I felt happier when I lived in the Philippines. I used to pray a lot and most of them were answered. When I moved abroad not many people practice the art of prayer so I somehow lost this practice. I fell into depression and anxiety (the people in this country suffers from it too). Then I realised its because I stopped praying. Now I've gone back to it and feel better. I miss the fun loving Filipino culture. Priceless.
I agree with you on the carolers. I only give to those who actually practice and sing relatively in tune. But there are those na binabastos na nila yung kanta. Ninenegosyo na lang.
I love that you are half flilpino and live and speak...as an American born Filipina I'm sad I gave my mom such a hard time learning to speak...I only know gamai!
The 9 days novena is just between you and God. Basically the Catholic Church's intention to promote 9 days novena is to remind people to prepare themselves for the commemoration of the birth of Christ. To be clean from sin. Most probably Filipinos thought it's a way to ask for wishes so that it will be granted after completing 9 days. If you're wish is granted, that's because God sees you're faithfulness or your needs but not because you completed the 9 days.
Christmas in the Philippines, the longest in the world. Jose Mari Chan is a family friend of mine, a friend of my aunt. His songs never get old, especially Christmas in Our Hearts.
When were little we complete the 9 Days simbang gabi & we make a wish like i want a doll for Christmas & it really come true. We are Catholic & we believe in the power of prayer
the simbang gabi is for the novena which is typically 9days before the feast day of the patron saint. like for the feast of st. anthony de padua every june 13, the novena is 9 days before. those who makes the novenas usually have a petition. christmas is very important for us catholics that farmers from spanish era would make the night mass so that they could go farm in the morning without worrying that they missed the 9 masses before christmas day, so that tradition was born.
You forgot to mention company Christmas parties! I think only in the Philippines (as far as I know) do retail stores have Christmas parties where customers are invited to participate.
I think you should go back to Australia and wait out the -ber months there. Take a break. It seems you are fed up with how the Filipinos celebrate Christmas after having lived in the Philippines for so long. I can understand that because most Westerners and other rich countries do not truly understand the Filipino culture. I did Christmas carols when I was a kid with friends and we sung our hearts out for a few centavos. We did sing those songs you mentioned at the end of our carols but it was just really for fun. We understood it that way and the people in the houses we sung to understood it that way also. But I was sure they all cherished the memories of those years, because they sung carols just like us when they were young too. For the poor Filipino kids who sing carols, Christmas' spirit of giving becomes more meaningful and in some "odd" way, though weird and annoying for outside observers like you, becomes more magical.
much better siguro yung magsisimbang gabi ka dahil yun yung nasa puso mo,makumpleto yung simbang gabi para mas maintidihan yung meaning ng PASKO. forget about the "Wish" , let God.☺ and syempre pakabait lagi.😊 yun lang po☺
Living in mainland US, I kind of enjoy decorating for the seasons & different holidays. Halloween decorations are even bigger than Christmas decorations at some places. Mostly, I put a wreath I've made at my front door for major holidays & seasons and call it done.
I agree in everything you've said.The most funny thing to me is when you said about those singing carolling wherein if you won't give them anything they end up singing "thank you, thank you and babarat ninyo😁😁😁😁😁😁".
The 9 days of Simbang Gabi represents the traditional Novena before the birth of Jesus. The Novena is attending mass for 9 consecutive days and then when and if you complete the 9 consecutive mass then it is believed that God will grant your prayers and wishes because you have sacrificed your time and exerted effort for the Novena.
