A few more days and it is going to be Christmas. Almost done with the shopping and wrapping of gifts, people might now be busy planning for their Noche Buena.

As Christmas comes closer each day, Filipinos are now trying their very best to wake up early to attend the Misa de Galo, a 9-day early mass at dawn from the 16th of December until the 24th. Some do it as part of their Christmas penance while others particularly among the youth do it hoping that their wishes and intentions will come true if they complete the 9 day dawn masses.

Meeting friends and going to church as a family along with comic stories of people sleeping or snoring during the mass is just one of the man experiences that you will have when you attend the Misa de Galo. Likewise, one of the things that churchgoers look forward are  the after-mass meals like the hot drinks of tsokolate ( chocolate), native coffee paired various rices cakes. One of the most famous is the puto bumbong.

Puto Bumbong is popular is the northern part of the Philippines.Visayas and Mindanao have their own early-morning rice cakes to share too. Puto bumbong has that unique purple color and tube-like appearance. A common Christmas scene in Luzon is steam coming out from a small pipe-looking cookery.

Puto is the common word for sticky rice delicacies in the Philippines. The tubes that are made of bamboo are called bumbong, hence the name “puto bumbong”. Just like other types of puto, it is made from glutinous rice with other ingredients like coconut milk and sugar. Authentic puto bumbong uses pirurutong, a rice variety that is fragrant and purple. Some modifications of this delicacy uses the usual malagkit rice ( glutinous rice, ”lagkit” means sticky) and just add purple colouring.

The rice is soaked overnight with a little salt before grounded finely and then slightly dried. It is then placed and steamed inside narrow bamboo tubes. It is already cooked when the mixture rises to the top of the tube. Finally, it is placed on banana leaves and then topped with sugar and grated coconut Margarine is also added to make it more delectable.

Part of every Filipino’s lives, especially when the holidays are coming. It brings back old memories of going to church early in the morning. Now, is your time to create one of the best Christmas mornings of your life.

Philippines is home to plenty of festivals. In accordance to one of the President Marcos’ decrees, each town should have their own festival to promote local tourism and to boost local economy as well.  But before it has became customary in the Philippines, a Visayan festival has been observed for more than 300 years.

Held in Kalibo, Aklan in the Western region of the Visayas group of islands, it has earned the title ” Mother of All Philippine Festivals”. Ati Atihan started many traditions when it comes to Philippine festivals. The street dancing, the drumbeats and the vibrant costumes…they all started with Kalibo’s very own festival.

Its name comes from Ati which is an indigenous group living in Aklan and other part of the region. “Ati Atihan” means, “to be like an Ati” and it explains the distinct black color of the dancers – Atis are dark-skinned people with curly hair. So how did this festival happen?

The Atis used to live in the lowlands of Aklan and they give thanks to a good harvest each year through dancing and singing. When Malay settlers came to escape a tyrant datu (ruler) in their homeland, they peacefully negotiated with the Atis. They agreed in exchange of goods, that the Atis will move to the highlands while the new settlers will live in the lowland. It just happen that is was the Ati’s annual harvest thanksgiving so the new settlers covered their skin with soot to mimic the Atis and danced with them. This event marks the birth of the Ati Atihan Festival.

When Spaniards came, they befriended the locals and this includes observing their festival. The Spaniard added the religious aspect of the festivals which is what you see in its present celebrations. Ati Atihan festival goes beyond thanking for a good harvest; it is in celebration in honor of the Holy Child Jesus or the Santo Nino.

Third Sunday of the January is the feast day the Santo Nino and today people thank the Holy Infant for blessings or ask for petitions. They still dance their petitions and thanksgiving with the familiar chant ” Pit Senyor!”, ” Viva Santo Nino!”

With other festivals in the country, Ati Atihan still attracts plenty of travelers. It has successfully maintain the real essence of the celebration. Today, the festival spans for a week with street dancing of different groups known as tribus or “tribes”. Other activities include food festivals, concerts and many more.

If you want to witness the best festival, then it is a must to experience the Ati Atihan Festival.

Highlights:

The 18th Interstate Friendship Golf Cup will be held in Manila for the 8th consecutive year on February 27 to March 2, 2012. It will be a four-day golf tournament among Filipino-Australian golf enthusiasts and their friends coming from Queensland, Victoria, NSW, ACT & WA. The four (4) golf courses selected are among the best championship courses and promises a great tournament.

This year’s host is the FilCom Sports Club of ACT headed by Ariel Pattugalan, President and assisted by Toti Umali, Club Captain. Most golfers and friends are arriving on Feb 26 and staying at Executive Plaza Hotel in Malate, Manila for six (6) nights. PAL is the official
airline carrier.

Team Presidents and Captains meeting will be held on Sunday, February 26 starting at 6:30PM. To be followed by fellowship for newcomers at 8:00pm

Tournament Schedule: (Daily tee-off starts 9:30am)

Monday, February 27 – Eagle Ridge Golf & Country Club (Greg Norman)
Tuesday, February 28 – Royal Northwoods Golf club (San Rafael, Bulacan)
Wednesday, Feb 29 – Rest day and at leisure (Selection vs. Marin Golf club)
Thursday, Mar 1 – Eastridge Golf & Country Club (Binangonan, Rizal)
Friday, March 2 – Ayala Greenfields Golf & Country club (Laguna)
Awards Presentation & buffet dinner – immediately after the tournament at the Clubhouse.

Total Package Tour Cost is. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1950

Inclusive of economy class airfare with PAL from Syd/Mel (maximum 35 days stay), travel taxes, six (6) nights twin share accommodation with daily breakfast, four days golf including transfers, half cart rental, caddie fee, 3 lunches and awards presentation buffet dinner with prizes. No refund for unused services.

Golfers from other states traveling on their own and those joining the 65th PAL Interclub in Davao City would be paying $580 for six (6) nights twin share accommodation with daily breakfast and 4 days golf package. Four days golf package only will cost $360, including transfers, half cart rental, caddie fee, 3 plated lunches and buffet dinner. Single accommodation supplement is $165,
and spouse/wife sharing is $220 extra with daily breakfast.

For inquiries and booking: Ric de Vera (Event Coordinator) – Mob 0414-790-880
Email at intax@idx.com.au Deposit of $500 needed by 15 December 2011
Direct banking ANZ, BSB-012-226, Acct-2588-90696. Deadline is Jan 15, 2012.
(Information updated on 10 December 2011 – Airfare & travel tax is $1,370)

Photo by: TrapikMedia on Flickr

December is finally here! Few more weeks and we will be celebrating one of the most festive events for the year – Christmas.

Everyone knows that Christmas is more than just a celebration among us Filipinos. Christmas means meeting and spending time with family and friends; this is the best time to reunite loved ones we dearly miss.

Have you planned your trip to the Philippines? There  is no other Christmas like spending it in the Philippines surrounded by your relatives, friends and new friends. One of the most anticipated part of Pinoy Christmas is the noche buena.

Literally means “good night”, noche buena is our Christmas dinner. But what makes it different from other culture? We have our noche buena at Christmas eve- just as the clock strikes midnight. So we stay up all night every December 24 planning, cooking and just waiting for the time to dine.

We Filipinos love to eat and this can be seen in our buffet-style noche buena. Dinner consist of more than two main courses ,desserts and free flowing of drinks – alcoholic or not.

Traditionally, families hear mass and just in time for the Christmas eve, we eat together as a family. After dinner, we exchange gifts.

What do we usually share for the noche buena? The centerpieces are the jamon or ham and the queso de bola. Some have lechon, fried chicken, kaldereta and even paella. For deserts, salads are all-tie favourites like the fruit and macaroni salad. Cakes, mango floats and ice creams are present at the dining table.

As our custom dictates, the amount of food is not the mere measure of our happiness during Christmas. Sometimes, we just have the simple pancit or Filipino-style spaghetti or the kesong puti (caabao cheese) and pan de sal with hot chocolate. What matters most among us Filipinos is that we spend it together, not just with our families but even with our neighbors and the whole barangay singing songs and just being merry.

You still got time to plan your trip to the Philippines. Book your flight and holiday with us!

www.travelaccess.com.au

Palawan is no doubt, Philippine’s pride – a living paradise. And now the world has hailed its natural beauty as its Underground River has tentatively became one of the 7 Modern Wonders of the World.

From white-sand beaches to secluded islands, Palawan is the best place for those who adore nature. Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park gives you more reasons to pay Philippines a visit. Located 50 kilometers from the capital city of Puerto Prinessa, this underground river wil never fail to impress tourists, travelers, adventurers and even the vagabonds.

What makes this underground amazing that it has bested other natural wonders like Africa’s Kilimanjaro? First, it is an underground river. We have seen rivers with the sky above your head with some birds flying over perhaps? But with Puerto Princesa’s river, it is inside a cave. And not just any cave, as you cruise, you will be served with sculptures from stalactites and stalagmites. Giant mushroom-looking crystals decorate the interior of the cave. Bats flying or ogling as you pass by and the cool breeze that will calm any soul.

The whole river is 8.2 kilometers long. One of nature’s creation that is is roofed with a cave before it flushes to the South China Sea. As a National Park, this attraction is not just because of the river. At the mouth of the river is a lagoon with its mossy-clear waters lined with ancient trees. Nearby is a white-sand shore. Very unspoiled that the area is still home to various animal species from monitor lizards to monkeys. Looking up at its crystal clear skies are rugged cliff formations. Wipe out small boats and tourists and you will imagine living in paradise.

Experience and be in paradise when you visit Palawan.

Book your holiday now. www.travelaccess.com.au