Bibingka, Photo by Bless Mercado
When we spent Christmas in the Philippines last year, it was like I have never left the Philippines at all. Everything that was familiar was still there.
There is nothing like Christmas than a Philippine Christmas.
Christmas traditions are alive and willing.
I love all the pomps and ceremonies that go with a Philippine Christmas. I love the Simbang Gabi, I love the midnight sales especially in Divisoria and Tutuban. I love the Christmas decorations, I love the atmosphere, I love the Noche Buena, I love the Mano Po on Christmas Day.
Food is an important facet of Christmas in the Philippines. On the street you can find vendors selling Bibingkas and puto bungbong with salabat – ginger tea.
My mother, knowing that Peter would love to photograph a real bibingka maker dragged us to a street a few blocks away from where my family lives.
The seller was so friendly and patiently allowed Peter to catch everything on camera. She said that they start cooking and selling Bibingka around November and they have made many suki (regular customers) including some from Canada. I would say that it was not hard to believe as the bibingkas were just so delicious and the puto bungbong was even more so and it sold faster too.
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