Christmas in the province is a simple but beautiful affair in a way, with the people going around the neighborhood singing Christmas carols.
The kids pump a lot of energy into it and it sounds good.
In the cities Christmas starts in September and lasts until the 3rd or 4th weekend of January.
Workers collect extra pay and bonuses and everyone expects something to come their way.
Taxi drivers will tell you "Christmas is fast approaching, sir" in Sept when they are fishing for tips, but I use it to my advantage and request the "Christmas price" when buying things and sometimes get an extra discount.
Most people in the provinces, (or out in the country or outback) are usually short on funds and just do the best they can with what they have.
Those that have family members working overseas usually get money sent home for the holidays.
I was invited over to a town about a half hour into the hills from Ormoc in Leyte. I picked up some lechon baboy, (roast pig) for 240 a kilo and brought it up to the mountains knowing that they would be short on food.
We brought along a bunch of vegetables and it turned out to be a nice feast. That pork skin especially is loved by all.
I stayed 3 or 4 days but tried to make the trip into town every day just to break up the monotony.
The Filipinos have a real ability to make excitement out of simple things like playing basketball without a hoop and badminton without a net and just singing or hanging around and gossiping with friends.
For a foreigner that is just passing through it can get a little bit boring and you can see how they get in the habit of sitting around a bottle of Tua, drinking palm wine all night and laughing at the same joke that they heard just 5 minutes earlier.
Everything turned out ok in the end and everyone has a good time.
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