MANILA, Philippines – The -ber months have begun, and in the Philippines, we all know what this means: the longest Christmas season in the world is now underway.

Christmas is just around the corner which only means to say that the Filipinos are very much eager and thrilled to decorate their homes with the finest Yuletide ornaments. This significantly reflect that Christmas in the Philippines is one of the longest and festive occasions in the world. Culturally, the conventional and yet astonishing Christmas tradition of this country is called “The Parol Making” centered in the province of Pampanga. In this faraway land of Central Luzon, there are...

Estofado de Vaca is a Spanish Beef Stew that is easy to put together for a hearty meal on any special occasion. We always have a big beef entrée during the holidays or a family event. The richness of this slow cooked stew makes the event even more special. This recipe was adapted from “The Alba Cookbook of Senor Anastacio de Alba and Miguel de Alba”, edited by Nancy Reyes-Lumen.

To this day, whenever I return to our childhood home in Tarlac, my sister Isabel still prepares labong the way Mom did when we were kids. Labong are bamboo shoots and are abundant all over the Philippines. There are many ways bamboo shoots are used as an ingredient in different provinces, from sautéing in Ilocos to cooking in coconut milk in the Visayas.

When cooking dishes for Christmas Eve’s Noche Buena or the Christmas Day family celebration, there’s nothing more important than for the host to be well prepared with classic dishes which are crowd-pleasers. These line up of traditional entrees are wholesome, satisfying choices that gives the home cook a chance to prep ingredients or else cook ahead, giving one enough time to spend with the family.

Withstanding the passage of time, Filipinos still have the distinction of celebrating the world’s longest Christmas season. The chilly morning breeze, colorful lanterns and lights, Christmas carols everywhere, the beginning of Simbang Gabi – all signs that the Christmas season in the Philippines has arrived again.

The cold breeze and shorter days are signs that Christmas is coming to town. Christmas in the Philippines is an extraordinary experience as involves family and friends gathering together and celebrating joy and togetherness. It’s no wonder why Christmas is probably the most important and prepared event in the Philippines.

It is most likely that the single most-awaited event in the Filipino calendar is Christmas. This takes a lot of preoccupation on the part of Filipinos as the Christmas season in the Philippines unofficially starts as early as September. Filipinos gradually get ready, anticipate, and are excited as the last few months of the year wind down as Christmas Day approaches.

Christmas is one of the biggest celebrations in the Philippines. It is the happiest season in the country. This is the most awaited celebration, a season of love and sharing. It is also a day where people celebrate the birth of Christ Jesus.

Children dressed as stars, angels, and candy canes open the month-long Christmas celebration in Baguio City