of breakfast sausage in preparation of the stuffing, and that is something that we have never been able to get, so we have experimented with different varieties of stuffing, but nothing ever came out to the point where I liked it so much.  This year, though, we have breakfast sausage, which was made by Feyma!  It should really assist in improving our stuffing, and make it more “like home.”

Most of the other “fixins” are pretty well available here, and are part of our Thanksgiving meal.  We even are able to buy pumpkin and use it to prepare pumpkin pies.

You may be wondering…. why is it that it’s Friday in the Philippines, and Bob is just now posting about Thanksgiving?  Well, since moving to the Philippines, we have made a little shift, and we celebrate Thanksgiving on the Saturday following Thanksgiving.  Why?  Well, simply because school is in session on Thanksgiving Day (since it’s not a holiday here).  We want our kids to be able to share the entire day with us, and by celebrating on Saturday, we are able to be together as a family.

So, tomorrow, we will be sitting down to our Thanksgiving Dinner.  I am feeling very Thankful this year for all of the good things in my life.  All of my family and I are enjoying good health, and it’s been a good year for us.  We are all thankful for the lifestyle that we are enjoying here in the Philippines.

Indeed, we are enjoying many blessings in our life.  I hope that it is the same for you and your family.  Happy Thanksgiving!

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  3. Hi RichardInSC – Malipayong Thanksgiving sa imo. 😉

    Ok, you rock Bob!

    On a more somber note, let's roll back almost exactly one century:

    THANKSGIVING DAY – 1907
    BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – A PROCLAMATION
    Once again the season of the year has come when, in accordance with the custom of our forefathers for generations past, the president appoints a day as the special occasion for all our people to give praise and thanksgiving to God.
    During the past year we have been free from famine, from pestilence, from war. We are at peace with all the rest of mankind. Our natural resources are at least as great as those of any other nation. We believe that in ability to develop and take advantage of these resources the average man of this nation stands at least as high as the average man of any other. Nowhere else in the world is there such an opportunity for a free people to develop to the fullest extent all its powers of body, of mind, and of that which stands above both body and mind – character.
    Much has been given us from on high, and much will rightly be expected of us in return. Into our care the ten talents have been entrusted; and we are to be pardoned neither if we squander and waste them, nor yet if we hide them in a napkin; for they must be fruitful in our hands. Ever throughout the ages, at all times and among all peoples, prosperity has been fraught with danger, and it behooves us to beseech the Giver of all things that we may not fall into lose of ease and luxury; that we may not lose our sense of moral responsibility; that we may not forget our duty to God, and to our neighbor.
    A great democracy like ours, a democracy based upon the principles of orderly liberty, can be perpetuated only if in the heart of ordinary citizens there dwells a keen sense of righteousness, and justice. We should earnestly pray that this spirit of righteousness and justice may grow in the hearts of all of us, and that our souls may be inclined ever more both toward the virtues that tell for gentleness and tenderness, for loving kindness and forbearance, one toward another, and toward those no less necessary virtues that make for manliness and rugged hardihood; for without these qualities neither nation nor individual can rise to the level of greatness.
    Now, therefore, I, Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States, do set apart Thursday, the 28th day of November, as a day for general Thanksgiving and Prayer, and on that day I recommend that the people shall cease from their daily work, and in their homes or in their churches, meet devoutly to thank the Almighty for the many and great blessings they have received in the past, and to pray that they may be given the strength so to order their lives as to deserve a continuation of these blessings in the future.
    In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
    Done at the city of Washington, this the 26th day of October in the year of our Lord, 1907, and of the Independence of the United States, the 132nd.
    THEODORE ROOSEVELT

    Malipayong Thanksgiving sa imo!

    God Bless you All
    Richard

  5. Happy Thanksgiving Bob and Feyma, Here in Alaska it is snowing and very cold. Just what we remember from past Thanksgivings. As we walk into the house from the cold the aroma of the Turkey and other delights fills the air with its holiday aroma. I am glad you still celebrate this grand day. When I move to Davao I will always celebrate the traditional American holidays and welcome the new holidays coming my way. Oh, buy the way please pass the gravy. Keith

  7. "Another thing that we have had trouble with over the years is the stuffing for the turkey. My Mom’s recipe calls for the use of breakfast sausage in preparation of the stuffing, and that is something that we have never been able to get, so we have experimented with different varieties of stuffing, but nothing ever came out to the point where I liked it so much. This year, though, we have breakfast sausage, which was made by Feyma! It should really assist in improving our stuffing, and make it more “like home.”

    If you are daring, and you have the ingredients available, you might want to try this one next year. In the southeast US coastal cities, this is very popular. I'm guessing that you can probably find fresh oysters in Davao…

    I have to admit it, the breakfast sausage stuffing sounds pretty good. If you want to try this though, it is very good (assuming you aren't allergic to shellfish):
    http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Oyster-Stuffing-2/De…

    I don't know exactly why oysters and turkey go together, but believe me, they do! 🙂

  8. It's interesting for me to think that this will be the first Black Friday I have not worked retail in over 10 years. Happy Thanksgiving. This is the last you will hear from me for awhie as I'm moving to a new house tomorrow and they don't have ZpDee service there so I have to arrainge DSL through PLDT. I should be back in about a week. See you all around and Bob you know my cell number to text me if you want.

  9. Hi RichardInSC – I used to live in Louisiana, so I have indeed enjoyed oyster stuffing before! It is quite delicious. Thanks for sharign that recipe.

    Hi Louis – Good luck on the move, and Happy Thanksgiving to you and Venice.

  10. Thanksgiving in the Philippines?.

    The Pahiyas Festival is a celebration of thanksgiving held on the 15th of May. It is at times very extravagant, but not a national holiday, and is celebrated mostly in the province of Quezon. It is to honor the Patron Saint San Isidro (Parton Saint of Farmers).

    The locals decorate there houses with food items such as fruits, vegetables, and a local item made from dried rice called a (Kipings) it is a brilliantly collared, and shaped like a leaf.

    During the festival there is a contest to determine the best decorated house, the house that wins will throw all the food items decorating the house to the crowd to eat.

    It is a time for celebration, feasting, and spending time with family, so maybe it is the same, but different.

  12. P.S.
    Happy Thanksgiving to all.
    One item I am thankful for is all the nice people I have met through Bob and his Blog sites.
    I look foward to meeting all and getting to know you once I am there.

  14. Hi Steven – I was writing about the celebration of the American Thanksgiving Holiday here in the Philippines. What I wrote really doesn't have anything to do with Pahiyas Festival. Thank you for sharing that, though.

    Hi Bruce – Whoever was the fist President to declare Thanksgiving as a holiday, we probably all know that the day of Thanksgiving, and the meal that goes along with it dates back to the 17th century when the Pilgrims first landed in America. We can all be thankful for that.

  15. Hi Bob and Feyma, we are just returning back to Davao, Happy thanksgiving to you guys, even we are not Americans. But thanks God, Bob, we learned from you the real meaning of Thanksgiving. We have a almost the same celebrating in Germany at the 31st of October, but more regarding the harvest and thanking God for the "bread, the fruits and all the other things needed in life"….

  16. Hello Bob & Feyma….Happy THanksgiving !! I hope you will enjoy the celebration with the kids on Saturday…All The best!

  19. Happy Thanksgiving Bob, Its a little cold here in Tampa, FLorida, it's in the 60s !
    We had two turkeys this year, one roasted and one deep fried and with all the fixings, the only concessions to Filipino food we had were lumpia, empanadas and rice. Watched 3 football games, all in all a good ole American Thanksgiving.

    One thing I won't participate in is the day after Black Friday Christmas shopping. I guess the recession hasn't hit people yet. But one good thing, We'll be spending Christmas in Davao. So I guess I really should be thankful. By the way, where do you buy your turkey, might be a good surprise for my wife on Christmas day, instead of the big scary looking lechon !

  20. Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate, and to those who don't but should! 😉

    Of course, a day of Thanksgiving is not an American invention – days of Thanksgiving have occurred in many cultures over the span of human existence.

    If I remember my US history, the first Thanksgiving celebrated by Europeans in the "new world" occurred near Jamestown, VA about two years before the "traditionally remembered" first Thanksgiving in Plymouth, MA. 🙂

    As to presidents declaring days of Thanksgiving, George Washington was the first, proclaiming November 26, 1789 as a national day of Thanksgiving. 😀

    Franklin Roosevelt set the fourth Thursday of November as the date for Thanksgiving in 1939 and Congress approved of that in 1941. 😛

    So much for history – after all these years of holding it in, I finally get to use it! Guess the teacher was right after all! 😆

  21. Hi Klaus – Thanks for that! Happy Thanksgiving to you also! See you later today.

    Hi Marygrace – Thank you for that too! And, Happy Holidays to you!

    Hi ken – Happy Thanksgiving!

    Hi AllenO – All of the major grocery stores have Turkey – Gaisano, SM, also I've seen them at Hola Espana deli, Gourmet Deli. Mmm… lumpia! We should add that to our Thanksgiving tradition… I love the stuff! Hope to see you in December!

    Hi Paul – Thanks for clearing that all up! And, happy Thanksgiving to you!

  23. Bob,

    Happy Thanksgiving to You and Your Family. One of my blessings is your site here, thanks for providing it to all of us. May God bless your family with continued good health and good fortune in the coming year.

    Joe