ELEBRATE THE SEASON IN SMILE STYLE, WITH OUR GUIDE TO FUN AND FESTIVITIES IN THE PHILIPPINES AND ACROSS ASIA.

BY LESLIE G LEE AND MAYA O CALICA

A - Aguinaldo means “presents” in Spanish. Through the years, the term has come to be used only for Christmas gifts. Ampao, is a Chinese word that refers to the red envelope containing a cash gift for the festive season. Apart from Christmas, the ampao is also given during Chinese New Year and at weddings and christenings.

B – Bibingka is a Filipino cake made with rice flour and coconut milk, and then cooked inside a humohan — an oven with live coals above and below it. Like a mooncake, it may also have a hidden salted egg or perhaps cheese in it. It’s popular at Christmas, particularly as a treat following the dawn mass or simbang gabi. Enjoy it hot with a pat of margarine and a sprinkling of sugar and some grated coconut, plus a cup of hot chocolate.

For the best bibingka, Ferino’s, a family-owned enterprise, has been making this rice cake since 1938. www.ferinosbibingka.com

C – Caroling is a part of the Filipino Christmas tradition. In the days building up to the 25th, children as well as adults go from house to house, regaling residents with yuletide hymns sung acapella or with makeshift instruments.

People give a token for this gesture, such as coins or even food. Choirs will also sing in malls and hotels throughout the city. The plush Peninsula Manila Hotel is known for holding regular Christmas concerts in the lobby. www.manila.peninsula.com

D – Disneyland in Hong Kong holds spectacular Christmas parades and displays with all your beloved Disney characters in attendance! Adults and kids will love it. Make sure to bundle up in jackets and scarves because it gets extra cold while waiting for the fireworks to begin at around 10pm. Click for English version on www.hongkongdisneyland.com

E – Environment-friendly folks, do your part by sending these green Christmas tree cards created by Salay Handmade Paper. They’re made with handmade paper and “fossilized” leaves from the Bauhinia tree, and are available online. www.tenthousandvillages.com

F - Fireworks are one way non-Christian Chinese celebrate the holidays. During their Spring Festival, people pay respects to their elders through festivities and lots of feasting. Children also receive new clothes and toys as presents, partake of delicious food and enjoy firework displays as well as playing with firecrackers.

G – When in Manila, enjoy the ultimate 3G shopping experience! Head to Makati City’s Greenbelt Malls for the best of high-end retail and nearby Glorietta for a plethora of mid-range shopping options (www.myayalamalls.com). Bargain hunters and people willing to brave the crowds must visit Greenhills Shopping Center (www.greenhills.com.ph) for the tiangge (bazaar) experience and the really great prices on everything from T-shirts, all kinds of shoes, South Sea pearls to toys. They even have a free shuttle bus service that takes you to Tiendesitas, a sister-mall property.

H – Did you know that children in Korea have a different way of greeting Santa Claus? They call him Santa Haraboji which means “Grandfather Santa” in Korean. Haraboji is an honorific term used for older men.

I - In Indonesia, people decorate their homes with lights and decorate their Christmas trees with strings of popcorn. Although the majority of Indonesians are Muslim, this doesn’t stop them from partaking in merrymaking. They exchange gifts and have family dinners. For Indonesians, Christmas is a time to praise God and be thankful, so they pay it forward by going to orphanages and spending time with the children, even bringing them presents.

J - In Japan, families celebrate by eating Christmas Cake on December 25.

The Christmas cake is traditionally a white cream cake topped with strawberries and whipped cream. However, stores now offer a variety of cake designs. (Tip for those with a sweet tooth: Buy your Christmas cake on the 25th since stores are sure to offer big discounts so that all cakes are sold by the 26th!)

K - Check out the Giant Christmas trees in Kuala Lumpur — Suria KLCC (www.suriaklcc.com.my), The Pavilion (www.pavilion-kl.com) and Berjaya Times Square (www.timessquarekl.com) are just some of the malls where you’ll find all these gargantuan yuletide trees in Malaysia. Every nook and cranny is sure to have something delightfully Christmas-y.

L - Light shows across Asia are impressive this time of the year: from the 10 apple-shaped lights in Times Square, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, the ornate décor along Orchard Road in Singapore to the annual Giant Lantern Festival in the Philippines.

M - Misa de gallo is a nine-day religious custom from December 16 to 24, and Filipinos rise early to attend masses before dawn, usually starting at around 3 to 4.30am. This practice started during the Spanish colonial period when priests held early dawn services for the farmers who wanted to attend but could not leave their fields. These masses were held before daybreak, hence the Filipino term simbang gabi or midnight mass. Many Catholics try to complete all nine masses because they believe that by doing so, they will be granted their wish.

N - Noche buena is the traditional feast following the midnight Christmas mass. In Spanish, it means “good night.” A noche buena involves having a smorgasbord of dishes such as pancit canton (sautéed noodles), lumpia (vegetable and pork roll), lechon (roasted pig), fried chicken, sweet ham, arroz caldo (porridge), bibingka and more.

O – Osaka is a great place to shop for the latest gadgets and fashions. Shinsaibashi comes alive in December with holiday deals and the Japanese treat of sealed grab bags.

P – Paskuhan Village is a theme park in San Fernando, Pampanga and it’s famous for its year-round celebration of Christmas. Located in Barangay San Jose, Paskuhan Village — now renamed Hilaga Village — is a tourist attraction just 65km away from Metro Manila that is managed by the Philippine Tourism Authority. You’ll find the Pinoy Christmas parol (lantern), local nativity sets, crafts and exhibits here.

Q – Queso de bola is the Filipino term, from Spanish, for Edam cheese. The term literally translates to “ball cheese.” It is a Dutch cheese in a spherical shape (usually slightly flattened at the top and bottom) and coated with red wax. With its cheerful color, it is a favorite at Christmas time especially as part of noche buena. In fact, a noche buena is not complete without it. You’ll also need Spanish ham and freshly baked hot pan de sal. These dishes are at the heart of the Christmas feast!

R – Reunions are an integral part of the season, wherever you happen to live. In Hong Kong, families head to Maxim’s Restaurant in City Hall for its delectable lauriat. In Macau, the three-Michelin star Robuchon a Galera in the Lisboa Tower features a 17-course degustation menu and the best wines befitting a holiday feast. But whether you’re dining out or having a good old-fashioned meal at home, what matters most is reconnecting with the people you love most — your nearest and dearest, and celebrating together.

S - Sai Kung in Hong Kong’s Quarry Bay district offers a dampa-type of palutuan — seafood cooking service. Enjoy the cool Christmas breeze, your family around you, feasting on fresh seafood and perhaps drinking a beer or two.

T – Tangub City, 30 minutes from Ozamiz, is the Christmas capital of Mindanao because of its annual “Christmas Symbols Festival”, an event that has helped boost Misamis Occidental’s tourism. Catch the lights and fireworks at the launch on December 1.

U – Ube halaya (purple yam) is a popular Filipino dessert which is served during special gatherings like Christmas. You can order it at most Filipino restaurants in Manila as well as up north in Baguio City and in Laguna and Cavite.

V – Though only a small percent of Vietnamese are Christian, they celebrate Christmas by going to mass, then having a supper of turkey and pudding. Kids leave their shoes out on Christmas Eve to be filled with gifts — a custom inherited from the French occupation in Vietnam.

W – White Christmas, anyone? Statue Square in Central, Hong Kong is transformed into a winter wonderland, with a Santa’s Lodge and a 35m Christmas tree. In Singapore, Snow City has a school for learning how to ski and snowboard. www.snowcity.com.sg

X – eXchanging gifts is a tradition in the Philippines, as is Kris Kringle. In schools and offices, people pick names out of a hat (or box, or bowl) and become Secret Santas to one another. The identity of the giver is normally revealed after a series of gift giving.

Y – Yuletide bazaars in Manila normally start in October and last until December 24, and are held in the NBC Tent in Bonifacio Global City, Rockwell Tent in Makati City, or the World Trade Center in Pasay City. Smaller bazaars are also held in various subdivisions and villages in Metro Manila — check out www.spot.ph or www.shopcrazy.com.ph for schedules.

Z – In Zamboanga City, they have what’s called Pascua na Zamboanga or The Christmas Festival. The government plays a major role in planning the feasting and merrymaking with activities, plus lanterns and Christmas lights for a truly spectacular sight to behold.