Paskuhan at Wychwood

Paskuhan at Wychwood

LOLA’S KAKANIN, from left: Ryan Caramat, Rana Caramat, Mike Onate and Ivy Onate.

By Rachelle Cruz

It might be the most wonderful time of the year, but as the city ushers in the holiday season, for many kababayans, it’s when they miss home the most. Christmas is one of the most anticipated and celebrated holiday in the Philippines, when Pinoy carols hung mid-air, and the smell of bibingkas lured you into the streets. Families prepared meals, and met neighbours at the traditional simbang gabi (midnight mass).

Lola’s Kusina, from left: Sarina de Villa, Lulu de Villa, Peter Wiley and Ian de Villa

But the Pinoy Christmas spirit was alive at Wychwood Barns as the Toronto Paskuhan Festival 2014 kicked off on Sunday, Nov. 16. For the first time, in its third year, TPF decided to celebrate Paskuhan in three different locations across the Greater Toronto Area, to bring joy and merry to the Filipino communities.

“We want to bring people together at the spirit of Christmas. And of course spirit of Christmas is, you know this is the longest tradition na meron tayo sa Pilipinas. Napaka saya, and the venue is very good, perfect for this festivity. So it’s overwhelming. Maganda ang response ng tao ngayon, and the sponsors they are very supportive,” Ronnie de la Gana, president of TPF said.

“It’s a three-location event this year. Because ang point namin is, is to bring the Paskuhan spirit into different communities. Not like bringing all the people in Toronto convention centre, but to bring the spirit to everyone,” he added.

ROYALE, from left: Jonard Talamayan, Theresa Hernandez and Luz Cebuano

The barns was transformed into a Paskuhan village reminiscent of Filipino Christmas. A life-sized belen (Nativity scene) decorated the main entrance way, as parols hung across the ceilings. Savoury Christmas favourites were in order like tupig, puto bumbong, bibingka, and ham.

“It’s very exciting! This is one of a kind. You can see all the people here are very happy. And the spirit is very Christmas. And today, we celebrate yung Philippine Christmas sa Canada. Like today we made special, yung tupig, na very special sa amin ito sa Nueva Vizcaya, and yung rilyenong bangus,” Marcie Peters of Halo-Halo said.

Local performers like Ivy Joy Aguila-Maniquiz and Maria Panaligan took the stage and serenaded the crowd with their angelic voices singing Christmas songs.

“I sang for this event. It was really nice to be a part of it. It’s an honour and a privilege to be asked to sing for this event because you show immigrants here, masarap pa rin yung meron tayong taste na Filipino tradition right, so may mga parol, then you know you have mga bibingka, and all those stuff tapos and a while ago there were some people with the usual songs na pang caroling sa Philippines. So it was really nice it was a great event,” Aguila-Maniquiz said.

“I really like the atmosphere here, it was different. Filipinos just amaze me every time because they are so welcoming and they’re always so enthusiastic, and I just love performing for them,” Marie Panaligan echoed.

If you missed the fun at the barns, you can catch the festivities at Gateway Centre for New Canadians in Mississauga on Nov. 29. The celebration concludes at the Our Lady of the Assumption Church (OLA), on December 20 for simbang gabi.

Organizer Ronnie de la Gana and Miss Manila 2014. (PHOTOS: HG)