Christmas in the Philippines

A Parol (Christmas Lantern)

Alright, since Christmas season is in the air, I will give you (readers) some interesting trivias and facts on why Christmas in the Philippines is unique among other Christian/Catholic Countries in the world.

As early as September, we Filipinos are starting to hear Christmas carols on radios and televisions as a part of our culture, we consider this season as one of the largest holidays in every year.

Philippine Christmas usually starts from what we call the '-ber months' starting from September until the Epiphany (January).

Parols and Belens are commonly seen in every houses in the Philippines during this season.

Parol a.k.a. Christmas Lantern is traditionally made of lacquered paper and bamboo, but others are made of cellophane, plastic, rope, capiz shell and a wide variety of materials.

A Belen (Nativity Scene)

Belen a.k.a. The Nativity Scene is a Filipino Christmas symbol that depicts the infant Jesus Christ in the manger, surrounded by the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, the shepherds, their flock, the Magi and some stable animals and angels. It can be seen in homes, churches, schools and even office buildings; the ones on office buildings can be extravagant, using different materials for the figures and using Christmas lights, parols, and painted background scenery.

So, why does Christmas very important to us Filipinos?

In my personal opinion, this is the time where the family, whether extended or the family itself, gather in a house, resort and/or any other places to celebrate the birth of our beloved Father, Jesus Christ. In Urban areas, such as Metro Manila and other urban Areas, they celebrate it by having Christmas parties in their offices or in a place of a co-worker/s. And the unique thing is, we have activities like exchanging gifts were every person who are in the place will give their gifts to the person which they have picked during the draw-lots, parlor games, sing and dance competitions, and many other Filipino-related games.

Another thing that other Christmas celebrations around the world do not have is the Dawn Masses/Misa de Gallo or in vernacular the Simbang Gabi. Simbang gabi is an event which will start 9 days before the birth of Christ or in every 16th of December. These nine dawn Masses are also considered as a Novena by the Catholic and Aglipayan faithful. This refers to the practice of performing nine days of private or public devotion to obtain special graces. After the mass has been celebrated, we usually eat bibingkas (rice cake), putò bumbóng (a purple, sticky rice delicacy steamed in bamboo tubes, with brown sugar and shredded dried coconut meat served as condiments) and partnered with tsokolate (hot cocoa) to retain the heat of our body.

During the Christmas Eve, we usually go to chapels/churches to celebrate the Midnight Mass and witness the re-enactment of the journey of Joseph and Blessed Virgin Mary in search of lodging in the middle of the unknown. The Panunulúyan is performed after dark, with the actors portraying Joseph and the Virgin Mary going to pre-designated houses.

We also consider Christmas as primarily a family affair. On Christmas Day, we celebrate a Misa de Aguinaldo which the main means of this is the celebration of the birth of Christ.

As of extension of the Christmas season, we also celebrate the New Year's Eve or the Media Noche, a feast that is also supposed to symbolize their hopes for a prosperous New Year.

Christmas season officially ends on the Feast of the Three Kings a.k.a. the Feast of the Epiphany. It is celebrated in every 1st Sunday of the New Year.

So this is it! I was suppose to blog this last week, but I am so busy that I can't even touch my PC.

Enjoy reading and Happy Holidays! ☺

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15 Ways To Keep Relationship Working

As of my personal experience and as what I had observed on other intimate relationships, here are some of the things you should consider to be able to keep you relationship working:

• First, LOVE EACH OTHER - Of course, you cannot be in a serious relationship if both of you don't have the same feelings in each other.
• Second, DO NOT LIE - Lying in your partner would mean a lot if we discuss how loyal you are in each other. As much as possible, do not make lies especially when you want to comfort him/her.
• Third, KEEP COMMUNICATION OPEN - Well, you may notice most of the relationships today may start to be intimate by texting him/her love quotes and other love messages or even calling him/her. When you are in a long distance relationship, this thing is the most important.
• Fourth, STAY SWEET - Staying sweet despite of all the terrible things that may happen in the duration of your relationship makes your partner more comfortable when they are with him/her.
• Fifth, WHEN YOU GET HURT JUST FORGIVE AND FORGET - I may have experience this once in my life and this way is the best way to just understand him/her whatever tragic happens in your relationship. Simply forgive and forget what had just happened.
• Sixth, NEVER TALK ABOUT BREAKUPS - Never never never mention things such as break ups! Especially when both of you are in the middle of your lover's quarrel, he/she may get it seriously! Believe me, it hurts!
• Seventh, NEVER SAY IT'S OKAY WHEN IT'S NOT - Definitely, don't try to be a hypocrite to your partner. Just say what you have in mind. If it's not okay, then it's not. Actually, he/she may comfort or find ways to make you feel okay.
• Eighth, FORGET ABOUT PRIDE - Hell yeah, just remove the word 'Pride' in your vocabulary when you're talking about relationships. It will make your relationship complicated.
• Ninth, IF YOU SAY SORRY MEAN IT - As what I have experienced, I may say I'm sorry but I actually didn't mean it. Well I guess next I will be saying sorry to my partner, I'm gonna mean it!
• Tenth, DON'T COMPARE YOUR PAST TO YOUR PRESENT - It will just make your partner to be your past, soon. Just get satisfied of what he/she have, remember, every human being is unique, there may be some similarities, but not all.
• Eleventh, DON'T TALK ABOUT YOUR EX'S - Duh, what the heck by the way, personally I get irritated when I'm talking about my ex's.
• Twelfth, GIVE AND TAKE PROCESS - Don't expect everything you gave to him/her has a return in exchange, well if it does, good; hence if does not, that's fine.
• Thirteenth, BEWARE OF HIS/HER FEELINGS - Caution! Read his/her actions because sometimes they express it by their moves. Be sensitive, do not get numb.
• Fourteenth, WHEN YOU HAD A FIGHT DON'T LET THE DAY PASS - Definitely, if it does, then he/she may think things more complicated and you can't hardly apologize as if you are toddlers.
• Fifteenth, DON'T BE THE PERFECT ONE BE THE RIGHT ONE - Well obviously there's no perfect human being in this mortal world. And never will be, just be happy of what you have both, just continue loving each other and someday, you may find that you don't need to be perfect, just right.

I hope I have shared my thoughts and observations on how we can preserve the relationship you have now or soon. Just remember, stay happy, be contented.

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Dolefil Chairs for Trees Program

POLOMOLOK, SOUTH COTABATO - The Chairs for Trees Program is a part of Community Development Reciprocating Action Project of Dolefil, it started in the year 2003 in the partnership  between the company, the cooperative and the community itself. It utilizes the process of reciprocation, designed to protect the environment and sustain the available resources for future requirement of chairs in the community.

The chairs are manufactured by Unified Engineering and Manpower Services Multi-Purpose Cooperative from the company's wooden pallets, which are turned over by the company. Dolefil pays the cooperative 270.00PHP per chair fabricated. With the help of the Mahintana Foundaiton Inc., these chairs are evenly distributed to their beneficiaries, who are obliged - as a reciprocating action - to plant and grow one tree for every 10.00PHP worth of company assistance.

Dolefil also continues to use wooden pallets in its operation, and recycling these into useful school chairs in a relatively cheap production cost reinforces Dolefil's internal solid waste management scheme.

Dolefil, through Mahintana Foundation Inc., also regularly visit the planted trees; hence, the beneficiary may no longer request for additional chairs unless replanting is done to replace lost number of hills. As of this date, Dolefil's CSR Program released for about 1.4 million chairs and tables to it's beneficiaries which are the public schools and churches around the South Cotabato Province.

Of course, we cannot plant trees if there are no hills (other term for seedlings) coming from Mt. Matutum Federation of Marginal Farmers Association (MMFMFA), a cooperative which provides hills in different varieties of hills such as native guava, hagimit, jackfruit, yellow acacia, ilang-ilang, golden shower, balete, narra, avocado, bamboo and Norfolk pine trees. Though Norfolk pine trees are exclusively for Kalsangi Village purposes only. The cooperative are paid 1.75PHP for each hill and with this Dolefil helps the cooperative as well as the community.

 Furthermore, this project provides a sustainable source of income for the cooperative that manufactures the chairs and sells the seedlings for reforestation. This present a long-term benefit to the members of the cooperatives and their families who now have a steady income to meet their day-to-day needs.

Since 2003, Dolefil's Chairs-for-trees has served as a versatile and vital community development program that provides holistic progress in Dolefil's social landscape.

Thanks to Dolefil for aiding the community and for supporting South Cotabato Province as part of their corporate social responsibility.

Thanks to the following persons who made this Dolefil CSR Tour a successful one:

• Gwyn Ann Marie Ebol - Dolefil Communications Superintendent
• Mel Hernandez - Dolefil Human Resource Manager
• Kinmark Deypalan - UEMSMPC Representative

Thanks also to my SOCCSKSARGEN Bloggers family for inviting me to come to the Dolefil CSR Tour.

Photos by Rs Dee

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