PHILIPPINES GIFTS

Maagang Pasko! That’s Merry Christmas in Philippines, just one of the languages used throughout the Philippines. No matter the greeting, the word for ‘Christmas’ is the same in all the many languages and dialects. ‘Pasko!’

As they say in Philippines, “Pasko” starts when the ‘Bers arrive’. They don’t mean chilly days but rather the months with ‘ber’ at the end… September, October, November, December. The earliest I have ever seen the Pasko Lanterns lit up and for sale was 23rd September. From that day forward the shops started playing Chrismas Musak, Christmas Carollers came around every night singing the same song over and over and the firecrackers began.

Yes, Christmas Filipino style was off and running! If anyone gets maximum value from the season it has to be the Filipino. Until the end of January, Pasko is in full swing from September onwards. You can’t fight it, you just have to join in and enjoy yourself!

With the recent calamitous weather the Philippines has suffered, your loved ones in the Pinas need your support even more now than ever before. Let them know you care and are thinking of them. It doesn’t take much, even a phone call or failing that, send an email, a text message , anything. If you can afford a few dollars remember they go a lot farther there and could make all the difference. The Philippines has some of the most expensive electricity in Asia and, per capita income, the world. As ordinary as it sounds, perhaps cash is the best present you can give. Failing that, send them a little luxury to take their minds off the every day realities. Merry Christmas.

The end of October in America signals Halloween and not far away, Thanksgiving. Filipinas celebrate both of these in a slightly unique, only in da Pilipeens way. They have Halloween and Trick or Treat much as they do in America, mostly copied from what they see on TV and the movies. They also have a very important family get together where they share a meal, usually not turkey unless they are upscale and well off.

No, Filipinas will gather in the cemetery where their relatives lie interred and enjoy a picnic on their tomb. Most people in the Philippines are interred when they die. Cremation is becoming more common but usually the body lies on view at the family home for up to 9 days and Mass is held every night. Finally the body is interred in a coffin, inside a concrete sarcophagus. Rarely is the body buried below ground level. The family plot annually becomes the scene of a typical, happy Filipino family fiesta with time and tidings shared with the departed.

Many families spend the entire night at the cemetery, the children happily playing around the tombs of the many residents. While not a time for gift giving per se, tokens of affection and love are always welcomed.

In the Philippines, Easter is called Holy Week and it is pretty Holy. Do not be surprised to see believers flagellating themselves with whips, their bloody backs a red testament to their faith. Others will have themselves crucified with real nails holding them to their crosses. Less intense but no less devout are the Filipinas who will walk around dressed in robes that cover them from head to foot, including veils like some Muslim niqab or burka.

All over the country, Holy Week means getting to and from the Province, visiting family and being with loved ones, regardless of how devout your faith. At this time it is entirely appropriate to give gifts be they tokens of endearment or more tangible signals of your feelings for the other person.

February 14, St Valentine’s Day is indeed, huge in the Philippines. Filipinas everywhere love to get something from their crush or special loved one. Filipinas are very romantic creatures to begin with and throw in a legend like St Val and you just have to doing something to celebrate.

Working in the Philippines at this time will be an experience as offices and shop premises are bedecked in hearts and roses, ribbons and boxes of chocolates. Filipinas really make a fuss and a great effort because love is so important to them. No opportunity to use a heart, roses or teddy bears is missed by anyone in retail and so the expectations are high.

Bottom line, like so much in this culture, it is a lot of fun, so why not get into the spirit of things and send a gift to a pretty Filipina? Make their day, and make yours too.