These experiences they had growing up are the things they taught us growing up, as these things are part of the Filipino culture.

I asked my mom why she does this, she answered with her youthful eyes, reminiscing her days as a child. She told me about the fact that even though they struggled financially and was not able to keep up to have good food set on the table, the only thing that kept their Christmas was a small christmas tree. With that, it was already enough for them. 

It is indeed true that our cultures stem from what we love, believe, and what we ought to see in the world. It is the manifest of instilling a practice that makes us reminisce of the past and makes us smile in the present. 

Whenever it was one of their children's birthdays, my grandparents would go to the river with their self-made pana and nets, hoping for a good catch of tilapia. This kind of celebration is what I've always wanted – to be close to nature since it was like a birthday adventure, cherishing the gift from nature and spending time with family. There were also shared stories and laughter right after the excellent catch while waiting for the food to be cooked. This was a wholesome tradition as It wasn't just about the fish they caught but the happiness they shared and the memories they made.

Looking back, I realize how wonderful it must have been—simple things like connecting and strengthening family relationships through an adventurous activity. Even though times have changed and different practices are being made today, I've always cherished this memory of my grandparents and their unique way of celebrating. It shows me that sometimes, the most meaningful celebrations are the ones that connect us and the world around us. With that, I've carried the love of experiencing new, thrilling adventures through the traditions my grandparents have passed. 

My family, specifically on my Mother’s side, practice annual gathering/reunion every December. Most of ur family members are working, staying, and living in abroad, which is why we see each other rarely. Annual reunions on our family is important especially on holidays since it will be the only time allowed for our relatives from abroad to go home here in the Philipines, this is also why our parents encourage us to attend every family gathering so that we may be able to catch up on them and stay in contact despite of the distance.

By the time of the holidays, our family and relatives would go on a trip, usually to the beach or to go on a shopping spree. Each of us would exchange words of humor, tell stories, or boast about achievements. Afterward, we list all of the necessities for Noche Buena and help cook with my Ate and Kuya. At midnight on December 25th, my parents will invite us, along with my cousins, to the dinner table to celebrate the Christmas spirit. This is where the symbol of love comes through. Everyone has smiles on their faces and sings songs up until dawn. 

Our celebration also extends to welcoming the new year, where we provide a whole Lechon Baboy for everybody. We also conduct parlor games that would please our nieces and nephews. For me, that's what makes our Yuletide celebration unique from others. A celebratory practice that not only strengthens the relationship between my own family but also broadens the camaraderie of those who relate to us.

We often start our December by holding a "Bunutan" segment with the entire family for Monito Monita: The Filipino Secret Santa. From there, we start celebrating our favorite season by finding presents for our family and even guessing who "bunots" who and the challenge of trying to know, buy, and wrap our Monito/ Monita's without anyone suspecting and put it carefully under our Christmas tree before Noche Buena. 

Lastly, the very highlight of our tradition, the party games. It is definitely the most awaited segment in our tradition where we actually wait until the clock hits 12 a.m. as an indicator that it is already the 25th of December and it is already Christmas! It is like waiting for New Year's countdown but during Noche Buena. After the clock hits 12 am, everyone starts to gather in our living room, someone will be coming from grilling the liempo, singing on our videoke, cooking in the kitchen, from playing with our little cousins and nephews, and even someone who just came to visit us will always have to join our party games because, in our family, it is not Christmas without Presents and Party Games. With that, we always start off with my Papa's "Paagaw" games where he literally throws off coins on the ground for us to pick up and literally grab away every coin even on our opponent's hands. After that, we just continue playing party games after eating Noche Buena and end it off with the Exchange Gift segment which always ends up with sharing our funny stories on how we always try to keep our Monito/Monita's gift a ‘secret’ and how we always fail.

Our family's unique practices during the season are just one of the many ways we show our love for each other and Christmas is definitely not complete without each other's presence. And though our family's tradition may not be totally unique as everyone else's, what makes it unique is the memories we hold close to our hearts and celebrating the season and the birth of Jesus with full of love and kindness which we value high regard as this what makes our family's bond closer and stronger and make the season even more special. We look forward to it every year and we will always cherish the memories created.

My family, specifically on my Mother’s side, practice annual gathering/reunion every December. Most of ur family members are working, staying, and living in abroad, which is why we see each other rarely. Annual reunions on our family is important especially on holidays since it will be the only time allowed for our relatives from abroad to go home here in the Philipines, this is also why our parents encourage us to attend every family gathering so that we may be able to catch up on them and stay in contact despite of the distance.