By Santosh Digal
Manila, Sept 2, 2020: Come September, Christians and others in the Philippines begin the countdown for Christmas.
But, amid the coronavirus that has impacted the economy, health hazards and loss of jobs, most Filipinos are more worried for survival for the time being than the usual three-month-long celebrations of Christians.
“It may be different in the physical sense but true meaning of Christmas should always be the same—sharing, loving, caring and supporting each other,” Bambi Eustaquio-Lucman, a dentist from Cubao diocese, told Matters India.
“It is an occasion to thank the Lord for all the blessings even amid temporary sufferings the pandemic has brought about for all,” she added.
The Philippines is a nation of more than 100 million people, most of them Catholic.
Covid-19 and protracted lockdown have robbed excitement about Christmas for most people in the Philippines.
“We won’t be able to spend it with some relatives like we used to do. No grand parties nowadays. Celebrate Christmas with physical distancing in mind,” said Mary Joanne, a mother of two.
“We don’t have to dress to the nines because there will be no visitors anyway,” she added.
From September 1, major media networks in the country broadcast Christmas carols, newspapers begin Christmas advertisements and shopping malls decorate with Christmas items—of course with all commercial motifs.
For Filipinos, Christmas has special significance in terms of cultural distinctiveness and to create a festive food for people.
It is said that the Philippines has three seasons: the dry season, rainy (or wet) season and Christmas season that runs from September 1 to January 6, the feast of Epiphany. For some it lasts until Valentine’s Day on February 14.
The country has also some special features related to Christmas celebrations.
Catholics begin nine-day long “Simbang Gabi” (a pre-dawn version of the midnight Mass) from December 16. This practice was introduced by Spain that colonized the country in 1587.