3 Christmas Traditions Balikbayans Enjoy When in Manila
Traffic jams, distinct noise, smog, and crowded places are just some of the things Pinoys abroad already know about our country. However, despite of all of these things, they still miss vacationing here.
Having a Fil-American partner, I’ve witnessed how his family would always ask us to capture the activities during the festive season. They can’t help but reminisce the last time they heard children’s caroling, the fireworks display at Luneta Park, and the list goes on.
The Philippines is probably the only country that celebrates the festive season the earliest and the longest! Time flies so fast and we are now entering the last quarter of 2014. This means we are now embarking on the most generous and wonderful time of the year, Christmas!
Once -ber months start, people are already starting to decorate the streets with such colorful and wonderful sparkling lights and lanterns.
Aside from the picturesque sceneries, tranquil beaches and love for food, being courteous and hospitable are the main reasons why they keep coming back to Manila!
However, there are some specific things which every Pinoy and Pinoy-at-heart abroad miss during the yuletide season. Here are the main ones.
3 Christmas Traditions Balikbayans Enjoy When in Manila
3. Food Festival and Bazaars
Eat. Shop. Walk it off. Eat again – probably the main routine of every vacationer would do in the Philippines! They miss nothing but all-authentic food, as well, as the ambiance surrounding it. Though they may have a chance to eat it in another country, the authenticity is the missing ingredient in the end. Apart from the newly-opened restaurants available in the metro, people love to try other varieties such as the streetfoods and Filipino cuisines found in Bazaars. Mercato Centrale, Cuenca Bazaar inside Ayala Alabang Village, Salcedo Weekend Market, are just some of the famous food bazaar organizers in Manila. Every year, they gather the best food suppliers in town.
Lumpiang Togue or Fried Bean Sprout Veggie Roll, best partnered with vinegar, is one of the vacationer’s favorite afternoon snacks.