| The Filipinos are considered a simple and
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| | when a family member got cured of a long
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| happy people. This is evidenced by the
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| | illness, or simply when a family likes to
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| fact that many Filipinos love to
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| | just thank God for the many blessings
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| celebrate for any reason even with meager
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| | that have been bestowed on them.
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| resources.
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| | Celebrating birthdays, anniversaries,
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| The cheerful disposition of Filipinos may
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| | even death anniversaries, baptisms or
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| sometimes surprise and strike the
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| | christening, Christmas and Easter, are
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| foreigner as a lack of seriousness but
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| | standard celebrations which include the
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| upon knowing more about the customs in
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| | entire extended family. For example, I
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| the Philippines, one would understand
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| | would not be surprised if suddenly, all
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| that cheerfulness is a part the country's
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| | my relatives visit my home during my
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| culture.
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| | birthday or when they come over for
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| Family bonds are strong in the Filipinos.
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| | Christmas.
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| If ever there are reasons to celebrate a
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| | Celebrating Christmas in the Philippines
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| certain occasion, no matter how
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| | is probably the longest in the entire
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| insignificant, Filipinos take the
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| | world. The spirit of Christmas usually
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| opportunity to have reunions and family
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| | fills the air during the "ber" months --
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| gatherings. These celebrations include
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| | September, October, November and
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| not just the immediate family but other
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| | December, and usually until the first few
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| relatives as well, such as uncles,
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| | weeks of January.
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| aunties, cousins, nephews, nieces, and
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| | Come September, one would already hear
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| grandparents.
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| | Christmas carols being aired over the
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| For example, Filipinos love to celebrate
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| | radio. Malls and department stores would
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| different occasions that include, among
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| | start their "Christmas" sale and some
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| other occasions, the passing of a state
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| | would even go as far as having Christmas
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| board examination of a member of the
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| | decorations by September.
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| family, job promotions, "bienvenidas" or
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| | Everyone looks forward to Christmas as
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| "welcome back" celebrations (e.g. the
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| | this would be a great occasion to visit
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| arrival of someone after working some
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| | families in the province, especially if
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| time in another country), "despedidas" or
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| | someone spends the entire year working in
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| "send-off or farewell parties", such as
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| | a distant city. Many companies usually go
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| when a family member would live or work
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| | on vacation beginning a week before
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| abroad, and even town fiestas, where an
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| | Christmas, December 25, until the first
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| entire town celebrates the feast of its
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| | week of January.
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| patron saint.
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| | During the Christmas season, it is not
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| Filipinos love fiestas. "Fiesta" means
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| | unusual for someone to attend several
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| feast and this custom was adapted from
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| | Christmas parties. There is a Christmas
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| the Spaniards, who introduced
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| | party with office friends, another party
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| Christianity in the Philippines. The
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| | with high school classmates or even
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| fiesta is an occasion to give thanks for
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| | university batchmates, parties with the
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| all the blessings that a town has
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| | members of one's sports club, company
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| received.
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| | sponsored parties, and of course, several
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| Of course, Filipinos also love to
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| | family Christmas parties.
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| celebrate thanksgiving parties, such as
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