Just Passing Thru

Debut - a Philippine Tradition to Womanhood

12:15 AM

Many young girls dream of having their debut party on their 18th birthday because it is a commonly observed Philippine tradition to womanhood. It is a coming-of-age celebration since 18 is considered the age of maturity in the Philippines. It is of note however that male debutantes celebrate theirs on their 21st birthday with less formal gatherings, if they choose to hold a party for it at all.

Origin

The Philippine Debut is said to have come from the Quinceanera practiced in countries in Latin America. It is also signifies a girl's transition to womanhood but at the younger age of 15 or "quinze". It is also known by some other names including "festa de debutantes", "baile de debutantes", "festa dequinze anos", and "fete des quinze ans". Some countries have more religious tones than the others but the rites observed are essentially the same.

A typical Quinceanera celebration follows a program consisting of the grand entrance by the debutante, dancing, candle ceremony, toast, cake cutting, and other rituals related to the event.
The debutante wears a special dress for the occasion and her guests are expected to dress as well in a manner befitting the event. The Philippine Debut observes similar rituals with certain modifications that will make the observation more in keeping with Filipino tradition.

The Rituals of a Philippine Debut

The western world observe a girl's 18th birthday in less formal practices. A typical Philippine debut celebration is marked by rituals that include 18 members of the entourage, 18 roses dance, and 18 candles. There have been more recent additions such as 18 treasures and 18 shots.

The members of the entourage shall comprise the participants to the Grand Cotillion Dance together with the debutante and her escort. The 18 roses dance will require the participation of 18 pre-selected males usually comprised of relatives and friends. Each male participant will be dancing with the debutante after giving her a rose. The last dance is usually reserved for the father of the debutante or any father-figure if the former is unavailable for whatever reason.

Pre-selected female friends and relatives shall give the debutante 18 candles with a greeting or a special wish for the celebrant. The treasures provide 18 special gifts while the 18 shots provides for several toasts to the debutante after every delivery of speech. The last two are usually comprised of participants in mixed gender.

My Say

There are several birthday milestones observed in the Philippine tradition including the 1st, the 7th, the 18th ( for girls) or 21st (for boys), and the 50th. Most believe that holding special celebrations every ten years after turning 50 is in order because reaching such ripe age must be considered a blessing. I have been able to provide my eldest daughter with her debut party during her time and hope that I can provide my younger children the same experience. Many debutantes and parents are becoming more practical and opt for other forms of celebration which they find more fitting such as travel or a new car for some.

My personal choice in holding a debut party for my children when able is not founded on any desire to indulge in extravagance but more of the need to imbibe traditions in my children's consciousness. I have often repeated myself in saying that I am still traditional in more ways than one. These images of my daughter's happiness during that night will remain forever etched in my heart.

That said, I had one more reason why I tried my best to give my daughter a debut party and it is quite simple. Pure unadulterated happiness borne out of a mother's love - I felt happy seeing my daughter all dressed up feeling like a princess, carefree and having no worries, at least for the night. I f given the chance, I will do it all over again for my youngest daughter on her 18th birthday and my son on his 21st.

Happy Birthday to my eldest daughter!

AMBOS MUNDOS RESTAURANT

Quiapo Fiesta - the AMBOS MUNDOS RESTAURANT ANECDOTES Fourth of a Series

1:04 AM

The annual celebration of the Quiapo Fiesta is every inch a part of the existence of Ambos Mundos Restaurant. Having been located in the area since the restaurant's establishment, Quiapo became our second home. Up to this day, I feel the comfort of familiarity every time I step on its territory in spite of the not-so-positive image usually attached to it today.

The Replicas used in processions

Celebration of the Quiapo Fiesta

Every year on January 9, the Quiapo Fiesta is held in honor of the Feast of the Black Nazarene which is housed in St John the Baptist Church - the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene or what is commonly referred to as the Quiapo Church. This is a very special day for the devotees of the Black Nazarene. The procession on the feast day itself attracts millions of devotees and onlookers every year. The crowd is so immense that several deaths and injuries have resulted as each devotee "swims" in the ocean of bodies carried by waves of a crowd that sometimes loses control because of the very fervor of their belief. Salvation is said to be found somewhere near the Black Nazarene image and the trail of rope that is used to cordon off the crowd just enough to allow the revered image to proceed and finish the procession.

Though such taking of risk is not at all encouraged by the Catholic Church, nothing can prevent the believers from doing what they think they should do. These believers are seen during this day as maroon-clothed men and women who brave the crushing crowd, walking barefoot, and hoping to touch even for a second the image that symbolizes their saviour. Devotees credit many miracles to their patronage to the Black Nazarene.

Inside Quiapo Church

Ambos Mundos Restaurant on the Day of the Fiesta

On the day before the Quiapo Fiesta, my father will have already stationed himself at the restaurant since roads going to the area are closed. The rest of us will either be with him already or brave the next day to commute and walk to reach the restaurant in time for the parade. Ambos Mundos Restaurant opens every January 9 for a different reason. On this day, the barefoot devotees who took part in the procession will be welcome to eat for free.

The first time I witnessed this as a child, I even asked my father why the barefooted-customers did not pay after eating. I was alarmed because they were so many. My father just smiled and told me that it was the fiesta. Like any other fiesta in other parts of the Philippines, visitors are welcome to come and eat. I didn't exactly know how people knew for every year I will see different faces but with the same familiar shirt that brands them as devotees to the Black Nazarene. They came with a quiet acknowledgement to my father and went as quietly with words of gratitude. No one lingered, in understanding of the fact that there were more to follow.

Outside Quiapo Church

My Say

The celebration of the Quiapo Fiesta is a tradition that has long been observed and is expected to continue on. For our family, the Quiapo Fiesta was an opportunity to know and understand the life led by my father since childhood. Ambos Mundos Restaurant sums up what his life was and we shared that with him all the days of our lives up to his death.

That said, I will once more set foot on Quiapo anytime soon although it will be with a feeling of regret since I do not have an Ambos Mundos Restaurant to go to. This year however, I will come with a feeling of hope as well since I know that the time of reckoning will come soon. The Quiapo Fiesta will always form part of my good memories of the legitimate Ambos Mundos Restaurant.

Addendum: January 15, 2013

I finally had the chance to visit Quiapo and pay homage to the Black Nazarene last January 15. Before going home, I passed by the former location of Ambos Mundos Restaurant in P. Paterno St and saw this Black Nazarene replica encased in glass in front of the said place. Somehow, that sight comforts me...

Addendum: January 9, 2021

My right to the trade name Ambos Mundos Restaurant has been upheld with finality in 2019 after a long legal battle. Another challenge begins as we work on our comeback. Follow us at AmbosMundosPH. #WeWillRise

forgiveness

The Road to Year 2013

3:36 PM

I have come from afar

From situations akin to a war

I have made it to the bend

To start anew from an end

As we approach the end of the year 2012 , we are now faced with the road to year 2013. I will seize the opportunity to be happy, content, and be at peace. I have cried over personal tragedies and no longer find any sense in doing so. I look forward to new beginnings, never to turn back except to review the lessons learned from the past.

I Thank...

...the Lord for being my anchor in a sea of doubts, anxieties, and troubles

...my family for giving me the reason to persevere and for loving me in spite of

...my friends, acquaintances, and strangers who took the time to help me and showed me acts of kindness in whatever form

I Ask Forgiveness

...for neglecting some of my duties as an ideal Catholic

...from my family for my weaknesses which they had to see

...for my failure to go beyond my personal comfort zone to help

I Promise...

...to persevere in my faith while maintaining respect for the belief of others

...to give more time to my family especially in listening to them

...to give back in whatever way I can or find opportunities to pay it forward if the opportunity presents itself

I Seek...

...to be a good Catholic not by mere words but most especially in deeds

...to be a good person, a good wife, a good mother, a good daughter, a good sister, and to be good in each and every role that I would assume

....to be a good friend with the ability to extend assistance even when not asked for

I Pray

...for continued guidance, courage, and wisdom from God

...for family unity, good health, emotional healing, financial stability, and enhanced skills

...for patience, understanding, and sincere empathy for the plight of others

My Say

I am looking at the road to year 2013 with more confidence and hope, with a better understanding of my purpose in this world. I have learned to say thank you and I'm sorry to most of the people who have helped me or I have hurt . There are still holdovers of emotional pain but I am confident that the reasons that continue to cause them will finally be resolved. I feel lighter because I have finally opened myself to such possibility.

It is my hope that I can do good in my promises and in my quest to be a better me, not only for myself but most especially for God and the people around me. It is my intention to carefully choose my battles so I can have more time to do what is essential. I have come to the crossroads and made my choices. I choose to be happy, I choose to love, and I choose to live life where I am at peace with myself.

That said, join me as I traverse the road to year 2013 as I share My Say in this life of ours.

family and parenting

Believing in the Existence of Santa Claus

3:57 PM

Believing in the existence of Santa Claus is a practice that is generally encouraged by parents in their children. Santa Claus or Santa is a legendary and historical figure that originated from the folklore of the western world. According to tradition, he goes around the world during Christmas Eve, giving gifts to children who have been good during the year.

Who is Santa Claus?

Santa Claus' most common depiction is that of a portly white bearded-man wearing a red suit, spreading holidays cheers wherever he went through his signature " Ho Ho Ho". The present representation of Santa has actually gone through several modifications as several cultures added their own interpretations to the much-loved Christmas figure. The caricature of Thomas Nast and the poem " A Visit From St. Nicholas" in 1823 were largely responsible for Santa's present physical depiction as it was reinforced through time in children's books, TV, films, radio, and songs.

The present Santa is believed to be a product of several personalities including Saint Nicholas of Myra, a bishop who was famous for giving genererous gifts to the poor; Odin, the Norse god who sported a white beard and visited his people with gifts; and Sinterklaas, an elderly and serious white-bearded man from Dutch folklore who distributed gifts to children based on a book that lists children who have been good. In time, Odin also became known as Father Christmas and eventually merged with Saint Nicholas and Sinterklaas, which produced the familiar picture we now hold of Santa Claus.

The Childhood Experience

Introducing children to the belief in Santa Claus is largely seen as a positive approach for encouraging children to be good the whole year in anticipation of the much-awaited visit on Christmas Eve. Although parents who are mainly responsible for making the Santa experience possible for their children are not being fully straightforward with the facts surrounding Santa Claus, these efforts are being done to reinforce the magic that surrounds the famous Christmas icon.

Writing letters to Santa is a practice observed by many children all over the world. Although these letters will be addressed to Santa's place in the North Pole, it will be the various postal services in different countries who will take charge of answering these letters, either through physical mail or email The big number of volunteers who are willing to do this monumental task is quite overwhelming and shows how many are willing to provide the children the joy of continuously believing in Santa Claus.

My Say

Most adults are willing to concede that Santa Claus is more of a mythical figure. This fact however has not discouraged many, including myself, from propagating this belief in children. I am not wont to connect this practice to any politically correct belief and rather intend to use it in instilling hope in my children that there is always something positive to look forward to. In time, they will discover the "truth" for themselves and I expect them to easily transcend from the childhood understanding of Santa Claus into the real world of adulthood.

My twelve-year old son now more or less understands the real score about Santa but he indulges his younger sister so as not to deprive her of the joys he has experienced in believing in Santa Claus.

That said, I still have several years to do what I have to do to support my youngest child's belief in the existence of Santa Claus but I feel it may be shorter since she is starting to question the discrepancies and yet she continues to believe. There lies the magic of Christmas!

Christmas and family

Christmas and the Family

6:33 PM

Christmas is primarily about the birth of Jesus but in human context, we can say that Christmas is mainly about family. It is a time when family members who are away go to great lengths to be back home. It is a time when anxiety and worries are temporarily set aside to welcome the joy that the season brings.

Inner Yearnings

Do you know that many people suffer extreme anxiety during the Christmas season? Aside from the usual causes brought about by expenses, the feeling of being away from family becomes even more pronounced during this time. The pent-up feelings of separation, whether by choice or by force can be very difficult to face, especially when everybody else are with their own families.

It is much easier to hide from these feelings during ordinary times because there are less expectations. In a season steeped with family tradition, there are inner yearnings for family togetherness that cannot be denied. These feelings do not exempt those that have chosen to severe ties with their own family for whatever reason.

Making Family Memories

When one creates a collection of memories, Christmas celebrations with the family inevitably form part of this collection. Anything related to family tradition usually do but it is Christmas or its equivalent in other regions that typically makes the mark in the minds especially of children who are still piling up their own memories to last them a lifetime. Parents therefore are enjoined to do their part by instilling good values and creating an environment that is physically, socially, emotionally, and psychologically healthy.

Future generations are products of the past and the now. This is not to say that a bleak past will dictate a bleak future. We have the power of now to create the change that will make the difference.

My Say

My family has had its share of good Christmases and not-so-good ones. The good ones fill me with much warmth when I remember them while the not-so-good ones fill me with a sense of triumph for having gone through them alive and stronger.

That said, I am thankful for this day spent with my family. It will be one of the most cherished memories I will hold in my heart and I hope that my children feel the same way. Thank God for my family, Thank God for another Christmas with my family!