A note from Abby and Yaz
This month in honour of Filipino Independence Day we are honoured to share some of our heritage with you. From traditional wedding customs and a recipe for delicious dessert we will give you some insight on being Filipino :)
June 12th commemorates the declaration of the Philippine's Independence from Spain in 1898.
As Filipino event planners, observing Philippines Independence Day provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and honour our cultural heritage.
Filipinos love to party! Whether it be a family picnic, a birthday celebration, Christmas or a weddingk; our celebrations will always include an abundance of food, dancing, karaoke and loud laughter. As event planners that embrace their heritage, we recognize the importance of cultural sensitivity for both the events we host and attend. We respect and hone the diverse backgrounds of event guests to ensure everyone feels welcomed and valued. We consider cultural norms, traditions, and customs while planning and executing events to avoid any unintentional offence or exclusion.
Embracing cultural diversity not only enriches the experience for everyone but also promotes unity and understanding. Let's celebrate diversity and create events that reflect inclusivity and respect for all cultures.
SALAMAT! (Thank you in Tagalog)
Some of the traditions you might experience at a Filipino Wedding:
A traditional Catholic Ceremony- Most Filipino wedding are held at a Catholic Church.
The Cord and Veil during the Filipino wedding ceremony is a tradition in which the couple will have a veil placed over their heads followed by a white cord. The veil symbolizes oneness and protection for the couple and the cord symbolizes eternity and unity
A tradition of exchanging 13 coins also known as 'arras' happens at the wedding ceremony. The Coins are handed back and forth between the bride and the groom as a commitment to provide for each other.
The lighting of the unity candle during the ceremony symbolized two souls and two families coming together
Grooms and Groomsmen will often wear a traditional white woven shirt made of banana leaf fibres called a Barong.
Filipino wedding receptions often have the Money dance. The Money dance is a way to help the couple start a strong financial life together. Guests pin money to the bride and groom and dance with them.
What food is served is as important as what the bride is wearing. A roast pig, 'lechon' is traditionally served along with pancit (noodles), seafood and Jasmine rice to name a few dishes
Halo Halo
Halo Halo (translated: mix mix) is traditional Filipino dessert.
Traditionally it is a mixture of crushed ice, milk, sugar, sweetened saba or plantain, sweetened sweet potatoes, red mango, chickpeas, jackfruit, coconut, coconut gel, tapioca pearls, leche flan and ube ice cream.
There are many variations and you can really add whatever you like to it! You can find a traditional Halo Halo recipe here at Foxy Folksy and here is a recipe from Republique that offers a fresh take on this tasty dessert!
