Christmas is one of the most anticipated occasions of the year, especially for many Filipinos. Christmas is celebrated in the Philippines during the "ber" months, which begin in September and last until December. We would usually hang Christmas decorations in our houses, and go Christmas caroling, and many other fun activities. We Filipinos celebrate Christmas in a way that no one else does.

            Vigan is a beautiful and fun place to spend Christmas. With its rich history and culture, spending Christmas in Vigan is a must. Bigueños celebrate Christmas in a number of exciting and amusing ways, but due to the threat that this pandemic may bring, we will have to find a new way to celebrate Christmas during this new normal here in Vigan.

            Before the pandemic, Bigueños celebrated Christmas by visiting places decorated for the occasion in and around Vigan City. Bigueños were also looking forward to the lighting of Christmas trees across Vigan City. Bigueños would often sing Christmas carols around the city. However, due to the limits we have during this pandemic, most of the things we did back then are unlikely to happen again.


            Despite the obstacles we have in celebrating the Christmas season during this pandemic, I think that Christmas, in its pure essence, is the celebration of the birth and coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.


            During this new normal, Bigueños can still celebrate the true spirit of Christmas. By following minimum health protocols, Bigueños can celebrate Christmas here in Vigan by attending the Christmas Eve mass in the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Conversion of St. Paul, which is one of the most historic churches and sites in the city.


            If we are unable to come to church during the Christmas, we can still celebrate the holy mass at home by lighting a candle on our altar and watching the holy mass live on Vigan Cathedral’s Facebook page. In this way, we can ensure safety while also celebrating Christmas in its true spirit.


            Many Bigueños may find it difficult to celebrate Christmas the traditional way, but through these difficult times, Bigueños and Filipinos will understand the true and pure essence of Christmas, which is the time when God sacrificed his only son to save us from our sins. We can all learn from God to give and sacrifice for the sake of others, especially when many of us are going through difficult times. I hope that we will all recover soon from this pandemic and that the next time we celebrate Christmas, all Bigueños will be together.


References:

‌Heritage. (2017, December 12). 13 days before Christmas... - Heritage City of Vigan, Philippines. Facebook.com. https://www.facebook.com/ViganCityOfficial/photos/13-days-before-christmashappy-holidays-from-vigan/1503535339732195/

(2022). Wikimedia.org. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Sparkling_Vigan_Cathedral.jpg/1200px-Sparkling_Vigan_Cathedral.jpg 

‌Vigan Cathedral. (2021, December 24). Vigan Cathedral - Vigan Cathedral added a new photo.Facebook.com. https://www.facebook.com/ViganCathedral/photos/pcb.778120026915425/778119816915446

Artes Ita Paskua CARRIES ON AMID Pandemic – Vigan City. (2020, December 18). Vigancity.gov.ph. http://vigancity.gov.ph/artes-ita-paskua-carries-on-amid-pandemic/