Our family of 12, 5 girls and 7 boys, was part of the Choir that sings at the Simbang Gabi in San Pedro Bautista Church in San Francisco del Monte. The other half of the choir was the Nera family. We were awakened each early morning by the ringing of the church bells and the Bandang Musiko marching around the town. We would walk from our home half a mile to the church. In rare occasions we would be late, the Mass would be delayed because there was no choir. The church is filled standing room only and parishioners would spill over to the patio. We sang Spanish Villancicos and our favorite was Away In A Manger. Of course our finale was Handel's ALLELUYA. The people join in with the closing ANG PASKO AY SUMAPIT. Then we rush out lining up for the Puto Bumbong and Bibingka that are cooked in the patio.Steaming Salabat (ginger tea) was the favorite drink with the puto at kutsinta. There is time for us to sleep a bit before getting ready for school or work. The Noche Buena midnight mass on December 24th brings in the biggest attendance and we dressed up for the occasion. We go home to a Noche Buena Feast of Sopas, Keso de Bola, Puto Kutsinta and Bibingka!

Unlike here in the US where the emphasis is on Sta.Claus and where the Nativity Scene (Belen) is banned from government sites, every home in the Philippines has a Belen and Parol that we prepared ourselves then. Remember last year when the Seatac airport removed Christmas trees because of the complaint of a non-Christian? And it is customary to greet "Happy Holidays" instead of Merry Christmas. Well, we must preserve our Christian Heritage and Practices, first by joining us at our Simbang Gabi at St. Edward Church for nine days. We are the first parish in the Archdiocese that started the 9-day Simbang Gabi. We begin Saturday, December 22 at 5:30PM and end Sunday December 23, Masses are 5:30 on Saturdays and Sundays and 7:00PM on weekdays. Come and join us, We sing Pasko ay Sumapit at the end of each Mass and we serve arroz caldo and other Pinoy foods.

And to wind up my recollection, New Year's Eve is the noisiest day of the year, with kids and grownups competing on exploding firecrackers. I remember setting up our bamboo cannon equipped with kerosene where we blow into a hole and light it to create an explosive noise .That was fun. Many times we swallow some of the kerosene that is in the bamboo cannon!

And this is the tradition that we continue here in the US. On New Year's Eve, wherever you may be, you rush home before 11:45 PM because we all kneel down before our altar and recite the Family Rosary to give thanks for the blessings of the year ending and to pray for our intensions for the  New Year. Aside from this, John Araucto and the FCS leadership has been conducting a New Year's Prayer Service every New Year's Day at 10:00AM. Let us start the New Year right by joining us at the Filipino Community Center on January 1st. Magandang Pasko Po at Manigong Bagong Taon sa inyong lahat!