Christmas is celebrated during the “ber” months, as it’s called in the Philippines – that is, September, October, November and December, said Robert Blancaflor, president of the Manila-based events design company Robert Blancaflor Group. And the reason why is a familiar one.
Commercialization of the holiday
With the proliferation of shopping malls, first in metro Manila which later on mushroomed far into the provinces, Christmas carols started to be heard soon after All Saints Day [on] Nov. 1,” said Joven Cuanang, a neurologist and respected art and culture enthusiast in the Philippines.
- This was to attract people to start shopping for Christmas gifts – it was commerce-driven.”
A nation of faith
Religion is the foundation of the Philippines’ long festive period, said Blancaflor, adding that “the country is celebrating [its] 500th year of Christianity” this year.
- Some 92% of people in the Philippines are Christian, according to the Stanford School of Medicine, and more than 80% identify as Roman Catholic
- 88% of Filipinos are very or moderately religious
What so much celebrating says about the culture
Filipinos are a happy people. They find any reason to celebrate and prepare food, gather around a table, sing, dance and be merry.
- Poverty levels climbed to nearly 24% earlier this year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
- Christmas showcases the culture’s devotion to helping one another.
Families reunite
Balikbayan – the estimated 2.2 million Filipino citizens who work abroad
- Send nearly $30 billion dollars back to the Philippines in 2020, which represents nearly 10% of the country’s total gross domestic product
- Many of the overseas workers, who live in places like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong, aren’t traveling this year due to the global pandemic
Shifting celebrations earlier
The Peninsula Manila used to light its 45-foot Christmas tree in early November, but has moved it a tad earlier to the second Friday of October
- There’s no reason for delaying Christmas since Christmas is always a good idea
- Nina Halley, founder of the Manila floral and décor company The Love Garden, said she starts receiving Christmas orders in July
