Filipino Christmas Traditions

There is no Christmas like a Filipino Christmas. Every Filipino knows that the season officially starts during the “Ber Months”, making it the longest Christmas celebration in the world. It’s becoming a tradition that on September 1, you can expect the Jose Mari Chan memes to pop up on your feed, marking the start of the season. During this time, malls and other public spaces already start putting up Christmas decor, a full three months before December even starts. It’s funny, because nowhere in the world will you see Christmas decorations come up even before the Halloween decor – in some places, they even just put them up side by side. But beyond the decorations, the months-long celebration, and the memes, there is a rich

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Promdi to the Big City

In 1975, after high school, I was awarded several college scholarships in Manila. However, I chose to study at Ateneo de Davao.  My Alma Mater was one of three colleges run by the Society of Jesus (SJ) in three very strategic centers in Mindanao: Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and Zamboanga. It was the college of choice for most of the local elite – if they didn’t go to Manila for college, they went to Ateneo de Davao.  I would miss my hometown of Padada, but Davao City was close enough. If I had transport money, I could always go home. Also, my elder sister was staying in Davao, so I planned to stay with her and her family to save on board and lodging costs. 

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A Homecoming Speech

On October 18 and 19, 2025, the St Michael’s College of Padada’s  high school class of 1975 will celebrate its Golden Jubilee. I belong to this batch, and I look forward to the occasion — to meet my batchmates, some of whom I have not seen since graduation. In the meantime, let me share with you a speech I delivered during another Golden Jubilee celebration of teh foundign of our school — what used to be St Michael’s Academy when it was , then St Michael’s College and now, St Michael’s School of Padada. I share this speech in my earlier blog, Wednesdays with Nic (wednesdayswithnic.com) Here it is: Dear guests, former teachers, peers and fellow alumni of St. Michael School of Padada, MAAYONG HAPON

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A Realization of a Long-standing Dream

For the longest time, one of the long-standing items in my bucket list is to set up a library-museum in my hometown of Padada, Davao del Sur. There are no museums in Padada. The only libraries are those that are in the two private schools in town. It’s very rare to find someone in Padada whose pastime is reading. Everyone has their phones anyway, and the instant gratification that social media brings is more accessible (and more addicting) than books. If they’re not on their phones, they’re just sitting around, gossiping, or drinking – what else is there to do?   Nothing New, but Something Uncommon It might not be an extremely novel idea, as there are small libraries and museums in other towns. However,

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Game of Titas: Jackstone

Before the advent of video games, smartphones, and tablets, boys and girls used to play outside with their friends. Children didn’t need fancy and expensive gadgets to have fun. For most games, all you needed were a few friends – if you did need some equipment, it was mostly things found outside, around the house, or were relatively inexpensive (if you needed to purchase them).  From the basics, like habulan, patintero, or tumbang preso, there’s a lot of traditional games Filipino children from around the country play. Nowadays, it seems like only the titos and titas are the only ones who remember these classic games and how to play them.  This is a series I’d like to call Games Children No Longer Play. Join me

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Game of Titos and Titas: Syatong

Before the advent of video games, smartphones, and tablets, boys and girls used to play outside with their friends. Children didn’t need fancy and expensive gadgets to have fun. For most games, all you needed were a few friends – if you did need some equipment, it was mostly things found outside, around the house, or were relatively inexpensive (if you needed to purchase them).  From the basics, like habulan, patintero, or tumbang preso, there’s a lot of traditional games Filipino children from around the country play. Nowadays, it seems like only the titos and titas are the only ones who remember these classic games and how to play them.  This is a series I’d like to call Games Children No Longer Play. Join me

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Game of Titos: Holen

Before the advent of video games, smartphones, and tablets, boys and girls used to play outside with their friends. Children didn’t need fancy and expensive gadgets to have fun. For most games, all you needed were a few friends – if you did need some equipment, it was mostly things found outside, around the house, or were relatively inexpensive (if you needed to purchase them).  From the basics, like habulan, patintero, or tumbang preso, there’s a lot of traditional games Filipino children from around the country play. Nowadays, it seems like only the titos and titas are the only ones who remember these classic games and how to play them.  This is a series I’d like to call Games Children No Longer Play. Join me

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Game of Titos and Titas: Birus

Before the advent of video games, smartphones, and tablets, boys and girls used to play outside with their friends. Children didn’t need fancy and expensive gadgets to have fun. For most games, all you needed were a few friends – if you did need some equipment, it was mostly things found outside, around the house, or were relatively inexpensive (if you needed to purchase them).  From the basics, like habulan, patintero, or tumbang preso, there’s a lot of traditional games Filipino children from around the country play. Nowadays, it seems like only the titos and titas are the only ones who remember these classic games and how to play them.  This is a series I’d like to call Games Children No Longer Play. Join me

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Throwback to a Bygone Era – Playing Lastiko, and the Lessons it Taught Me

Kids nowadays rarely play outside with their friends. Most of the time, their noses are glued to the screen of their tablets, smartphones, computers, or other video game consoles. They rarely see the sun or shed a drop of sweat. Looking at the children now and the games that they play, my childhood seems so radically different. Bygone era, indeed.  Growing up, my parents could hardly keep me inside the house. There were still no video games back then; even if there were, I knew my parents could not afford to buy me one.  So, I grew up playing outside with friends. We didn’t need any fancy, expensive equipment. All I needed were my closest friends and neighbors, and a free afternoon. I go home

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Musings from eight years ago for a Better Philippines

Saw this in my notes from eight years ago: Three things will guarantee the country’s image as an investment haven: tough bureaucratic and economic reforms, tax system overhaul, and an infrastructure build-up. I believe it was true then, and it is still true now.  If you think about it, the groundwork for the last two was already laid with the TRAIN Law, CREATE Law etc., and the Build Build Build project.  We need to keep moving forward – and my hope is that our current and future leaders work together in order to change the country for the better.  Enough of the politicking.

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