The New Year, the Food, and the Tradition

The New Year celebration in the Philippines is the one of the loudest in the world. Christmas in the Philippine islands is undoubtedly the longest but Christmas Eve is under-celebrated—which is surprising since the country is predominantly Roman Catholic. The New Year celebration is a very big deal in the Philippines. It is more colorful and flashier than Christmas. It is noisier than Christmas.

Back when I was a kid, I used to ask my folks why the hikay for the Noche Buena is lesser than the hikay for Media Noche. They told me that it has always been that way, that the celebrations for the Bag-ong Tuig are much bigger. I used to tell them that they should be giving more emphasis on Christmas—I was still religious at that time—now, I don’t know what I’ve become—I still do believe that the Christmas celebration should be more prominent than the New Year’s Day fanfare.

What are the events on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day? What traditions do we observe?

This bird that once soared high in the heavens seemed satisfied to live the barnyard life of the lowly hen

The New Year’s Eve is a very busy day. The malls and groceries are crowded. The jeepneys are crowded—almost everyone is off to the grocer’s.  

Yesterday, my mother, who was about to leave for the shops, asked me what I wanted to eat for Media Noche. I told her to cook spaghetti but she insisted that we cook bam-i since we already had penne on Christmas. Noodles are always served on New Year’s Eve. Eating noodles on New Year’s Day or on one’s birthday brings long life, a belief which we got from the Chinese.

When I told her to cook fried chicken since I’ve been eating pork since Christmas, she reminded me that we can not have fried chicken on the first day of the year. We don’t serve chicken since chickens have what Cebuanos call the ‘kakha, tuka’ (scratch and peck) habit—figuratively, it means living from hand to mouth. Cebuanos fear serving chicken, which scratches and pecks, would have the family barely making ends meet on the coming year. I don’t know if this belief applies to the whole country. I am still to see a chicken served on the table on Media Noche.

I wasn’t really able to choose a dish since my mama seems to have an objection to my choices. My mother was better off not asking for my opinion. She left for the grocer’s and I didn’t get to pick a dish.

Jump up and you’ll shoot up, pull your ilong and it’ll be long

The start of the year is also a time that we invest on our health. No, it is not about health insurances. Rather, it is about feeling well and healthy on January 1st.  There is a belief that if you get sick on New Year’s Day, you’ll be sickly the whole year.

Jumping up on New Year’s Eve is believed to increase one’s physical height. I’ve been jumping at midnight every January 1 but it never increased my height. What did I expect? It’s a superstition. It’s silly but I used to believe it—I was hoping to grow taller to at least 6’0. The jumping tradition is still very much alive today.

There is also a belief that pressing and stretching one’s nose on New Year’s Eve would make your nose longer. Who doesn’t want a long, narrow, and pointed nose?

Small circle, small circle, big circle...

New Year’s Day in the Philippines is a time of circles and spheres. Circles resemble coins. Coins are money. Well, the circles and the spheres are not about the accumulation of wealth—they’re about prosperity.

(clockwise) watermelon, ponkans, cantaloupe, sapodillas,
purple mangosteens, yellow pomegranate and Asian pears.

On New Year’s Day, people used to wear polka dots. They say that the circles bring good fortune to the wearer. I don’t know if this tradition is still alive today. I haven’t seen people wear polka dots on December 31 and January 1. I believe polka dots are passé.

On the same day, still for prosperity's sake, the tables are laden with round-shaped fruits—usually thirteen—but may also include ovals and oblongs and multiple varieties of oranges, apples, and other fruits. Why 13? They say that the number 13 is lucky to the Chinese people. Round cakes, jamon de bola, queso de bola, chocolate coins, and other circular or round-shaped food are also served.

And then we made some noise

At the stroke of midnight, people make loud noises. Some shake their coin-filled pockets. Others bang their pots and pans. Kids blow their torotot—a horn made of plastic or cardboard.  Volumes are pumped up. Everyone else ignite their fireworks and firecrackers.

The noise from the firecrackers and fireworks are believed to drive away the malevolent spirits and bad luck—another belief that we got from the Chinese.  For the same purpose, we max out the volume, shake our pockets and bang our pans and pots. At the same time, shaking the pockets, a tradition that I still do, and banging the pots and pans are believed to fill the pockets and tables.

Well, some people are so fond of bad luck they run half way to meet it and end up losing a finger or more.

A new day, a new year

On January 1st, people would remind you to refrain from spending. It is believed that if you’re frugal at the start of the year, you will be able to avoid unnecessary expenses in the whole year.

Lastly, still on January 1st, some, if not most, people would go to church—some of them would wake up very early to hear Mass even though most of them stayed up the whole night the previous night. Some of my friends got dragged to church even when they’re still very sleepy. I’ve experienced going to church in the middle of sleep and wakefulness but on the day of the Sinulog not on New Year’s Day. When I asked my folks why people go to church on New Year’s Day, they told me that it was the tradition—no further explanation.

In school, I learned that first day of the year is a Holy Day of Obligation—I survived Catholic school. We were taught that the faithful are obliged to participate in the Mass on Sundays and on other holy days of obligation. What I did not learn—which I learned later outside of school—is that the first day of the year is the Feast of the Circumcision. I remember asking my self why we were obliged to go hear Mass on January 1—I don’t remember any of my teachers explain the reason why—it may have slipped their minds or I failed to listen to the discussion.

There is a work around to hearing Mass on January 1st. It’s not really a work around, but it was one of outcomes of the Second Vatican Council. One can go to church the evening of December 31. Since the Second Vatican Council, the time for fulfilling the obligation to attend Mass on Sunday or a Holy Day of Obligation now begins on the evening of the day before, and most parish churches do celebrate the Sunday Mass also on Saturday evening. Eek, I’m talking religion now.

The Philippines literally celebrate the New Year with a bang. It is made colourful, noisier and flashier by the traditions—both religious and superstitious—observed on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Of Starting Things and Not Finishing Them

I've always been inquisitive. I always want to try things—I easily get attracted to new things. So, I’ve been blabbering about my interests—personal interests—professional and leisurely. These interests had made me had me venture in things familiar and unfamiliar. I’ve done a lot of things, started a lot of things that some of them are unfinished or were neglected or were completely forgotten.

My father used to tell me or yell at me—reminds me of That ‘70s Show’s Red Forman— that I am only good at starting things and that I do not see things through the end. Well, I do not usually leave things unfinished. But, I won’t deny that I have some unfinished businesses of my own. The list includes: 

1. Stamp collecting

I used to collect stamps but I was not a philatelist. I didn't learn about the word philately until I was in high school. Stamp collectors and be philatelists but not all philatelists are stamp collectors. 

I started collecting stamps when I was around 4 or 5 years old.  I got started in to the hobby when I saw one of my cousin’s stockbooks. I started collecting out of envy. I thought stamp collecting was the in thing at that time. Some older kids at our neighborhood, at that time, used to have a large collection of stamps. Learning that people collect stamps, I started cutting them out of my folks’ mails. When people learned that I collect them, they’ve habitually given me stamps after they’ve read their mail.

After a year, I was able to completely fill up my 16-page stockbook—my first and only—it measured like a regular school notebook.

Around 1992, I stopped collecting stamps; no one in school had the same hobby as I had.  I still received stamps every now and then while in grade school—I kept them in a large Manila envelope—I never got to buy a new stockbook.  The hobby slowly died out of me before I finished elementary school.

2. Running

Some runner in the 
Pink October Run, October 2010

I was never the athletic type. Growing up I never had a sport. I first started running around July of 2010. 2010 was the year running boomed in Cebu. After seeing images of friends in fun runs posted in Facebook, I decided to start running. I also felt that I needed to work out—I was getting fatter. I was classified as Obese Class I during my last pre-employment medical exam, which was around a year and a half ago; before I started on my last regular job. I’m slimmer and healthier now—I still need a lot of work though—blame heredity.

The first run I joined was the Energizer Night Race—it was the first Energizer Night Race held in Mandaue and in the Philippines—a good way to start my running career. I joined the 3K race and finished in 55th place within 15 minutes. Not bad for a noob.

A month later, I ran 5K in the 1st Recoletos Run. I then ran 10K in the Cebu Eliminations of the 34th National MILO® Marathon in August.

The following months, I ran fun runs on weekends and practice runs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I, originally, planned to run a half marathon in a year and a marathon in the following year. Guess I won’t be able run those distances very soon. 

The last run I joined was the 7+–kilometer cross country run, the Argao Mud Run, which was held on January of this year. I finished the run in 01:05:24—which was a low since I lacked practice. I went back to school in the second semester of the 2011–2012 academic year, that’s when I got busy with school and failed to run on weekends. When school ended, I was enjoying living a sedentary life—spending most of my time in front of the computer and staying up late—that I didn’t have the time to run. 

3. Geocaching

I first learned about geocaching in 2006 when I read it in a magazine. I am not sure if I read it on the Reader’s Digest or some other magazine.  At that time, geocaching was unheard of in the Philippines.

Geocaching is an outdoor sporting activity in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called 'geocaches' or 'caches', anywhere in the world. Geocaches can also be found in space, in other planets or in a spacecraft.

The Groundspeak Geocaching Logo is a

registered trademark of Groundspeak, Inc. 
Used with permission.

Early this year, feeling bored, I decided to check the geocaching website if there were geocaches in the Philippines.  I found out that there were a number of caches hidden in the country and the closest one was a virtual cache in Mactan.

The next day, around 12 PM, with my phone and my father's GPS in hand, I took a jeepney going to Mactan. The coordinates pointed to the Mactan Shrine. But, I’ve already figured out the location of cache based on the title.

It was my second time, to visit the place and I was surprised by the changes in the area. The first time I visited the shrine was in the early ‘90s, during the time my aunt’s fiancé Aussie visited the country. I believe the area used to be muddy or sandy—I remember catching agukoy in the area. The place now is a full-blown park with benches, trees, shops, and paved paths.   

Around three in the afternoon, I went home after exploring the area, taking pictures, and having a much-needed ice cream under the shade of trees—it was a very hot day. When I got home, I logged my find and uploaded the images, and shared my experiences in the geocaching website.

I still have to log my future finds. I would have logged my second and third find, if only Donah Marie and Julie invited me, respectively, to Kawasan and Dumaguete. 

Luckily, the things I listed are resumable. I can still continue running, collecting stamps and geocaching. I can go back in to running—any time soon—if only I’d hit the sack early. As for my stamp collection, I can continue collecting stamps, trade stamps, and, maybe, join the Cebu Philatelic Society. I can also sell the stamps online but I’d have to learn the stamp selling ropes. Good thing about geocaches is that they are created and expected to stay for a long time. I can search for the caches if I have the money and the free time. I can search for them next year or in 5 years

What a Beautiful Head!

I haven’t been in the writing mood lately. Well, I really am not a prolific writer. I only write when inspiration strikes—good thing I’m not an employed/paid writer ‘cause I would really suck at it—I won’t be able to meet my deadlines. I been trying hard to force my self to write—face the computer, write and delete, revise what I’ve written so far, and wait for the inspiration to come. I’m a disturbed guy. A lot of things have been going in my head. I sit for hours in front of the computer but it seems that the Muses are not around to guide these days—or, they’re around but I am so preoccupied that they’re unable to influence me.

Why the preoccupation? For those who don’t know me personally, I am someone who is always thinking. I am always disturbed and I am always distracted. One may see me having fun, enjoying stuff, and sharing a laugh but inside I am thinking. There are instances that I disconnect my self. I get sucked up by my mental black hole every now and then. I sometimes would tell my friends, jokingly, that I am solving an equation in my head.

                                                                                                            

What’s going on in my head? I am thinking about the future—sometimes—rarely, I don’t really plan and anticipate the future. I am also thinking about politics and the country, personal stuff, Q’s & A’s, and silly and unimportant things.

What about the future? What about politics? What are these questions? What are these personal stuff and what are these silly and unimportant things?

Though I choose to live and enjoy the days as they come, I won’t deny that I get anxious about the future. What does Numerology say? What does the future hold for me? Christmas is fast approaching, should I expect presents? The year is ending, would 2012 be a good year? Is 2012 the end of times? If the world does not end next year, I am turning a year older in January, should I expect more presents?

The mid-season finales of my favorite shows have left me guessing.  What would happen in the next episodes of Merlin, Nikita, and Supernatural? Is Bobby Singer dead for good? Could The Big Bang Theory,  2 Broke Girls, and Threesome get any funnier? What will happen in the third season finale of HBO's Hung? What should I expect in the what if? episode of Grey’s Anatomy? How would things end in the final season of Desperate Housewives? How are they going to portray the Third Servile War in Spartacus: Blood and Sand’s second season and sequel, Spartacus: Vengeance?

The past days has also got me concerned about the country. Would the Philippines get any better or would it worsen? Would President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo—I’m a big fan, I prefer to call her president— be able to get treatment outside the country? Would they be able to prove her guilt? I doubt it. Would the country’s economy get any stronger? Should I exile my self from the country and return when PNoy’s term has ended?

Should I start looking for a regular day job, just in case things turn out more unfavorable? Do I have to find a regular day job even though, I think, I can substantially earn doing freelance home-based jobs and part-time jobs? Are part-time jobs and freelance jobs enough for me?  Would I be able to find my dream job?

Another thing, the Italian language has been bugging me. It seems to me that I haven’t learned anything. Hey, I’ve learned a lot but I need more practice—I need to talk to Italians so that I don’t forget the words. Would I be able to use those words? Have I acquired an extensive vocabulary? Is my grammar good or bad? Would I be able to claim that parlo bene italiano or, better yet, parlo molto bene italiano? Would I be able to master the language? Would I learn another language after Italian? 

Il mio dizionario e libro di testo.

Thinking of a good topic to write has also been very taxing. What should I write about? What would be my next post? Will I be able to write a post very soon? I have a lot of ideas, good ideas to write, don't know which to write first. 

Lastly, I’m thinking greatly about my mother and my siblings. What’s going inside their minds? What is my mother thinking about, after she found out about my ef**** father’s indiscretion? Should I pretend not to care and let them (my parents) figure things out or let them kill each other? Should I step up, being the eldest, and confront my father? Should my brothers and I gang up on him? Should we kick our father out? Honestly, I, as a kid, wished that I'd find out that I have a half-brother that I can bully and befriend later or later than later—I watch a lot of TV—it's a different story. 

                                                         

Now that I’ve mentioned my father it seems that I’ve lost the drive to write. I’ve been waiting for inspiration to strike—reading one blog post to Jasmin’s post to another post—and now that I found the impetus to write, I had to lose it to my cheating father.

                                                         

Writing this one has made me realize a few things. I realized that I may need to get multiple jobs just in case I kick my father out. That PNoy would only disappoint me. I shouldn’t be too hard on my self—I shouldn’t think a lot. I don’t know if it is healthy to think a lot or think less or if there are other people who think as much as I think. That I could be mentally ill—or not, though I’ve described my self as such in the past. That I should seek therapy—for the heck of it—I find writing and computer games therapeutic.