Key Points
- Christmas in the Philippines is considered one of the longest Christmas celebrations in the world.
- For Filipino migrants in Australia, celebrating Christmas with the whole family is still like no other.
- Among the most loved Filipino delicacies during Christmas include bibingka (rice cake with shredded coconut) and puto bumbong.
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Mga salu-salo, pagkain at pamilya: Ilan sa mga nami-miss ng mga Pilipino sa Pasko sa Pilipinas
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For this reason, former accountant and singer Adrian Tamayo misses the big Christmas celebrations the most in the Philippines.
Adrian Tamayo is celebrating Christmas with friends and churchmates as he lives alone in Australia from family. Credit: SBS Filipino
Adrian yearns for the Philippine Christmas because he lives alone in Australia, far from his family. This year is extra different as his beloved mother had passed away.
Still, Adrian is grateful to his friends and churchmates with whom he celebrates Christmas with.
Bella Ozisera misses Noche Buena with all family members wide awake and sharing the meal as the clock strikes midnight. Credit: Bella Ozisera (Facebook)
"I really miss waking up at 12-midnight to have Noche Buena with the family," shares social media influencer and content creator Bella Ozisera.
"There's fried chicken, buko salad, and spaghetti. All these fill up my appetite."
For father-of-two, nurse and property mortgage broker Ronald Gatbonton, what he misses most about Christmas in the Philippines is "the children singing carols every night."
"This is what I knew was the spirit of Christmas when I was growing up, especially during the -ber months."
Among the Christmas staples, Ronald's favourite is "bibingka with salted eggs."
Ronald Gatbonton with his small family on Christmas 2023 in Sydney. Credit: Ronald Gatbonton (Facebook)
Although she lives with her children in Sydney, celebrating the festivity with her whole family and relatives is incomparable.
Mary Venus (right) with her children Credit: SBS Filipino
First, the extravagant Christmas lights. Second, the food we have that fills the stomach and even the heart. And of course, my family."
"My favorite is the Bicol express, puto't dinuguan and ginataang native chicken."
