Camille Naredo

Article (news)

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1758034253480viber_image_2025-09-16_22-11-10-321.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Bobot Balana with discarded Christmas lights that he found along Araneta Avenue. Kaxandra Salonga, ABS-CBN News"/>Bobot Balana with discarded Christmas lights that he found along Araneta Avenue. Kaxandra Salonga, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA — With Christmas around the corner, Filipinos are finding ways to keep the holiday season extra special even on a tight budget.Bobot Balana, 58, was happy to find discarded Christmas lights along Araneta Avenue. Although the lights no longer work, Balana hopes the decorations will brighten his holiday in the streets.“Walang pambili, kaya kinuha ko ‘yan para ma-decorate dun sa karton ko. Talagang maganda na merong dekorasyon ka sa loob ng bahay o kaya sa karton mo, masaya ka… ramdam ko po yung Pasko,” he said.Balana also picks up toys from the trash to gift to his 14 grandchildren this holiday season.“Maraming nakukuha kong laruan, pinaghahati-hati ko sa kanila para ‘di nag-aaway. Kahit pera hinahati-hati ko sa kanila, maibigay ko lang sa kanila, masaya sila… kahit walang-wala kami, basta makabigay,” said Balana.Luvi Ferrer, a sari-sari store owner, works up to 20 hours a day to save enough money to buy clothes and shoes for his three children.“Kung pwede lang di matulog eh para maabot mo yung percentage na gusto mo maabot para sa ibibigay mong regalo para sa mga anak mo,” he said.Having spent ten years abroad, he plans to create lasting memories with his family this Christmas.“Half of my life, nasa abroad ako. Ngayong Pasko lang siguro ang the best Christmas sa’kin dahil makakasama ko silang apat,” she said.<div> </div><div>CONSUMERIST CHRISTMAS</div>Many Filipinos face heavy financial and social pressures during the holiday season, said social science lecturer and psychologist Tricia Zafra.“Marami ang nakakaramdam ng financial tsaka social pressure na rin kapag panahon ng Pasko. Financial kasi kailangan magbigay ng mga regalo, andyan yung mga exchange gift, tapos social dahil mahalaga sa mga Pilipino bilang collectivist yung ating culture na dapat magkakasama yung pamilya o sama-sama kapag Pasko,” Zafra said.“Kung hindi mo iniintindi yung iyong mga basic necessities, o kung ‘yan ay natutugunan mo na, mas madali for you na makilahok sa mga celebration tulad ng Pasko.”Zafra said Filipinos should resist the pressure to conform in a consumerist society and find ways to make Christmas meaningful through simple acts of love.“Kailangan natin tandaan na hindi naman necessarily nakaangkla sa social status ng mga tao yung diwa ng Pasko. Andyan yung meaning ng pananampalataya, andyan yung pag-asa, pagbibigayan, pagmamahalan. So maganda sa pakiramdam pag nasasabuhay mo yung mga meaning na ‘yun.”<div> </div><div>BEAT THE HOLIDAY BLUES</div>For some, the holiday season passes without the warmth of family gatherings or shared meals.Romy Dela Cruz, a working student, will be spending his second Christmas alone after a fire destroyed his home and separated him from loved ones.“Syempre mahirap din naman kasi ikaw na lang din yung nag-iisa,” he said.“Also kailangan ko rin po kasi mag-stay here malapit sa pinagtatrabahuhan ko. Dahil I’m a working student po. Kinakayod ko po yung sarili ko para naman din sa pamilya ko.”For Joy Corpuz, a food attendant, the holidays mean working extra shifts to provide for her children.“May halong lungkot, may halong saya rin pero iniisip ko pa rin lalo na yung pangangailangan namin sa mga bata,” she said.“Talagang pag pinapagduty talaga kami pag holiday, talagang papasukin namin kasi para rin naman sa mga bata ‘yun eh.”Zafra said those apart from their families can still find ways to connect during Christmas.“Nandyan yung technology. Maaari tayong magvideo call, yung mga instant messaging apps natin. Pwede tayo magpadala ng mga litrato,” she said.She added that nurturing relationships year-round helps ease the pain of separation during Christmas.“Mahalaga na di lang naman sa araw ng pasko natin maibigay yung ating presensya… nandyan yung konsepto ng pagbawi, minsan pagkatapos ng okasyon ng Pasko,” she added.

With Christmas around the corner, Filipinos are finding ways to keep the holiday season extra special even on a tight budget.

With Christmas around the corner, Filipinos are finding ways to keep the holiday season extra special even on a tight budget.

Not so Merry Christmas: Pinoys deal with financial, social pressure brought by holidays

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Not so Merry Christmas: Pinoys deal with financial, social pressure brought by holidays

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 17, 2025 12:05 AM PHT

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Christmas

consumerism

holidays

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