Pinoy Pasko traditions, old and new
MANILA, Philippines — The Filipino Christmas has got everything, festivities and traditions of the season from all over the world. We have perhaps the most inclusive Christmas celebration in the world.
Even as we are still waiting for the chill in the air to cool down 30-plus-degree temperatures, we imagine a winter wonderland — we’ve got snow and Frosty the Snowman displays.
Christmas trees are not just evergreens but come in all shapes, sizes and colors — from live trees (yes, we have Christmas tree farms) to plastic trees and tinsel trees and bamboo trees, and trees made from upcycled materials.
Strings of blinking tivoli lights (made in China), snowflake and gingerbread ornaments, holly and mistletoe, and of course, Santa Claus with Rudolf and the other reindeer.
But the best traditions are still the homegrown ones, uniquely Pinoy practices that mark our
Christmas celebrations for generations and which, even in this cyberage, make this time of year truly special.
The parols (lanterns) have evolved from simple bamboo and colored paper ones to computer-controlled light shows. The parol hanging in a window or door still stands as the symbol of hope, a beacon that guides us through the dark night to the warm embrace of home.
The Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo (a series of nine night or dawn Masses) with the accompanying bibingka and puto bumbong, caroling, exchange gifts, visits to ninong and ninang… these are all treasured practices of the Pinoy Pasko.
Seeking to be a part of the Pinoy Christmas tradition is the first all-Filipino Christmas ballet that captures the true spirit of the Filipino Pasko – Puso ng Pasko, presented by the artists of the Alice Reyes Dance Philippines (ARDP) together with the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ (CCP) Professional Artist Support Program.
“When we set out to create a Christmas production in 2020, it was to tell a story that reflected what was happening with COVID at the time,” said Ronelson Yadao, artistic director of ARDP. He added, “Tuloy ang Pasko was the story of old friends, separated by distance and the pandemic, reliving the joys of the holidays of their youth” by Zoom, complete with weak signals and bad connections.
Tuloy ang Pasko was filmed and streamed in December 2020, and then staged live as one of the first dance productions at the Main Theater when the CCP reopened its doors to live audiences in December 2021.
“Last year, as times have changed and things started to open up, we envisioned the piece to evolve into a holiday tradition for the Filipino family, similar to the Nutcracker, but with themes and a story that is reflective of the Filipino and our celebration and love for family during the holiday season,” Yadao shared.
“In this current iteration of our story, now titled Puso ng Pasko, we have Lolo Val passing
down his memories of Filipino Christmas traditions to his granddaughter Angelita, who grew up in the US,” Yadao explained, adding, “We also added scenes inspired by the different festivals in the Philippines — like the Belenissimo, Pahiyas and Higantes — illustrating the concept that Christmas is the biggest fiesta in the country.”
Besides being performed at the CCP Main Theater last December, a second run of Puso ng Pasko was hosted by NCCA and the Metropolitan Theater last year, complete with live music from the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth and the Ryan Cayabyab Singers, under the baton, of course, of National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab.
Puso ng Pasko went on stage at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila last Dec. 1 and 2. After this, it will have a Luzon tour, starting in Angeles City, Pampanga on Dec. 7, Tarlac City, Tarlac, Dec.13, and the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Dec. 15, all of which are open to the public for free.
There will also be performances at Malacañang and in Taguig City, and a short performance of excerpts for the City of Makati’s Handog Saya celebration on Dec. 20.
Christmas is truly the most wonderful time of the year, and for Filipinos, it is most of all about family, when those who have wandered far and wide return home, whether physically or even by FaceTime or Zoom.
For that is the heart of the Filipino Christmas — Puso ng Pasko… being with those you love, counting and sharing blessings, and making memories to last the year… until the next Christmas.
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