In her apartment in Dubai, Sarah Mendoza has a small parol. The little star-shaped lantern, carefully packed all the way from Batangas casts a warm glow that reminds her of home. She thinks of her children thousands of miles away, wondering if they are preparing to go to Simbang Gabi, a tradition they had always kept together before she left to work in the UAE.
“Christmas is always about family,” she says. That doesn’t change even if we’re apart.”
Sarah is one of the millions of Filipino Overseas Foreign Workers (OFWs) who will need to spend Christmas far from home. For these modern-day heroes whose remittances help support countless Filipino families, the holiday season is a bittersweet time that brings both challenges and opportunities to reinvent old traditions.
In a small apartment in Hong Kong, domestic worker Maria Santos arranges traditional Filipino Christmas dishes for a potluck with fellow OFWs. The aroma of lechon, pancit, and bibingka fills the air as dozens of workers gather to share not just food, but stories of home and hope.
“We have become each other’s family here,” she explains. “When you’re away from your loved ones, you learn to find new ways of celebrating.”
Technology and traditions
Technology has become the go-to for many OFWs. Virtual Noche Buena celebrations, where families share meals over video calls, have become increasingly common. Some workers synchronize their breaks to join livestreamed Simbang Gabi masses from their parish churches back home, maintaining traditions despite the distance.
The challenges and realities of being away from home have led to the rise of modern Filipino Christmas traditions among our OFWs. In Singapore, one group organizes a virtual parol-making contest where participants make traditional lanterns using available materials. These entries are displayed online, allowing families back home to vote for their favorites.
Virtual reunions have also increased in popularity. Some families arrange synchronized gift-opening sessions and Christmas Eve dinners where their OFW family members can participate in real time. Many OFWs send digital gifts through mobile banking apps, ensuring that their loved ones can go holiday shopping even before the balikbayan boxes arrive.
“Iba pa rin yung nandoon ka,” admits Jennifer Cruz, a worker in Taiwan, “but seeing my children’s faces on screen when they open their gifts makes the sacrifice worth it.”
The Christmas spirit away from home
Filipino communities have created support networks across the world that become especially important during the Christmas season. Filipino associations and local churches organize events to replicate the atmosphere of a traditional Pasko, from carolling to Filipino food fiestas.
In Rome, the Filipino Community Center hosts an annual “Paskong Pinoy” celebration where OFWs can attend mass, share traditional meals, and participate in games reminiscent of hometown fiestas. These gatherings help alleviate the loneliness that often feels much worse during the holidays.
Malayo man, magkalapit pa rin
While the pangs of separation during Christmas never totally disappear, many OFWs have found ways to adapt by leaning into g their Filipino identity, teaching us that Filipino Christmas traditions can transcend physical boundaries.
As Sarah Mendoza prepares for another Christmas away from home, she reflects on what the season means now: “Christmas teaches us that love knows no distance. Whether we’re physically together or apart, the Filipino Christmas spirit is in our hearts, in our traditions, and in our hope of one day spending Christmas together again.”
For millions of OFWs worldwide, Christmas is when resilience, creativity, and unbreakable connection to home rise to the fore. Through technology, community, and reimagined traditions, they continue to celebrate the season’s meaning even from miles away.
