December 16 signals the start of the Christmas season in this archipelago nation - the only Christian nation in South East Asia with approximately 85% of the population are Catholics.

Church bells roused the faithful as early as 4 AM to start the "Simbang Gabi" (Christmas Novena Mass) that will end with the "noche buena" Mass on Christmas Eve. Christmas carols replaced the usual hymns. At the end of the service, there were the usual puto bumbong (sort of a rice cake) with free "salabat" or tea.

But this is the '90s and the more modern fastfood chains will also be open earlier than usual to serve breakfast.

The Bulletin's Brenda Tuazon writes:

The "Simbang Gabi" has always
been the nation's hallmark for
Christmas, a tradition that will
always warm the hearts of
Filipinos, young and old.

It echoes the first Mass in the
ricefields of Mexico in 1857,
following a bumper harvest.

Introduced in the islands by
Spain, the custom originated in
South America.

It also signals the start of "Karolings" where every night up until Christmas, childrens and even choirs will serenade every house with Christmas carols. In return, the owner of the house will give some gifts, usually monetary in form. In some households, you'll hear the familiar "Patawad" or "sa pasko na lang". Some "witty" kids will even visit the same house more than once in a night.

In schools and offices, there were the usual Christmas parties and "exchange gifts". There are Christmas decorations everywhere. Different kinds of parols (Christmas lanterns) are hung from the windows. Every house has some kind of a Christmas tree (from those that are fresh cut trees to those that are made from tin cans or even cottons). The famous C.O.D. department store in Cubao have a "Christmas show" literally on their building every night and has a different theme every year (well, almost every year).

There are the usual "midnight madness" shopping spree which also turns out as a "traffic nightmare".

On Christmas morning, people, young and old, are dressed with their "Christmas clothes" to visit their "Ninongs", "Ninangs", relatives and friends to have a feast and also collect their gifts.