It’s Sunday the 26th as I crawl from my bed, and sit at the computer to pen (or type) about the phenomenon known as Christmas in The Philippines. I thought I’d experienced all that was different here, or different than my Native New England Christmas’s of long ago, or during my ten years in Puerto Rico and all the other places I’ve been to around the world on Christmas day, I can be so very wrong sometimes.
As I had said, my shopping had ended 10 days or so prior to the 24th. And I’d purchased my wife her Christmas Wrist Watch at the Mall, and that for some reason had become a tradition for us over these many years together. The rest of Mayang’s presents are purchased by our daughter, I hand her my ATM card and send her out to shop. That she does so very well! (BTW: Mayang is very proud of her Watch Collection, and she should display them along side my Zippo Lighter Collection)
It’s on Christmas Eve when we and the family and friends celebrate, and at midnight the kids get their presents. But first is the party, which includes beverages, both for the kids, and a different beverage for the adults and me. The obligatory damnable rented Karaoke machine will rear its ugly head, a BBQ’ed Suckling Pig will be cooked, (On the Mindanao Bob’s Deluxe BBQ Grill) the pig was delivered healthy and very alive on Thursday the 23rd. albeit I do believe she will pass away on the morning of 24th of natural causes. The Pig arrived somewhat larger than we ordered, but was modified to fit the grill.
The Christmas tree that has been standing from the 1st week in November will be talked about and admired for the umpteen times, and last but not least people of good cheer will sit to eat, and drink and otherwise make merry.
Many, and I do many, many children will run and play all over my house, and consume copious amounts of candy that I keep on hand for their enjoyment. The next day it’s the parents who have to deal with the hyperactive little ones, who are crashing off their sugar buzz while at Christmas Morning Mass, I’ll be sleeping in soundly, at my house.
My niece Bebe Clair will take control of my camera for the evening, and I’ll properly end up deleting half of the pictures the following day, but, hey she enjoys doing it anyway.
Jump forward to 23:00 hours, the back yard is full, people that I have no idea who they are, and they are eating and drinking and singing on the damnable karaoke machine. Par for the course, as someone must know them. Midnight fast approaches and it’s time for presents to be about to be handed out. That’s when I first look and discover that some of the visiting parents had asked Mayang to put their presents under the tree also. What the hey! It all worked out.
Thompson Family Christmas was waning fast, now here’s the real truth, Paul Thompson, was the one waning fast. The rest went back to the food and singing and maybe another cocktail or three; I know where my bedroom is.
06:30 hours I awoke for my coffee fix, and notice that there was no sign of ever have been a party at my house. All was back to normal; no one had left until it was all cleaned up. What time that had been I’ll never know, but I do know that I was the only person still awake by 10:00 hours. I’ll assume they are resting up for the afternoon Mass at the church? I never privy to all the days’ plans and I like it that way.
From the Thompson clan in Bataan
To all our friends, throughout the land
You’re thinking Christmas is over and that’s so grand
You’ve got 12 months left, ‘till the next one’s planned
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Bataan!
Hi Paul – Filipino Christmas… nothing quite like it. Every foreigner should experience celebrating their holiday time here. It’s just like no other. No snow, no blizzard, it ain’t cold. He he. Its also really not so materialistic stuff but more of family time. Holiday is not yet over. There’s still the 31, media noche! I like that more than the noche buena. Also, guess what? The most celebrated holiday here after Christmas is…..Valentines day! Ha ha. But you can relax, no need to put up trees with blinking lights and go shopping for toys.. he he.
Hi Sugar;
I hope Santa was good to you. I’ll tell you the truth, I joke and make light of Christmas here, but in fact, I love it. As for Valentines Day, that’s a Hallmark Holiday and has no value, I treat my wife as if everyday is Valentines day. Except, sans the flowers.
Paul Thompson
Sounds like a good time had by all. Did you have a SMB along with your coffee to take the edge off the morning. I’m jealous that you get to enjoy Christmas in Bataan and i’m stuck in cold Florida lol. Had some good chuckles while reading your article. Hope you have a wonderful New Years and that you survive New Years Eve Brother
Hi Randy;
I’ve never drank beer in the morning, unless I’d not been to bed. But a little Brandy in the coffee….
Happy New Year to you sir!
Hi Paul;
My last Christmas in the PI was in 2008, in Gamu, Isabela. I’ve been there for about 3 different ones. It is a great family get-together time. I also enjoyed the roaming bands of youthful carollers who come around, and sing for handouts, reminiscent of a US halloween. Except these carollers are looking for just a little cash. I amused some of them when I came out on the porch of the house and sang “Malagayang Pasko” with them (spelling ?). Actually I enjoy singing Christmas Carols and it gets all in a good mood. My wife has four living brothers and one deceased and there are also lots of children. I can’t keep all the names straight so I start just saying “Hi Joe”. Everyone laughs and kids reactions are fun to watch. No Karaoke machine there, but often the carollers bring one with them.
Unfortunately this year there is a lot of remaining damage in Gamu from the typhoon of October, and the local electric grid is still down. We’ve sent a lot of money to help family members with house repairs, and they now have a generator of their own. Most of my wife’s family celebrated their Christmas in Manila this year, while Pacita and I went to our daughter’s house here in Indianapolis. Her and her husband have three children 6 and younger, so that was pretty good, but not like a Gamu Christmas.
The balikbayan boxes we sent in October to Manila have not been delivered yet. There are six of them, some to be delivered in Gamu. I hear that they are still in customs in Manila.
These contain Christmas gifts my wife carefully picked and packed. I hope they show up there soon.
Larry;
I hope the boxes arrive to the family soon, customs should start working again in a week or two after the Christmas shutdown.
If there was ever a revolt here the best time would be Christmas or Easter, as the whole country closes and they take the keys home with them, wait, that won’t work either, as the rebels went home also.
I’ll record the kids with the pots and pans that sing at the gate, and send you a copy. We keep a large stock of coins for them, next time you sing, hold out your hand and see if you get any coins. (lol)
I hope all improves for your family, I glad you helped them as the government never will. A better New Year to you and them.
Paul..sounds like you had a lot of fun a there…and your pig you had to roast it in shifts…1st shift front half? Second shift rear half?, and by the third shift you was in the sack…I think the 3rd shift be a good shift to be sleeping heavy…..Ok…glad You, Your family and friends had a lovley day a there……..
Dan;
After four hours at the helm, they got smart and butchered the hind section, and BBQ’ed it
under the fore section. True about the third shift, I was out for the count. It was a good day, and I hope yours went as well. There was no food left in the morning, thanks to plastic bags.
Merry Christmas Paul
Thanks for the descriptive article of an expat Christmas in The Philippines. I have seen many pics of Christmas there via internet and for me, it is difficult to associate Christmas with the warm tropical climate there. Outdoor Christmas decorations being enjoyed by passers by in T shirts and summer clothing LOL.
The day after Christmas however I became kind of envious in thinking about all of those pics I had seen as we have just experienced a real Blizzard that came up the east coast and blanketed my area with anywhere from 12 to 30 inches of snow along with howling winds, temps about 20 Deg F. All New York airports closed, over 2000 flights cancelled, public transportation severely crippled or shut down alltogether, fender benders, stranded motorists, all weather related news all the time on major TV stations, etc. etc.
As I was shoveling out my car, more than once I thought about all of those Philippines Christmas pics and people looking at outdoor decorative displays just walking by in T shirts.
Best wishes for the New Year !
Bob;
On Christmas day I save money with one phone call to my brothers house and I get to talk with my other brothers and their families as they all get together every year. This year I had to call each one as the weather kept them all at home. I failed to bring up my weather, as next time I visit, I don’t want to be greeted with rocks thrown at my rental car.
Hi Paul T:
Thanks for sharing your story. I spent two hours talking to my older brother (at Christmas) who is visiting the Philippines presently. (I’m in the U.S.) He is planning to move to the Philippines, after retiring from the U.S. navy. He is excited about living there permanently.
Have a great New Year! Keep your wonderful stories going.
Roselyn;
Living full time hare on just Navy retirement is not easy, suggest to him to apply with Military Sealift Command, he can sail and live in the Philippines, working 4 months then a month off (or longer) and earn up to one hundred thousand a year, that’s what I did, and the Merchant Marine pay, paid for my house.90 % of Navy jobs convert over to MSC. And they fly you to and from home.
Have a great New Year yourself, and all the best to your family, wherever that are.
Thanks Paul T. I will convey your message.
Home Office is in Virginia Beach VA
Hi Paul – Unlike you I just cannot get enthusiastic about Christmas here in the Philippines from my own perspective. Yes I enjoy helping my wife with here charity work Expat Ladies Charity Inc (ELCI) when each year they visit four Barangays and feed and distribute gifts to about 200 children in each. In my case my enthusiasm may be dampened by the lack of cold dark nights and frosty mornings and a more conservative aspect to Christmas advertising. Another feature missing from our UK Christmas celebrations was having our kids for dinner as a family and opening the presents and taking the ritual photographs. This year we were so busy with our social life here in CDO we never put up our Christmas tree or decorations but we did have the best overseas Christmas dinner ever for a long time. On Christmas Day at our local watering hole mine host put on a dinner by request of a visitor to CDO and 32 of us sat down to a starter of Prawn Cocktail followed by a main course of roast Turkey and baked ham with roast potatoes, brussel sprouts, parsnips, carrots, peas and sage and onion stuffing and a liberal amount of gravy. This was followed by Christmas pudding with brandy sauce all washed down with god only knows how many glasses or red and white wine from the vineyards of Australia and California. To say I was busog after that lot, was an understatement.
To be honest I will be well pleased when the festive season is over so I can get on a diet and try and reduce the waistline back to pre Christmas condition.
With regards to buying the missus a present I said lang-ga what do I buy someone for Christmas who has everything she replied nothing dear but, next year we are visiting our daughter in Oz. I should have just done the same as you Paul and bought her a watch now I’ll have to save up fast.
Best wishes to you and yours.
Jim.
Jim;
For many years I’ve heard woman say; “Honey, I don’t need a present this year!” Translation: “There had better be a present, HONEY!”
There is very little difference weather wise between here and Australia at Christmas time, so no snow again for you in 2011. But our cousins down under deal with a summertime Christmas quite well, I had a great time in Fremantle one Christmas.
So we’ll have to both work to rid ourself of our spare Tyre/Tire this year and get ready for next years new one, or I just might re-cap the old one. Have a great New Year, all the best to you and your family!
Paul – Just speaking of snow… I’ve seen from the news about blizzard and snow storm. The snow looks wow… nice. Er, I’ve never seen one for real so it looks so Christmas…sy. nice. But I don’t think I’ll like white Christmas. Gosh, imagine if there was snow here in the Phils then it melts.. yikes.. floating garbage. He he
Sugar;
Snow looks nice in pictures, but live in it and you’ll be back here in a flash.
Hi Paul – Your little piggy looks suspiciously like a neighborhood “bowser” that’s gone missing before Christmas.
😆
Paul;
Shhhh..Mums the word, no one figured it out!
Paul — Because I’m ignoramus and curious.. what’s a bowser? Also, the first pic looks like something else not like pig. He he he.
Sugar;
Bowser is another name for a dog, as in Bow-Wow.
Paul,
That’s a nice post i just can’t help but feel pity about the poor pig being butchered, anyway X’mas in the Philippines is really fun and very festive and i missed it , i never had it for almost more than a decade coz i only had 2 weeks holiday at home so i prefer it during New Year’s day as it was also my mom’s b-day so maybe on X’mas 2011 i will be able to celebrate CHRISTMAS again in the Phils.
Again, have a happy holiday w/ ur families!!!!
Rebecca;
Buchered? I swear the pig died of natural causes. Ten years is a long time to be away from where you grew up (I went twenty once) but my New Years wish, will be that you get home next Christmas.
Good deal Paul! Any jobs for a retired army supply/logistician. I forget that I am disabled; $100,000 would cure my ailments real fast. Lo1!
Ed;
My MSC job was a Yeoman/Storekeeper which is exactly the same as you did in the Army, and what I did in the Navy. Supplying material to the U.S. Military, even the paperwork is the same. You were an Army Quartermaster?
Hi paul when i first saw the first photo i thought you had wallaby on that pole ,then i saw the one of the bbq what happened to the rest of it ? what was in the botles paul i still have a bottle of tandua rum sitting here from a year ago anyway hope you and yours had a great xmas
chris
Chris;
I wouldn’t know a Wallaby from a Joey. Every trip to Australia I never saw either in the pubs.
The rest of the pig (Wallaby?) was cut up and cooked on the Barby (or is that Barbie?) The boys thought that four hours on the helm was enought. Happy New Year to you!
Oh mate we got em hoping down the main roads na only kidden ,only four hours whta sort of sailors are these they dont make em lke they use ta anyway a happy new year to you and your family have a sm for me will ya i cant get it here anymore
chris
Chris;
I had them standing a four on four off, helm watch, If they wanted to eat and drink later.
Well ours was a bit different. We were running low on money as I had found a milk goat and bought it (7k its still young) a couple days before and my wife had bought 8 piglets a couple days before that (10K + another 5k in building a shed and feed so far). Of course before that the air conditioner compressor went out that was another 10k pesos Needless to say we had to dip into savings this month.
So I decided we were going to roast one of our meat goats so we at least had plenty of meat for Yuletide. It turned out pretty good but we should have weaned her baby a little sooner had a bit of a strong taste to it. James A. a Canadian/US (he’s both) friend of ours roasted it for us as I had never done that before. Of course I got to skin and clean it just like skinning a deer. Had another American friend over and their wives and a few of Elvie’s family.
We didn’t have much for presents usually don’t as we have been on a tight budget since we got together though now that we aren’t quite as strapped we want to look to the future.
Happy New Year
John;
I like BBQ’ed goat, there is nothing wrong with that for a party. No sence waiting for Scrooge to send over a Goose. Our pig came from my son-in-law Chris’s farm, so it was free. We stuffed it with fresh pineapple and lemongrass, and basted it with fresh pineapple juice. The kids loved the skin, as it was caramelized, hey I liked it too! Family plus friends, it sounds like you had a good time!
Paul
did you import the slushy booze buckets or are they available locally??
Where would I find them?/
Thanks
Tyleen;
Yes I got them At The Royal store on Subic Freeport. Picking up somemore today for New Years Eve
Senior;
Sounds like you had one heck of a good time. The best part of it all is the fact that when you woke up and found the place spottless. That my friend could led you to two conclusions. Either it was all a dream and it never happen (denial) or they appreciated your hospitality so much that was their present to you.
I also had one hell of a party Christmas eve (In keeping with Filipino tradition). First time I was off from work in 5 years. My lady had a few friends my adult kids brang some friends over and the Lambrusco was flowing along with everything else from my bar opened or not.
They ate and drank me dry. As my wife told me let them enjoy it’s Christmas so I had a couple shots of the Captian and went horizonal at about 11pm. ( For My lady and I cooked all day I was through dealing.)
Presents were good they got so good stuff and I got my usual clothes. But the Grandkids rake out looks like a toyr us here. All in all a good Christmas glad it’s over for 12 months sucking sound from the bank has ended. Time to save for Oct already have the money for the plane Boss de’ Plane. OK I’ve lost it Happy New Year Paul to you and your family.
Mike;
Sounds like a good Christmas to me, glad you enjoyed it. And yes it was nice to see everything clean ans stowed properly the next day, but they always do that, it’s there way of saying thanks. My buddy and I did our weekly lunch yesterday, and then stayed for cocktails, the girls went to the Beauty shop and did what ever they do there. I just say; “Wow you look great when they returned.”