Philippines Guide

Easter Sunday is celebrated almost worldwide. But nowhere is it celebrated with more gusto and commitment than in the Philippines. This religious feast, sometimes “Pasko ng Pagkabuhay” (Christmas of the Resurrection) or “Pista ng Pagkabuhay” (Feast of the Resurrection) in the vernacular, is very special second to Christmas. In fact, thousands flock to the provinces for this Philippine fiesta.

The whole Lenten Season, in fact, is observed like a religious feast. Though the faithful is urged to observe it in silent and sorrowful rumination (and self-sacrifice), most Filipinos, including tourists, celebrate Holy Week in the countryside with feasting (instead of “fasting”) and fun. A lot of town fiestas coincide with Good Friday and the Philippine fiesta of the Resurrection or Easter.

The religious feast is observed this way. As early as 4:00 in the morning (after a “Pabasa” or rhymed and tuned reading of the gospel the night before) devotees of this Philippine fiesta, Easter, rise up to prepare a sumptuous lunch and supper for the guests. At times the community jointly does this, sometimes it happens per household. Some proceed to the church this early for a Sunrise Service (the protestants have their “Dawn Worship”) as a preliminary celebration of this religious feast, Easter. Then later in the morning, more Easter Sunday masses are held to accommodate as many devotees as possible.

In some Catholic and Protestant churches, this Philippine fiesta is observed with games and fun, like Easter egg or bunny hunting and other treasure hunting games. If the occasion coincides with the town fiesta (which often happens), the town plaza will be filled with carnival fun and games the rest of the day. The reason for this extravagant religious feast is that there ought to be as much merriment in Easter as possible because Jesus rose from the dead.

The hearty meals that follow are full of native dishes and delicacies, often local specialties. Anybody can join and eat. In summary, the Ilocanos of the North would serve their Pinakbet among others, the Tagalogs their Kare-kare among others, the Visayans their Aros Valenciana among others, and so on. Often, the town mayor has prepared a special Easter program at the plaza for residents and visitors in this Philippine fiesta. Awarding ceremonies usually follow recognizing citizens’ efforts in the community and in preparing for this religious feast.

The Feast of the Resurrection, or easter, is a Philippine fiesta well celebrated with dole outs of food, prizes, and awards. It is one of the religious feasts vacationers and tourists wait for in summer time. Easter is a celebration of recovery and abundance.

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The whole year round Philippine fiestas of all kinds mark the Filipino calendar. Not only popular saints but also the most obscure ones are given a place for celebration. Why has this practice been imbedded in the Filipino culture?

To appease the gods—this was a key factor in ancient pagan worship in the Philippines. Mystical religious beliefs before the Spaniards came centered on worshipping gods believed to control certain aspects of life—livelihood, family, health, wealth, and others. To make life better, the belief said, regular ritual offerings to these gods had to be done. The gods seemed quickly angered by the smallest mistakes and vented wrath on livelihood and nature. The practice was somehow carried over into modern times so that one reason still used for Philippine fiestas is to stave off calamities and ill luck, aside from thanksgiving for good harvest, and ask lots of wishes.

A pledge. Philippine fiestas are like capital poured into investments. They have to be celebrated grandly to ensure good life ahead. The bigger money poured out for a Philippine fiesta the surer the return of investment (ROI). So, for a higher ROI a devotee should spend more to celebrate a fiesta. Smaller investments result to smaller yields.

If one wishes for more harvests from fields or the sea, or more luck in business or employment, or physical healing, or more rain, then one ought to dole out more quality meals in a fiesta celebration. If one’s really financially hard-up, then the alternative is to have active parts in the celebration—dance in the streets, help carry or pull a mounted statue, help in the fiesta preparations, or plain behave well throughout the celebration. And here’s the key to all these: the devotee has to pledge or promise to keep this going each annual Philippine fiesta.

Finally, Philippine fiestas have been “balik-bayan” incentives, or come-ons for expatriates, to visit or come back for good to the municipalities or cities celebrating them. Since pre-Hispanic times, Filipinos have been known to live in other countries. Later, they ventured to farther places like the US and Europe. Philippine fiestas lure them back to reminisce old times and be also celebrated in the community as overseas “heroes.”

Philippine fiestas are as many as there are sitios (districts) and barangays and cities and provinces in the Philippines. And they’re here to stay to keep Filipinos reaching out to the future as they stake out in the present while reminiscing the past.

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Philippine fiestas are a lot of fun. In general these fiestas include native sports which are referred today as games. Let’s take a look at them.

The most popular Philippine fiesta game is “Palasebo” or the lard hobby. Allegedly, this used to be an athletic training technique which later evolved into a native community pastime. A tall bamboo standing in the middle of an open space is lavished with lard or oil from top to bottom. A small flag is placed on top. The idea is to have one contestant climb the pole without any climbing implement, and half naked. Moreover, contestants of this Philippine fiesta game must have their bodies poured with oil to further toughen up the climb. At times they have all contestants simultaneously climb the pole. The lone survivor to take the flag down is champion of this Philippine fiesta game.

Hitting the hanging earthen pot, or “Palayok” is another favorite Philippine fiesta game. This can well pass for a Zen meditation technique but for the noisy crowd around. A small earthen pot is hanged through a net in the middle of a wide open space. The contestant of this Philippine fiesta game is blindfolded and given a small wooden bat. The idea is to find the way to the pot and hit it solid to break it. The net secures the broken pieces from flying away and hitting someone. At times this Philippine fiesta game varies a bit and the hanging pot is made to dangle for a more challenging hit.

Breaking lose several pigs in a secured perimeter is another Philippine fiesta game. The ground is kept muddy and the male contestants are topless. The idea is to go after the pigs and at least catch one and bring it to the judges. This Philippine fiesta game is a lot of mess but everybody enjoys it.

Another is “Pabitin” or hanging dole outs. This Philippine fiesta game uses a mat of bamboo sticks forming a flat lift. It is suspended in the air. Lots of goodies and toys hang from it, practically covering it. Children stand below waiting for it to be randomly lowered and raised. As the flat lift is lowered the kids jump to grab what they can from the goodies. Then it is raised again for another round.

Philippine fiesta games are distinctly Filipino and are designed for rough, rustic play. They are athletic activities good enough to become sports.

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Christmas is a big holiday in the Philippines. It’s so huge almost every Filipino really go out of their way and take time to prepare for this annual occasion. Though Christmas in the Philippines may have been influenced by European traditions in the latter part of its history, its own traditions have surpassed the changing times. This has made Christmas in the Philippines quite unique.

During the cold nights, people would crave for bibingka and puto bumbong. These are delicacies specially prepared during the Christmas season. They would often be served on banana leaves topped with butter or margarine and grated coconut meat.

It wouldn’t be uncommon to find the local folks bringing out their Christmas decorations. The star of the season in the Philippines isn’t the Christmas tree but the Christmas star locally known as the Parol. You will find Parols hanging just about anywhere from malls, to offices, and even in the modest Filipino homes.

Some places even host a Parol-making contest where people create many wonderfully spectacular light displays using Parols. These are sights to see and you can even buy the ingenious light display after the contest.

Starting on December 16, a large portion of the population would flock to attend Mass at their local Catholic congregation. This part of the Philippine Catholic tradition is called Misa de Gallo or locally known as Simbang Gabi in the native vernacular. It translates to Masses at Cock’s Crow, which is usually held either very early in the morning (sometimes at the early hour of 3 a.m., others at dusk). This is a religious Christmas tradition that has been passed on through centuries.

Caroling would also be heard during the Christmas season in the Philippines. You’ll get to see a gang of little kids walking from house to house (even car to car in some cities, but that is actually outlawed for security reasons) singing the old time favorite Filipino Christmas carols. Even the older generation may go about caroling as well.

Employees in the Philippines would usually be treated to a long five-day vacation during the Christmas week since some employers would want their employees to spend time with their families (though there are industries that would also require people to work during the holidays).

Christmas Eve is often celebrated by families at home enjoying a Christmas dinner at midnight. This tradition is called Noche Buena. It is a time for thanksgiving and a time for families to be together. Friends may also be invited to the Noche Buena and this is often a great honor. Gifts would usually be given during the Noche Buena or Christmas morning.

Christmas in the Philippines is a time for families. It is a time of gift giving and a time for warm friendships during the Christmas season.

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The Obando Fertility Dance is a festival where couples who hope to be blessed by children perform street dances in a long procession. The Fertility Dance of Obando is both a festival and a prayerful appeal for devotees.

Obando has hosted this festival since pre-Spanish times. The festival is also mentioned by the country’s national hero, Jose Rizal, in one of his epic novels Noli Me Tangere. Obando, a small town in Bulacan, has held to this age-old tradition of Fertility Dances to the present day and has attracted a lot of tourists the world round.

The Fertility Dance of Obando has been part of tradition even before the Spanish conquest of the Philippines. The month of May has always been the season for the Fertility Dance. Initially, the native childless couples dance in front of idols to request that they would soon have children.

When the Spanish took over, they convinced the natives that they can keep the Fertility Dance but would instead dance in front of images of saints instead of idols.

Nowadays, the Fertility Dance is celebrated in Obando in honor of Santa Clara, San Pascual de Baylon, and Nuestra Señora de Salambao. The prayers are offered to these three saints for the childless, for religious virtue, and a bountiful catch since fishing is the main industry of Obando, Bulacan.

The Fertility Dance most of the time is offered for Santa Clara, patron saint of the childless. Others dance to the saint in hope to find a mate. Single men and single women often pariticipate in the Fertility Dance festival on separate dates since the festivities usually last three days long.

Parents who take part in the Fertility Dance do it to give thanks to their patron saint to give thanks. The fishermen and farmers of the locality of Obando participate in the Fertility Dance to pray for a good catch and a good harvest. Most of the townsfolk participate in the street dancing and merry making during the three-day long Fertility Dance.

Veterans and so-called experts of the Fertility Dance insist that the dance be performed with gyrating hips in time with the music and must be done with the belief of prayers being answered. You’ll be amazed at the huge number of childless couples, thankful parents, and grateful fishermen clad in colorful costumes. One proof the locals would claim would be the population growth as evidence of the efficacy of the said Fertility Dance.

Whether it works or not, the Fertility Dance is a timeless tradition that bids a prayer of request or thanks and draws in a lot of curious visitors from all over the country. Whether you believe it or not, take part of the festivity and enjoy both a solemn and a joyful celebration of life.

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May is the season for festivals in the Philippines. One of the most extravagant festival celebrated in the country is the Pahiyas Festival. Province of Quezon hosts this festival on the 15th of May. The celebration of the Pahiyas Festival has been going on since the 16th century. It is a way for the local folk to give thanks to a bountiful harvest.

The Province of Quezon is the second largest province of the Southern Tagalog region and is host to lavish Pahiyas Festival. The preparation for the festival takes quite some time and the actual Pahiyas Festival is held for only a short time.

During the Pahiyas Festival the small towns of the Province of Quezon in the Philippines evolves from sleepy small villages into exquisitely adorned houses. The Pahiyas Festival is commemorated in honor of their patron saint San Isidro Labrador, patron saint of farmers.

Legend says that San Isidro Labrador magically plowed fields whenever he went to church. Spain passed on this legend to the Philippines from Mexico during the country’s colonization. Since then, the Pahiyas Festival has been a source of excitement for the locals and visitors to the Quezon Province.

One of the highlights of the Pahiyas Festival in the Philippines is the colorful decoration on the houses. These are made of food. During the Pahiyas Festival, the houses of the local townspeople will be adorned in fruit, vegetables and the famous kipings. The kiping is a wafer that’s shaped into a leaf. It is made of dried rice and dyed in brilliant colors.

The locals use different leaves to add flavor and color to the kiping. The locals to produce a variety of tastes and textures using Kabal, coffe, talisay (umbrella tree), cocoa, and banaba leaves. The locals boast that the procedure of making the kiping is a big secret among the people of Quezon and only a chosen few are entrusted with the secret recipe.

During the Pahiyas Festival, people display their harvest in front of their homes for the parish priest to bless as the procession passes their homes.

A competition is usually held during the Pahiyas Festival. Families would compete for the title of best-decorated house. After the competition is over and the awards are handed over, the winning house’s decorations will be thrown away to the huge flock of people as free treats.

Try the pancit habhab when you’re at the Pahiyas Festival. Enjoy the chance to try noodles straight from banana leaves without using forks or chopsticks. The delicious taste of the noodle blends well with the famed Longganisang Lucban (a local sausage of Quezon).

The Pahiyas Festival is a time of joyous merriment for the people of Quezon. You’ll never walk away from the Pahiyas Festival with an empty stomach. It is a mouthful of a welcome to how the people of the Philippines welcome their guests. Just watch the calories while you’re at it.

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Poker is believed to have been introduced to the Philippines during World War I by American soldiers who brought in the Bicycle brand playing cards. All playing cards in the country in the 1950s were imported and many were sold behind the counter or secretly sold by Maranao sidewalk vendors.

For many many years people have been playing a local version of the game of Poker with the use of 52 cards where 13 cards are distributed all face down to four players one at a time.

It is known in the Visayas and Mindanao as piat-piat or pusoy in Luzon. Most, however, call it Chinese Poker. The pot usually runs up to hundreds if not thousands of pesos, particularly those games participated by weekend professional gamblers, including government officials.

This game became so popular that those that could not afford cards themselves created their own deck of cards with some cardboard and pens so that they could play this ever growing popular card game.

Chinese Poker is played just like the 5-card stud poker with a twist. The last five cards should be arranged that it would be the best. The second group of five cards should be better than and that of the third group–the three cards.
 
For example, if the last three cards form a trio, the middle group should form a straight but not two pairs since the trio is higher.

The Chinese term for this is totyu or inverted or disarranged. With this you become outright the loser for the round.

The 13 cards grouped in 5-5-3 should then be arranged that the last five would be the best, the middle group better and the three cards as good or whatever.

With the popularity of Chinese Poker or Pusoy Filipinos easily found favor with the new game on the block and play the now popular Texas Hold ‘Em High Poker, which is played in casinos in Paranaque, Pasig City in clubhouses; Manila, Tagaytay and other cities in the country legally.

Entry fees are reasonably low at PhP1,000 or so but with the total tournament top prizes of PhP1 million or $20,000, many join the regular tournament sponsored by a club formed by a journalist.

Others are now into the bandwagon sponsoring Texas Hold ‘Em High tournaments with the same format of putting in $200 as entry fee for the elimination round. If you want to immediately join the championship game you have to buy in with P20,000 or $2,000.

Since Texas Hold ‘Em is simple many have been playing the game even clandestinely.

With the Filipinos’ propensity to gamble putting casinos in the country with Poker as the main attraction could be a profitable business. The government casino operator is eyeing an Entertainment City in the heart of Metro Manila– at the reclaimed land near the popular SM Mall of Asia, one of the biggest malls in Southeast Asia.

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Aside from festivities with local flavors, the Philippine Islands have events too of international appeal which attracts foreigners. In Las Piñas City, there’s the Bamboo Organ Festival featuring international classical music performers utilizing the legendary bamboo organ of St. Joseph’s Parish Church.  In Masbate of the Bicol Province, the Rodeo Filipino can be likened to rodeo shows in the US Midwest or Latin America with activities like bull riding, steer wrestling, calf roping, lassoing on foot, casting down large cattle, and wood chopping.

A whole year of banderitas

Indeed, an imaginary string of banderitas (colorful trimmings) can be wrapped around the Philippines to represent a year-full of celebrations.  And we haven’t even talked about the festivals of the Christmas season yet.  You may have already known that they have the longest Christmas season in the world, starting as early as October and lasting until February. The spirit of the season could not be contained that you can hear people greeting “Merry Christmas” even during the grim-funny Halloween Night and the deliriously-funny All Souls’ Day.

For devoted Catholics though, the official Christmas season begins at the first Advent Sunday which marks the start of the Simbang Gabi.  Friends, lovers, families flock to churches to hear the late night or early morning mass before enjoying hot chocolate and puto bumbong.  And the surrounding is really a sight to behold with the multi-colored blinking lights of lanterns.  For this, LGUs have started hosting Christmas lantern, tree and other Christmas symbols festivals.  In Tangub City, indigenous materials are used to create Christmas symbols to be later displayed in an event. Of course, there’s also the Giant Lantern Festival in San Fernando, Pampanga which this year will feature the largest lantern to be ever built.

Indeed, the Filipinos love to party and they party like no other people can.  While the trend in western countries like America is to party in one big swoop after toiling at work for a significant time, in a society like the Philippines, every occasion becomes a cause for a celebration and so everyday is a holiday.  This may appal non-members of the society but festivities like these merely reflect the Filipinos’ zest for life and their unwavering capacity to laugh at life’s hardships.

So what are you waiting for? If you’re a foreigner looking for a truly fantastic place to celebrate a holiday or a local wanting to discover more of the country, Philippines will not disappoint you. Explore and be awed.

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If one takes a stroll in most of the big malls here in the Philippines, one would notice that almost all, if not all, have a special area for BINGO enthusiasts. In these halls, people of all ages, and of all walks of life, can be spotted, from a bouncing toddler to a weakly elder, from the masses to the elite all play Bingo. This grand game has been among the favorite past times of Filipino families most especially on weekends.

Bingo is a basically a game of chance wherein random numbers are picked and players match these numbers to their corresponding 5×5 cards which are basically a matrix of numbers and the letters B, I, N, G, O, hence BINGO.

Whenever, a specified pattern is formed, the player shouts “BINGO” to notify the caller of the win and inform other players. The caller will verify the pattern and will declare the winner. A corresponding cash price for the pattern will be given.

Then another pattern is called and another game is played until another player wins. Usually, the game is played in rounds wherein each round has a specified pattern that players aim to form. The pattern becomes more and more difficult round after round and the pot money becomes bigger and bigger, up to the final round, which is famously called as the black-out here in the Philippines. In these rounds all numbers in the matrix must be called and filled out on your card in order to win.

It can be argued that BINGO originated from the similar game Lotto in Italy around 1530. The term BINGO however came from the word Beano in the United States. Beans were used to cover the numbers on the cards back then. It is argued that an excited player shouted Bingo instead of Beano, and the term was adopted then on.

In the Philippines, earlier BINGO games were mostly played in “perias”, an interim amusement place established during fiestas in the different barrios / places. This evolved into a highly popular game and is now often used as a form of charity by religious churches and / or groups, and other fund raising activities. Presently, online and real time games are also available over the web.

Off shoots from the original game have been developed as well, such as Christmas Bingo, Bovine Bingo, Roadkill Bingo etc. Basically the same principles and rules apply, with a little modification for more excitement, and only the rewards are changed. In Christmas Bingo for example, instead of monetary jackpots, gifts are given to the winners, also, at the onset, the cards given to the players are blank and it is up to the players to fill the blanks with numbers from 1 to 40. No duplication of numbers on one card is allowed.

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