A Filipino by the name Roberto del Rosario holds the patent to the karaoke machine and created the Sing-along system that we all know and love. Del Rosario must have really considered what his fellowmen love to do because almost fifty years later, karaokes are still in full swing in the Philippines. So, grab some good friends, and let’s explore the local karaoke scene.

For most millennials like me, singing along to karaoke is a form of de-stressing after a long week of school or work. We usually go to a karaoke bar on Friday (sometimes in our uniforms straight after school/work) to drive away from the weekday blues. These karaoke bars are everywhere especially in the city and they vary in price and amenities; they charge either by the hour, by room, or per person. A pro tip would be to go from Monday through Thursday because the prices are cheaper these days. Since there’s really no other time other than Friday or Saturday for us, my friends and I think that it’s worth saving for it because the fun is priceless. I would advise you to never expect an hour to be enough because once you start, you would not want to stop. Four hours of karaoke fun is common but for most, it won’t be enough. An hour extension can be requested at your discretion and depending on the availability of the place.

Karaoke is never complete without food and drinks. We’re bound to get hungry and thirsty midway so we pre-order some finger foods and drinks (a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages) to prepare. Upon being assigned to our room, we choose the songs ahead before grabbing the microphone. Having a long list of songs reserved for everyone so the fun never ends is always a good idea. Most karaoke places have a variety of song genres and sometimes you can avail them in other languages but the best choices are your personal picks. With most young people in the Philippines, you can never go wrong with the latest international hits, OPM (Original Pinoy Music), hits from the 90’s, 2000’s and 2010’s, and K-Pop (Korean Pop). While singing along, a running gag we have with the Philippine sing-along system is the use of stock videos that play in the background along with the lyrics so it doesn’t look too bland. These videos range from random scenery, dancing 3D cartoons, girls in swimsuits running in the beach, and clips with really bad acting from old, low budget European romance films (even when the song is mellow and wholesome). They usually don’t use the song’s official music video because of copyright restrictions so you never really know what you’re gonna get.

It is a great outlet to express feelings and more often than not, your friends will begin opening up about their bottled-up emotions. In my experience, we usually start with some rock music to vent our school/work frustrations (the more screaming, the better; besides, who’s there to judge?) then the music choices suddenly will change to pop (so we can dance along) then into sad songs. At this point, someone usually ends up too drunk and taking the song too close to heart and starts crying about their relationship situation. What happens in the room stays in the room!

We always pass the microphone around and make sure everyone gets his own solo, not leaving anyone out. Filipinos, even the quiet ones with the right push and encouragement, will soon start unleashing their wild side in karaoke as they “birit” (reach high notes) from the bottom of their heart. Be supportive and cheer them on even if they’re out of tune because you definitely won’t see them do that again in a long time. When your friends get too drunk, you’ll get the hint once they start sleeping on the couch instead of jumping around so be prepared for it and be there for them.

Singing has always been a core aspect of Filipino culture. After all, music makes us feel more alive, expressing ourselves better and it keeps the party going. It is a great way to bond and forget life’s hardships even just for a few hours. We learn and get to know each other better based on our taste of music so it is a great way to know our colleagues better. Go and hit that note to your heart in a Karaoke bar and don’t forget to pay the bill on your way out! Got a sore throat the next day? Some warm ginger water will help you out!

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Gail Ma

A medical student who is passionate about writing and loves to travel in her free time.

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It is no secret that Filipinos love music and dance so what happens when you combine them both? You get Pinoy Zumba.

Zumba may have originated in Brazil but Filipinos have created their own take on the dance program. All you need is a good dance instructor, a great sound system with an upbeat music playlist, a space to dance in and you’re all set. The usual setup is usually one or more teachers in front or on stage to lead the class, to which they either dance together or take turns while there’s an audience that follows their choreography simultaneously.

The steps are usually easy enough and repeated multiple times before changing into another step. That means even a beginner can catch on and follow the choreography with minimal confusion. Even if you make a mistake or stop to catch your breath, the class still goes on without minding your mistake and you can always join in again when you’re ready. You’re also given water breaks to rehydrate every now and then.

The music doesn’t necessarily have to be Filipino although it feels more nostalgic when it is. Commonly used music includes mainstream popular songs, hits of different eras, and sometimes even music from Latin America. Interestingly, most of the music used is remixed to be more upbeat and danceable and most of the remixes are proudly Filipino-made. Surely, you’ve never thought you could disco dance to a melodramatic song until you’ve heard these remixes!

During pre-quarantine, many gyms and centers offer Zumba classes on a weekly basis. In fact, some malls and public places even offer free classes to whoever wants to join in. However, with the new normal, these classes are no longer available as they are classified as social gatherings. But that won’t stop Pinoys from enjoying their Zumba. From the comforts of their homes using a laptop or a TV with Chromecast, many now access Zumba classes via YouTube. A simple search of “Pinoy Zumba Dance Workout” can provide a variety of videos to choose from and enjoy. Some personal recommendations of mine are LIVELOVEPARTY.TV and SIMPLE DANCE, although you’re welcome to try others and see what suits you.

So why the craze with Pinoy Zumba? For one, it’s a cardio workout that doesn’t feel like a run while you still burn calories. It’s fun and easy especially for those people who hate exercise. Even if it doesn’t feel tedious, you still get the benefits of exercise. In fact, it’s a popular choice with senior citizens but it’s still enjoyed by people of different generations, young and old. It’s really no wonder that it’s a great way to bond with loved ones and make new friends.

The best part? There are no rules. True enough, there’s choreography for you to follow but even in a real-life class, you’re not required to follow it strictly. Many even do freestyle moves but no one minds as long as you’re having fun and getting physical. Besides, who doesn’t love to just go with the beat of the music?

If you’re bored at home and want to do a simple exercise that you can enjoy, why not give it a try? Lose yourself to the happy upbeat energy of Pinoy Zumba.

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Gail Ma

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Jamaica, South Africa, and Colombia – The Top 3 Finalists

Ms. South Africa, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters won the title of Ms. Universe followed by  Ms. Colombia, Laura Gonzales (1^st runner-up) and Ms. Jamaica (2^nd runner-up).  Ms. Japan won the Best National Costume.Ms. Universe is an international event but, Filipinos are owning it! The Philippines is known to be the most enthusiastic nation when it comes to Ms. Universe.  The time Ms. Philippines comes out of the stage and gets the loudest cheers tells it all.  Though Ms. Philippines made it only to the top 10, at the end of the day, Filipinos will still be proud and be rooting for their own.

It was a good competition considering the new format of the pageant.  The candidates were grouped into 3 regions and the Wildcard. There were 33 contestants from the Americas region, 27 contestants from the Europe region and 32 from Africa and the Asia Pacific region.  Four contestants from each region and four from the wildcard group were chosen to join the top 16.   It is a record-breaking event with the most joined event by 92 contestants.  The first time contestants were Ms. Cambodia, Ms. Laos, and Ms. Nepal.

They took the judgment of the contestants from not only the official judges but to getting votes from viewers through Miss Universe’s official website missuniverse.com and hashtags on tweeter.

Ms. Universe 2017 was held in Axis Theater located at the Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas. Harvey was caught saying how he had his first year in Las Vegas as the host of the event and reminded everyone how things went.  It is his third year of hosting it and looks like he is a favorite in spite of what happened.

Judges and Backstage Hosts

The backstage hosts were Ashley Graham (American model), Karson Kressley (TV personality, actor, and designer),  Lu Sierra (model, correspondent, actress, and choreographer),  and Rachel Platte (American singer and songwriter).  Some of their favorites from the first stage show were Colombia, Irish, Spain, Sweden, Zech Republic, Germany, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Guam, Ghana, and South Africa.

The judges were Farouk Shami (Palestinian-American businessman), Ross Matthews (American television personality), Megan Olivi (host of UFC Ultimate Insider), Jay Manuel ( TV Personality, renowned make-up artist, and entrepreneur),  Wendy Fitzwilliam ( Miss Trinidad & Tobago Universe 1998), and our very own Pia Wurtzbach (Ms. Universe 2015).

The Entertainment and Highlights

Fergie took the stage and rocked it by performing her single “A Little Work”  in the evening gown competition. Rachel Platten rendered her song “Broken Glass” which explains that as women, at some point we think that there’s a limit to how high we can go and that this ceiling is unbreakable. The performances were on point to women issues these days and really inspiring!  Baghdad’s story was featured.  They are back on the show after 45 years. Ms. Baghdad made some inspiring remarks how she represents all religions from her country.

The Top 16

Some favorites of the backstage hosts were USA, Venezuela, Mexico, and Colombia.

The Americas region:  Colombia, USA, Brazil, and Canada

Europe region: Spain, Ireland, Croatia, and Great Britain

Africa and Pacific Asia region:  Thailand, Sri Lanka, Ghana, South Africa

Wildcard: Philippines, Venezuela, Jamaica, China

Ms. Philippines had the biggest reaction when she was named first to be the wildcard.

Get to Know the Top 10 Contestants

• Venezuela

“ As feminine as I am, I decided to pursue a career designed for men and now I am a Mechanical Engineer.  I also broke all the stereotypes because there has never been a Miss with such a career.  I became Miss Venezuela and now I am here representing Venezuela.  There is no need to imitate any men in order to be at their level. We are all created equal. With dedication and hard work, you can accomplish anything in life.”

• USA

“The journey to becoming a Scientist actually started at a young age.  I just fell in love into Chemistry because of my High School teacher.  That led me actually to my career at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. We have an ion. We create energy. Being someone who struggled with Math and fell in love with Science and being discouraged to believe that I could never be a Scientist is why I started the program.  I do interactive Science experiments and show the children that Science is fun, opens your imagination, and it’s everywhere.  And that’s why I encourage young girls to discover their passion for science, and passion for discovery.”

• Philippines

“The ocean has a calming effect on me.  Being in the water, you have to surrender yourself to the ocean. When you catch your first wave, you just feel so victorious.  Ever since I was a kid, we’ve always lived close to a beach. We’ve always wakeboarding, scuba diving. That’s just something that’s been embedded in me.  Recently, I just opened my Coffee shop in the Philippines and I’m so proud.  I feel like I’ve grown into a new woman since starting this business.  And hopefully, that inspires people to have a goal and work towards that goal.”

• Canada

“One of the strongest lessons I learned is how powerful women can be when they set their minds to something.  There are a number of challenging moments in everybody’s life. One time when I thought I might fail my Engineering degree.  It is not a walk in the park and I was balancing that with a full-time job and there were number of times in that program where I wanted to call it quits.  The important thing is to look at the end goal and see where you will end up at the end of it.”

• South Africa

“After my crowning, I was hijacked and held at a gunpoint.  I held my hands up, get out of the car, gave them my car keys, gave them my phone and try to run away.  But the guy pulled me back and pushed me back in the car telling me, get in, you’re going with us.  I took a chance and punched him in his throat.  I managed to run away. I was able to go to a safe place.  As a survivor, I was able to launch Unbreakable.  My campaign consisted of getting special fields together to equip women with the necessary skills and knowledge to empower themselves.  This was a dramatic experience and really a bad experience.  I won’t allow myself to be a victim.”

• Spain

“When you’re a kid, you don’t really understand how other kids make fun of you. I didn’t like being tall and now, I realize how privileged I am to be this tall because it allowed me to play basketball.  I have been working in schools, tell them about my experience with bullying and how I overcame it really, focused and discipline. It’s been wonderful, I follow my dreams. I became who I am today through basketball, through sports.  I think we need to focus on what unites us and not on what makes us apart and different.”

• Brazil

“I was born in a very humble Brazilian state that is called Piaua. My family is really really big and it’s a very warm family, very receptive.  One of the things I like to do is to motivate people mainly young people and black children to accept themselves and to accept your beauty. No one is the same as anyone and we need to respect that. Because I’m different, you’re different, we are all different.”

• Colombia

“My family is my team.  My mom, my dad and granny are those who want me to make my dream come true. When I was a little girl, I was bullied.  I was the fat girl of my classroom.  I was hurt a lot.  But it showed me how to be strong and how to look into people’s  soul.  If I told the girl I was years ago that this would happen, she wouldn’t believe me.  I showed that girl that she could do anything with fashion and with love.”

• Thailand

“A special time, you share everything and that sort of represent the Thai people.  We are very caring and sharing.  When I finished my master’s degree in Marketing, it was a time in my life I didn’t have anything planned out for me anymore. I didn’t know what I was going to do. I didn’t know who I was. I think though, being that lost, it made me find myself and made me realize what I wanted to do and that’s why I was here. And I think I can actually make a difference in the sense of a teenage pregnancy.  There’s sort of stigma when it comes to teenage pregnant women, so young girls who get pregnant are shunned from society.  I want to get them back to studying and pursuing their dreams. “

• Jamaica

“I was really excited.  You should really see it.  The magnitude of our landscape, we are very authentic in whatever things we do and what we bring to the plate.  I am in the process of learning sign language.  You know, it is really hard for them not to be able to get the same opportunities or they treat them less because they have a disability or they are different.  I’m in the process of building a sign language especially to break the barriers of communication between persons of a deaf society and persons of the hearing counterpart.”

The Top 5 Finalists

• South Africa

“I would love to move forward as one nation.”

• Venezuela

“I am the best example of that dreams can be fulfilled and that with dedication and much effort we can achieve what we want.”

• Thailand

“Even you’re afraid of something, and even if you think you can’t do it, you just have to try and eventually if you try hard enough, you can do it.”

• Jamaica

“In order to evolve and grow, you have to step outside of your comfort zone because every experience is a lesson and a lesson that will teach you something that will impact your future.”

• Colombia

“I feel very appreciative, a special part and should be the main factor of our society.  I am working for that and I will get that.”

Feedback from the backstage hosts:  They were disappointed that Ms. USA did not make it to the top 5.

The Top 5 Q & A

• South Africa

Q:  Women make up the 49% of the global workplace, what do you believe is the most important issue facing women in the workplace today, and why?

A:  “In some places women get paid 75% of what men earn for doing the same job, working the same hours and I do not believe that is right.  I think we should have equal work for equal pay for women all over the world.”

• Venezuela

Q: Social Media has become a prominent factor in the way we perceive one another. Do you believe social media has had a positive or negative effect on the way we judge beauty?

A: “The social media is what we make of them. We must use social media in a positive way and take away criticisms.  Behind every photo, every social media account, there is a good person, a human who can and we all deserve respect.”

• Thailand

Q:  What do you think has been the most important social movement of your generation and why?

A: “ I think the most social movement so far is that we’re having an aging population but, so the most important movement in my time is definitely the youth.  The youth is the new future.  The youth is something we have to invest in because they are the ones who are going to look after the earth we live in.”

• Jamaica

Q:  Sexual harassment has been at the forefront of recent headlines, why is it important for men and women to work together in tackling this issue?

A:  Sexual harassment is a form of abuse and no abuse should be tolerated whether in the workplace or in society.  I believe that men and women should come together and be professional.  Leave this act alone.  And, anything that happens such as sexual harassment should be taken into the law and should be dealt with.

• Colombia

Q:  Terrorism is one of the main threats facing our world today.  As Miss Universe, you will lead discussions on current issues with communities all over the globe. How would you go about explaining Terrorism to a child?

A:  I have never been a victim or a family member of terrorism.  I can not really explain how it is to be one of them.  But if I had the opportunity to speak to a child, I would tell them that, please, your generation and my generation, we cannot be full of weapons, please, more books, more culture, more friendship, more love.

The Top 3 Finalists for Ms. Universe 2018 and the winner is Ms. South Africa.

FINAL QUESTION for the Top 3

Q:  What quality in yourself are you most proud of and how will you apply that quality to your time as Ms. Universe?

• Jamaica

The most quality that I’m most appreciative of is my drive.  My determination. I am the founder of a foundation that speaks awareness for the deaf community.  And, this platform is a great platform to just let persons know that these persons need opportunities and need equal opportunities as equals in society.  So this Ms. Universe platform will be the platform for me to use this foundation to spread awareness for all the deaf people around.

• Colombia

I am incredibly passionate about everything I do. With compassion, I have discipline.  With compassion, I put myself in every situation I work at.  I’ve done this as an actress.  I’ve done this as Ms. Colombia. I do not doubt that I would do this as Ms. Universe.

• South Africa

As Ms. Universe, you have to be confident in who you are as an individual.  And Ms. Universe is a woman that has overcome many fears and by that, she’s able to help other women overcome their fears.  She’s a woman that nothing is ever too much to ask for and I think that is exactly who I am.

Ms. South Africa was declared Ms. Universe 2017

The Final Winners

2^nd Runner-up – Ms. Jamaica, Davina Bennette

1^st Runner-up – Ms. Colombia, Laura Gonzales

Ms. Universe – Ms. South Africa, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters

Harvey has this perfect line before he announced the winners, “We have been here before.  Do not let anything happen.  Be afraid, be very afraid.” I guess Harveys hosting is an epic in the history of Ms. Universe.

Ms. Philippines made it to the top 10.

See TRANSCRIPT of Ms. Universe 2017

See also Why Filipinos are #1 Followers of Ms. Universe

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Hover or tap underlined words for translations to Tagalog and Ilocano text. Listen to audio translations below. Shareable Christmas Quotes below!

The spirit of Christmas among Filipinos is reflected through this picture. – Photo by Rizal Domingo

Christmas is a season that every Filipino is looking forward to. Everyone starts feeling the spirit of Christmas as early as the month of September.  When you turn on the FM radio on Sept 1st, you will hear the Christmas songs all day. They start to decorate the malls, parks, and streets.  Most of the houses are ready to put up their Christmas lanterns and Christmas trees.  If we are fond of setting up a Christmas tree in the United States, Filipinos are fond of lanterns. Everyone loves to have a fancy Christmas tree, but most will end up customizing their Christmas tree from scratch because they can’t afford to buy one otherwise, just simple decorations will do.  Some kids in school make lanterns as their projects and bring them home.  There is usually a Christmas or Lantern parade in towns where everyone showcases their lanterns.

Shopping is always a part of Christmas, but for most Filipinos who can’t afford to buy presents, they sure will prepare foods that will get everyone together on Christmas Day.  They will for sure enjoy attending the “Misa de Gallo” or midnight mass.  There are stores that sell “puto bumbong”, “hot pandesal”, and some native delicacies and they usually enjoy these foods after attending the mass.

Balikbayan Box – A box full of goodies and presents usually prepared by Filipinos abroad to send to their families on Christmas season and any time of the year.

Every Filipino abroad is looking forward to seeing their families in the Philippines but sad to say that there are many who would not for some reasons.  Most Filipinos put up a balikbayan box full of presents to send to their families in the Philippines.  Some may not be able to put up a balikbayan box, but they will surely send money to buy presents. It is also a time for Filipinos have reunion parties.  It is a time to get reunited with friends, schoolmates, or family members that they haven’t met for a long time.

Carolling was one of my favorite parts of Christmas.  When I was a kid, I would convince the kids in the neighborhood or my cousins to go out for caroling.  Filipinos prepare for carolers. They know that Christmas is the best time to just be generous without expecting anything in return.  When I am at home, on break from school, I would hear carolers by our door the whole day.  There were times when we ran out of money to give, I would look for some available foods we have and share it with them. I wished I had some candies to spare 🙂

Filipinos love the idea of abundant foods for Christmas meals.

Filipinos are fond of preparing homemade foods or delicacies.  It is a time when everyone prepares for the best foods they could afford and share it with everyone who joins them on Christmas Eve including the neighbors.
In the Ilocos region, we bake this native delicacy called, “tupig”.  I have always loved the aroma of it.  Since they are made of glutinous rice wrapped in banana leaves, you could smell the good aroma while baking them.  So many well-known foods that are favorites of everyone are the queso de bola, puto bumbong, suman, bibingka, deep fried pork (chicharon), lechon (grilled pork), macaroni salad, leche flan, Filipino style spaghetti, pansit malabon, pansit bihon, etc.

If Santa is popular in the western world, Baby Jesus dominates the word Santa in the Philippines.  Most Filipino people always consider that Christmas is Jesus’ birthday.  Though kids love the idea of Santa because he is known to give toys on Christmas day if you’ve been good, but in reality it does not happen to every Filipino kid.  Some kids may always have Santa visit them, but to most, they are content having their family together on Christmas Eve without any expectations of presents at all.

Celebrating Christmas for most Filipinos means it is time to make amends, time to give, it is time to attend the Misa de Gallo and have some hot pandesal, hot puto bumbong, and hot chocolate after mass, time to see loved ones from abroad, time to shop and party, time to have karaoke, and most especially it is time to reflect what it means having Jesus in their lives.

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Tagalog Audio Translations

amends - magbayad sa mga pagkukulang A box full of goodies and presents. - balikbayan box banana leaves - dahon ng saging A baked food made of rice flour. - bibingka can't afford - hindi kaya A crispy deep fried pork. - chicharon Christmas - Pasko could afford - kaya decorations - mga palamuti / mga dekorasyon family - pamilya foods - mga pagkain glutinous rice - malagkit good aroma - mabango hear - marinig A creamy toasted bread. - pandesal lanterns - mga parol A dessert made of milk and egss. - leche flan Roasted whole pig. - lechon native delicacies - mga pagkaing Pilipino neighbors - mga kapitbahay Rice noodles mixed with vegetables and meat. - pansit bihon Rice noodles mixed with seafoods sauceand with egg toppings. - pansit malabon parade - parada streets - mga kalsada spirit - espiritu songs - mga kanta shop - mamili season - panahon A cheese ball - queso de bola Steamed rice flour with purple yam and coconut. - puto bumbong presents - mga regalo prepare - maghanda parks - mga parke Steamed glutinous rice wrapped with banana or cocounut leaves. - suman toys - mga laruan Merry Christmas! - Maligayang Pasko! C1115-39 What is your wish for Christmas? - Ano ang ninanais para sa pasko? I wish I could come visit you. - Sana mabisita kita diyan. I would love to eat lechon. - Gusto kong kumain ng lechon.

Ilocano Audio Translations

amends - agbayad kadagiti nagkurangan banana leaves - bulong ti saba can't afford - haan nga makaya Christmas - Paskua could afford - kaya decorations - dekorasyon family - pamilya foods - dagiti makan glutinous rice - diket good aroma - nabanglo C1115-53 C1115-54 parade - parada C1115-56 presents - dagiti regalo C1115-59 shop - gumatang songs - dagiti kankanta spirit - espiritu streets - dagiti kalsada toys - dagiti ay-ayam Made of glutinous rice, molasses and sesame seeds. - tupig C1115-66 Happy New Year! - Naragsak nga Baro a Tawen! What is your wish for Christmas? - Ana ti ar-arapaapem para ti paskua? I wish I could come visit you. - Arapaap ko ti umay mangbisita kenka. I would love to eat lecho. - Kayat ko ti mangan ti lechon.

COUNTDOWN QUOTATIONS TO CHRISTMAS – CLICK, COMMENT AND SHARE IT!

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> See Shareable Christmas Greetings Translations in all Filipino Dialects.

> See 10 Tips When Visiting the Philippines for Christmas

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Bat Island, Pangasinan, Philippines Photo by Bart Jake Mapps

Hover or tap underlined words for translations to Tagalog and Ilocano text. Listen to audio translations below.

Happy Halloween! Creepy photos? It was not on a snowy day in North America, but rather it was pretty much summertime in the Philippines.

It is the best time to talk about the bats we have seen in one of the more than one hundred islands in Pangasinan, Philippines.  If the Philippines is known for its 7,107 islands and it will be difficult to explore all the islands, you may want to hit one hundred islands in a small amount of time (possibly in one day). Hundred Islands is 5 hours drive from Manila and along the way, it is exhilarating to see a lot of ponds and the oceans. There are many small stores along the way and it will be fun to buy some bargain goodies.

Photo by Bart Jake Mapps

Many of the goodies are made of seashells, fish, or anything from the ocean.  The island that caught our eyes and one of the most interesting islands was the Bat Island. It was weird that there were just many bats hanging on the trees on the island.   I realized it was in the day that the bats would sleep.  We have hit a few islands right before passing the Bat Island.  The thoughts that these bats are awake in the night time,  there is a chance for them to visit all the other islands.  Nobody wanted to get on the island as it was not advisable.  The waters are clean, pristine, placid and so inviting that anyone would love to consider staying overnight in one of the islands.  So, I asked our tour guide if they allow people to stay in the islands during night time.  He said, there are islands that are pretty safe and there are islands that are not good for an overnight stay at all. I did not dig into the matter of what makes some safe and others not. I left the conversation hanging,  so I won’t be scared to stay overnight in one of the islands when I go back again.  So if you want to see real bats on Halloween or any time of the year, consider Hundred Islands.

Trick or Treat? Trick or treating is a practice in North America and some other parts of the world, in which kids go from house to house in search of candies or goodies. I grew up not knowing what these words were.  I just knew that every 1st through 2nd  of November (All Saints’ Day  and All Souls’ Day),  we were to visit the dead in the cemetery.  At a later time,  children became aware of Halloween and have joined the culture. Though trick or treating is not widely practiced in the Philippines, Halloween parties have become a part of the lives of people and are widely celebrated in the Philippines nowadays.  People are excited to wear their costumes though there are not many candies to share.

All Saints’ Day – Philippines

All Saint’s Day was one of the holidays that I always looked forward to. Why? I get to have a chance to be acquainted with other people who are also celebrating the same thing at the cemetery. What happens on this day? You will see a lot of people in the cemetery, lots of side street stores to buy flowers, candles and even foods to offer for the dead.  Some people play music as like they are partying with the souls.  It seems pretty weird, but it is something that people are happy to do with their dead ones.  Some bring alcohol drinks though it is prohibited because they treat this day as like a festival for the souls and themselves.  It is not awkward to put up tents, play music and party all night because it is what so many people would like to do. Some will go there just to offer prayers for their dead ones and leave early to avoid the crowd.

The crowd can be scary if you are not used to it.  The holiday brings heavy traffic most especially the roads that are close to cemeteries.   Manila has always experienced the most horrible traffic during the holiday. But other than the hassles of crowd and traffic, it is one of the holidays that most Filipinos prepare for. For them, if dealing with the crowd on a day like this is to happen, then they can sacrifice to visit the cemetery and offer flowers,  light candles, and most especially prayers to commemorate the memories of their loved ones.

Tagalog Audio Translations

weird - kakaiba seashells - mga kabibi practiced - ensayado overnight - magdamag night - gabi one hundred - isang daan island - isla horrible - nakakapangilabot holiday - bakasyon flowers - bulaklak dead - patay day - araw crowd - maraming tao costume - kasuutan cemetery - sementeryo celebrate - ipinagdiriwang candles - mga kandila bat - paniki All Souls' Day - Araw ng mga Kaluluwa All Saints' Day. Araw ng mga Santo. I want to see Hundred Islands. It is scary to go to the cemetery at night time. It is pretty different in the Philippines. The bat island in Hundred Islands is pretty scary. What are the good stuff to buy in Hundred Islands?

All Saints' Day - Aldaw dagiti Santo All Souls' Day - Piesta ti Natay bat - paniki candles - dagiti kandela celebrate - selebraran cemetery - kamposanto costume - aruaten crowd - adu nga tao day - aldaw dead - natay flower - sabsabong holiday - bakasyon horrible - nakabutbuteng island - isla night - rabii one hundred - sangagasut overnight - agpatnag seashells - dagiti kappo weird - sabsabali The bat island in Hundred Islands is pretty scary. I want to see Hundred Islands. It is pretty different in the Philippines. It is scary to go to the cemetery at night time. What are the good stuff to buy in Hundred Islands?

>>> Read more stories about the Filipino Culture while you learn the basics of the Filipino Language.

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