How to Spend a Romantic Christmas with a Beautiful Cebuana
Christmas is finally here! It’s the most wonderful time of the year for love and romance. The streets are bustling, hearts are pounding, and excitement is filling the air.
The Christmas season can also be a time to fall in love in the Philippines!
The question now stands, do you have someone special to spend the holidays with? Perhaps a Cebuana?
If you do (or if you don’t), here are a few things you should not miss during Christmas in Cebu — participate in unique holiday traditions, visit amazing places, and exchange gifts with someone special.
Why is Christmas a perfect time to fall in love in the Philippines?
It’s a time to spread love to everyone.
It has been a common practice in the Philippines for families to share food with other families during Christmas. There are even a lot of charity programs in the country, in which they give gifts, clothes, food for Christmas eve, and even a week worth of groceries to the homeless and those who are in deep poverty.
Other than that, the loving nature of Filipinos is fueled by this season of love. Many desire to experience love and this is why many love stories in the country begin with a Christmas story.
Perhaps it’s time to consider your own love story. Whether it’s a story that’s yet to be written, or one whose narrative must increase in pace, now’s a better time than any.
Unique Christmas season Traditions
No other place in the world celebrates Christmas the way Filipinos do. They start Christmas early and end late.
If you stay for a year in the Philippines, you’d be surprised by the fact that they start playing Christmas songs and putting up Christmas decorations like lanterns, and colorful lights as soon as the first day of September. On top of that, the Christmas season also extends until January, right after the Feast of Three Kings.
Moreover, the season is a time to experience the many Filipino traditions. Every place you go and in every community you visit, each of them will have unique holiday traditions, and Cebu is no exception.
Here are a few of them:
- Misa de Gallo
For Filipinos, wishes do come true when you pray and believe.
The majority of Filipinos are devout Catholics. That is why religion plays a big role during the holiday season in the country.
Nearing Christmas Day, Filipinos would attend the “Night Mass”, in which they consistently go to Church as early as 4:00 AM for 9-days before Christmas day. It is one of the most looked forward to by most Filipinos as it’s a special time to go to Church with their families.
There is also a belief that if you complete all 9 days of the Night Mass, your prayers would be answered. You never know your prayers might get answered if you finish all the masses.
If your Cebuana invites you to attend one of these masses, take it as an opportunity to bond with her and get to know her culture.
- Puto Maya and Sikwate
After attending Misa de Gallo, Cebuano churchgoers fill up their tummies with a nice warm cup of sikwate (native chocolate drink), with puto (rice cake) and fresh mangoes on the side — a combination known as puto maya and sikwate.
You’ll find vendors selling this Cebuano delicacy everywhere. However, it’s only available before sunrise. It’s definitely a fight to get your hands on them, so come early to the stalls that sell them, or else there might not be any left for you and your date.
- Noche Buena
If you failed to get your hands on some puto maya and sikwate, don’t worry. More food will come your way. It’s Christmas, after all. Filipino hospitality is brimming, so expect to get invited to countless parties and feasts.
The Yuletide feast in the Philippines is called Noche Buena. It’s a special meal prepared for family and friends to eat and share during Christmas Eve.
You will find classic Filipino Christmas dishes, including lechon, lumpia, spaghetti, caldereta, humba, pancit bihon, palabok, fruit salad, and so much more. You are not allowed to leave a Filipino party unless you are stuffed and satisfied.
Don’t forget to indulge yourself in the holiday spirit and try every food served on your plate.
Places to Visit
After attending parties and filling your bellies, make room in your schedule to visit these fun-filled places:
- Christmas Village
Most, if not all, cities and municipalities in Cebu have their own Christmas Village setups. Whichever place you go to on the island, there’s a special place filled with twinkling lights, trees, and decor.
You can find these Christmas attractions in the town halls and plazas of each city and municipality. They are open to the public for free.
Don’t forget to take numerous selfies with your date in these picture-perfect places. Keep them as a souvenir to remind you of your romantic time together in Cebu.
- Anjo World Theme Park
It’s the largest theme park in the Visayas region. It is fairly new and its facilities are world-class. You’ll find all sorts of rides — a roller coaster, Ferris wheel, bumper cars, and the like. If you and your date are kids at heart, this might be the perfect date place not just for the Holiday season, but for any day of the year as well.
Eat some hotdogs, ride the Golden Carousel, test your courage with the Tower Drop, or pay extra to enter Snow World and experience a winter wonderland.
- Top of Cebu
If you want to witness the whole city celebrating Christmas with a barrage of fireworks, then the Top of Cebu would offer you the best view. It’s also a great place to try all Filipino cuisine prepared by experienced cooks while looking at the panoramic vista of the city.
Since the outdoor restaurant is nestled at around 2000 feet above sea level in the mountains of Cebu, the place naturally has a cold breeze and a freezing fog may sometimes blow through the restaurant. It’ll give you the perfect chance to make a gentlemanly gesture, like giving your jacket to the Cebuana beside you.
- Ayala Center Cebu
This mall is one of the most magical places to visit in Cebu during the Holiday season. In the Terraces area, you’ll find handrails, trees, and bushes adorned with multicolored lights that give the whole place a festive ambiance.
The best part is the Festival of Lights and Sound which the mall launches every year during the Christmas season. Make sure you come early and find a spot at the Ayala Triangle Garden to witness the display of lights dancing to a Christmas tune.
Note: It doesn’t matter which place you plan to visit. It’s the person you share the experience with that matters.
Gift Ideas
End your Christmas holidate in Cebu with the customary exchange of gifts. Though it’s not a mandatory tradition, it does help end the night on a sweet note.
Don’t know what to give her? Here are a few ideas:
- Accessory
A safe gift is a piece of jewelry — a minimalist necklace, watch, or bracelet. If it’s too early in the relationship to give her an expensive gift, you can give her a scarf or a functional coin purse.
- Perfume
Now this one is a bit tricky. Some women are very picky with the perfume they use. You might need the assistance of a saleslady to help you pick which scent you should get. You could also ask your date’s friend for help, or maybe her closest sibling.
- Skincare or Make-up
Again, you will need help picking this one, especially if you are not well-versed in beauty products. You might get her shade wrong, or worse, pick a skincare set she’s allergic to.
Lastly, keep in mind that you don’t have to spend a lot or break the bank to buy her a gift. It’s the thought that counts.
And more than the thought, it’s the time and place. Give her that gift in a quiet spot under a tree speckled with bright Christmas lights. That will be a memory she will never forget.
Find a Cebuana to Spend the Holidays With
Going to Cebu during the holidays will allow you to bond with and learn more about the Cebuana that you like. And she’ll get the message: if you’re willing to spend Christmas with her, then you definitely care about her.
Christmas is a special time for most Filipinos, and being part of it will allow you to leave a lasting impression. With Cebu’s rich traditions and fun-filled places to visit. Now that you know what to do for Christmas on the island, all you need is a beautiful Cebuana.
If you already have a beautiful Cebuana by your side, congratulations to you! We’re sure a lot of men envy you. But if you don’t have a special someone to spend your holidays with, we can definitely help.
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Why be alone for the holidays when you can spend it with someone special? Talk, meet, and date women from Cebu.