What is Like to Have Christmas in Pampanga, Philippines?

It is a very proud moment for Filipinos particularly those from the Province of Pampanga to be included in the top destination by CNN for Christmas festival as most of Kapampangans are practicing Roman Catholic.

Christmas in Pampanga, Philippines, is a vibrant and festive celebration that highlights the province's rich cultural and religious traditions. Pampanga is often regarded as the "Christmas Capital of the Philippines" due to its long-standing history of elaborate and unique Christmas customs. Here are some notable features of Christmas in Pampanga:

1. Parols (Lanterns)

• Pampanga is famous for its beautiful, intricate parols (Christmas lanterns), which are crafted by skilled artisans. The parol symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem and is an important part of Christmas decorations. These lanterns are often made from bamboo and colorful paper, but more elaborate versions are created with glass, capiz shells, and even LED lights. Every year, towns like San Fernando host parol-making festivals, where artisans showcase their craftsmanship.

2. Simbang Gabi (Night Mass)

• Simbang Gabi is a traditional nine-day novena that takes place before Christmas. Starting on December 16, the masses are held early in the morning, and many people participate to prepare spiritually for Christmas. The Simbang Gabi is an important tradition, and it is a time for families to gather and reflect on their faith.

3. Noche Buena

• Christmas Eve in Pampanga is celebrated with a grand feast called Noche Buena. Filipino families gather after attending midnight Mass to enjoy traditional holiday foods. Pampanga is known for its delicious culinary offerings, and the holiday spread often includes local delicacies like lechon (roast pig), bibingka (rice cake), puto bumbong (purple rice cakes), and other Kapampangan specialties.

4.  Giant Lantern Festival in San Fernando

• The City Government of San Fernando, Pampanga, through its City Tourism Office hosts an annual Giant Lantern Festival or "Ligligan Parul" that draws both locals and tourists. This event features a stunning display of Christmas lights and decorations, showcasing the local talent in creating spectacular light shows. It's a festive place to visit, with food stalls, entertainment, and vibrant displays that highlight the Christmas spirit
  

5. Christmas Food

• Christmas in Pampanga is a gastronomic celebration. Aside from lechon, suman (rice cakes), puto (steamed rice cakes), and tamales are often served during the holiday meals. For dessert, kakanin (sweet rice delicacies) and bibingka are popular choices. The food served during Christmas is not just tasty but often symbolizes the hospitality and abundance of the season.

6.  Kapampangan Spirit of Giving

• The Filipino culture is deeply rooted in the value of bayanihan (community spirit), and Christmas in Pampanga is no exception. Families, communities, and organizations often organize charity events to help the less fortunate. The spirit of giving is deeply felt, with people exchanging gifts and donations to ensure everyone can enjoy the holiday season.

8. Christmas Day Festivities

• On Christmas Day, families continue the celebration with mass, festive meals, and visiting relatives and friends. It’s a day for togetherness, with children receiving gifts and enjoying games and activities. The day is filled with joy, warmth, and love shared among family members and friends.

Conclusion

Christmas in Pampanga is a beautiful, culturally rich celebration that is filled with light, food, music, and family gatherings. The province’s emphasis on craftsmanship, tradition, and community spirit makes Pampanga one of the most unique places to experience Christmas in the Philippines.

Greeting You all A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Copyright 2004 - 2024 C. F. Baluyut Realty | Real Estate in Pampanga, Philippines. All Rights Reserved.

Inside Real Estate: The Rise, Fall and Redemption of the Xevera Communities in Pampanga

 

 

It has been a year since the distribution of the transfer certificate of titles of the unit owners who have completed their payments previously and are currently residing in the two Xevera subdivisions in Bacolor and Mabalacat City and the Sameera Subdivision in Angeles City. In the past decade, Globe Asiatique Realty Holdings Corporation under the leadership of their then president and CEO, Delfin Lee. Globe Asiatique Realty Holdings, Inc. (GA) was the one of the leading real estate development firms in Pampanga and other parts of the country.

The Income Approach In The Valuation of Real Estate Properties

 

In the process of market valuation, income approach is not commonly reported by appraisers because of the complexity of developing a opinion of value on a property. Right now, the ones that are ideal for making income are residential apartment complexes, residential condominiums, hotels, commercial buildings, subdivided warehouses and many more.

SOLD: Residential Rowhouse / Townhouse in City of San Fernando, Pampanga

 

SOLD: This rowhouse / townhouse type home is for sale. Location wise and accessible to different destination in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga with one of our partner / co-brokers. 

Understanding Real Estate Markets & Cycle amidst COVID 19

 

With the current situation of the country and abroad, the global markets have been affected with the COVID 19 pandemic effects to the World Economy. There are current job losses, missed opportunities and money being lost brought about by such health crisis. All industries are dependent on Real Estate Market and are heavily connected with the national economy. In our recent post last February on the Philippine economic outlook for 2020, The Philippines had slowed down and has dipped to -7.3 % based from reports from Asian Development Bank. Contractions have been seen and felt all throughout the closure of the archipelago since March 16, 2020 to June 30, 2020 (Enhanced Community Quarantine) and the post lifting of ECQ to Modified General Community Quarantine in July 2020. A lot of businesses were affected with closures particularly the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector, hotel / tourism sector, airline and travel sector. Other sectors have were also affected with this great pandemic which contributed to the negative dip of the world economy in general. These industries are co-existing and reliant with each other and the real estate sector at the same time. In a recent reports from PSA released last month, says "The Philippines records a GDP growth rate of -11.5 percent in the third quarter of 2020".

Inside Real Estate: What Are The Expenses In Your Real Estate Transaction?

 

 

In the past few years, a lot of previous and potential clients would ask about the expenses on the sale of a property like taxes paid when undergoing real estate transactions from acquisition to transfer of real  properties and we have included them in this article for everyone's information in doing transactions for real estate properties.

 

SOLD: 294 square meter vacant lot at Richtown 1 Subdivision, Sindalan, CSFP (RS-013-2020

This property is situated in Richtown 1, Sindalan, City of San Fernando, Pampanga. It is totally safe neighborhood within secure location. The community living here is peaceful with less noise pollution although it is close to McArthur Highway which is 200 meters away. The property is a walking distance to the amenity area particularly the club house and basketball court of the subdivision. 

For Sale: Two Storey Home in San Agustin, City of San Fernando, Pampanga

Location of this highly safe and secure posh neighborhood where elegantly built homes are seen. It is a few minutes from the two nearby malls - Vista Mall and Walter Mart. Close proximity to major highway via McArthur Highway and many more.

This Mediterranean inspired home located in an exclusive subdivision in San Fernando, Pampanga. Lot is situated in a morning sun location. Streets are well-lit and maintained by current homeowners association. 

Ready For Occupancy: Pre-owned House & Lot in Calibutbut, Bacolor, Pampanga (RS-010-2020)

 

In the quest for your new home? What are best things you will want?

 This is a foreclosed house and lot and has been sitting idle for the past year. Although unfinished on the exterior area (front gate and fence) the other sides are fully fenced and the second floor is maintained with glazed tiles which makes the second floor attractive view of the nearby neighborhoods. The neighborhood where the house is located is fully safe and secure  with 24/7 security services. Other amenities on where this house sits is walking distance from nearby parks, playground and the neighborhood basketball court. 

INSIDE REAL ESTATE: On Buying Your First Home

"Have you dreamed of acquiring your very own home? Have you imagined, seating on your porch, sipping your morning coffee and reading your newspaper. Seeing your neighbors in the street mowing their lawns or cleaning the front yard? Or just getting ready for morning rush of going to work."

 Buying your first real estate residential property requires tedious and multiprocessing tasks of properly planning and making wise but crucial decisions. Buying a house doesn’t involve you as a breadwinner but involves your wife as a co-maker and a borrower and the whole family as beneficiary in securing your very own home and in the right neighborhood where you can live and flourish. 

Dabbling into Real Estate: An Introduction to the Basics of Real Estate Investing For Beginners

It has been more than 10 years now since I have attended the TRP seminar by Dr. Larry Gamboa. In my reflection as a real estate professional it has been a worthwhile experience to gain the knowledge of doing this method. It does have risks involve and bigger gains to have upon selling the property.  

Find the Right Financing Scheme For Your Real Estate Property

I have recently edited this post which I originally posted in May 2010. The advice still stood the test of time after a decade of publishing this from Pampanga Real Estate Trends and Guide (now defunct). 

After making a wise decision in finding the right home for you and your family takes worthwhile of amount of time and effort. It require careful research on the key elements mentioned previously in this blog. One is LOCATION, Second is SECURITY and the lastly NEIGHBORHOOD.

What is FATCA and Other Implications of this U.S. Law?

There is a questionable topic for former Filipinos with foreign citizenship regarding rules by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the commercial banks in the country in recent years if one have seen item's on application for new bank account or even when updating your bank account files. One will see some section concerning Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). FATCA is a tax law that compels U.S. citizens at home and abroad to file annual reports on any foreign account holdings. FATCA was endorsed in 2010 as part of the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act to promote transparency in the global financial services sector during former U.S. President Barack H. Obama's administration.

A Property Appraisal Case Study For Australian Immigration Visa Application

Photo by Hugo Heimendinger from Pexels

This is one of the cases we handled over the past few years in giving our clients the tailor fit services in their compliance with their immigration requirement under Australian laws where they wish to migrate.

As a real estate professional we are happy to be of services to such people who are in need of such particular services that can help them fulfill a part of their dreams of living outside of their original home country. Such as this former clients of our who we had withheld their names and specific location and their current whereabouts.

How Real Estate Appraisers Determine One's Real Property Value

Previously, I was discussing to an old lady about her properties located in Pampanga. She mentioned  to me that she has a number of real estate properties located in the formerly lahar affected areas back in early 1990s. The community or neighborhood of those affected areas are recently revitalized with the return of number of the former residents in their homeland which is mostly agricultural and are located in barrios. 

She was adamant in selling her properties but was asking me a lot of questions regarding the pricing of the said properties. I told her, I have no idea on how much the properties are because it will be hard for me to determine the exact values because there are no definite prices and the property prices may vary depending on the owners.

Inside Real Estate: How To Flex Your Real Estate Payment Capability?

Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexels

For many Filipinos it is a dream for a family to own their home and live in a plot of land they call theirs as it shows pride and satisfaction for any homeowner to acquire a property for use as their primary home. 

It has been a problem for most  home buyers in building one's equity. It is worrisome for most home buyers, to have incur expenses to used for a down payments  which is out of pocket requirement for prospective buyers. However, there are Rent-To-Own schemes available but will be discussed on another topic.

Why Invest in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga?

In celebration of its 19th years as a city with its founding anniversary as a town on 16th August 1754.

The City of San Fernando, Pampanga is the 99th city recognized by the Republic of the Philippines under Republic Act 8990 on the 4th of February 2001 under the bill filed by Second District Representative and former City Mayor Oscar Rodriguez and the campaign of former Mayor Dr. Jesus Reynaldo Aquino in 1997. It is one of the component city of the province of Pampanga where the gubernatorial seat and the national government agencies and services of Region III are located.

The Aftermath: Disaster at Taal Volcano

It's been nine days since we got out of the volcanic eruption happening then in Cavite and Batangas area. We were attending a strategic planning workshop for 2020 with REBAP National Chapter when the inevitable incident happened.

Things To Do in Pampanga: Explore Our Province Up North

It's 2020 now. Are you having thoughts driving up north yet? Try something new for a change?

What's in Pampanga?

I have these questions during my childhood and adult years what with my home province? There is not much to go around to these place which is almost an hour ride via North Luzon Expressway. Back then, Pampanga is much of a sleepy agricultural yet historical province that has transformed into a combination of agro-industrial, commercial and residential enclaves with recent infrastructure developments happening around early 2000s attributed to former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's initiative of a "W Growth Corridor of Central Luzon Development Plan" after the recovery of the province  from the Mt. Pinatubo's eruption a decade after.

Pampanga went a long way and survived, thrived and flourished in many ways after many tragedies. The Kapampangans had their resolve and resilience in their hearts and minds during the hard times of the onslaught of the lahar flow that affected and displaced thousands of families in early 1990s.

House Bill 4664: Reforming Real Estate Property Valuation Into One Standard

There has been a hot debate on the creation of House Bill 4664 also known a Real Property Valuation
and Assessment Bill which has reached third reading in the past few months and gained traction with a voting confidence of those in favor at 224 against 7 not in favor while one representative abstained in this creation of this bill. HB 4664 is one of priority bills of Duterte's administration.