Every fourth Thursday of November, America stops and smells the pumpkin pies, gathers around the turkey, and embraces a tradition as old as the Pilgrims themselves — Thanksgiving. It’s a quintessentially American holiday rooted in harvest, gratitude, and a bit of turkey drama. Now here comes the funny part: Filipinos, never one to shy away from a celebration (whether invited or not), have begun adopting this purely American tradition as if it’s part of our cultural DNA.
So why do we, living thousands of miles away from Plymouth Rock, find ourselves celebrating a feast we never actually sowed or harvested? We don’t even have a fall season! The closest we get to fall is when the sampaguita flowers drop on the sidewalks. Yet, here we are, filling our tables with roasted chicken pretending to be turkey, mashed potatoes with a side of kare-kare, and apple pie with a dash of leche flan.
I say, let’s embrace it. After all, why shouldn’t we celebrate a day dedicated to gratitude? But let’s not just copy and paste Thanksgiving as it is. Instead, let’s give it a distinctly Filipino flavor, a celebration of Pasasalamat that’s as unique and heartwarming as the Filipino Fiesta.
The Filipino Spin on Thanksgiving Family First, Second, and Always Third
Thanksgiving in America is about family, but for Filipinos, every celebration is about family — even a barangay reunion. This is why Thanksgiving feels oddly familiar to us. In the Philippines, our family reunions are legendary. We don’t need a turkey to gather the clan; we just need a good reason (or no reason at all). From toddlers to titos and titas who bring the best tsismis, a Filipino Thanksgiving would be like Noche Buena without the bibingka, but with the same chaos and laughter.
Boodle Fight Thanksgiving
Forget the formal dining table. How about a Thanksgiving boodle fight? It’s the perfect symbol of our communal spirit. Instead of individually carved slices of turkey, picture a banana leaf-covered table laden with crispy lechon, grilled tilapia, sinigang na hipon, and mountains of garlic rice. The message? We feast together as equals, sharing food (and dipping our hands) as a symbol of gratitude for the blessings we have.
From Harvest to Hard Work: A Salute to the Filipino Farmer
The original Thanksgiving was a celebration of harvest, a time when the Pilgrims gave thanks for a good crop. In the Philippines, we don’t have Pilgrims, but we have the hardworking Filipino farmers who toil under the sun, bringing food to our tables despite challenges like typhoons and economic hardships. A uniquely Filipino Thanksgiving could be an opportunity to honor and thank them, much like we do in fiestas dedicated to San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers. Perhaps this could be a day where we not only give thanks but also give back.
Turkey vs. Lechon: The Ultimate Showdown
Let’s face it: the turkey doesn’t stand a chance against our lechon. Why settle for dry white meat when you can have crispy pork skin that sends you straight to food heaven? If Thanksgiving were a sport, the lechon would win gold every time. This isn’t just about food, though. It’s about taking a foreign tradition and giving it a uniquely Pinoy twist. Lechon is more than a dish; it’s a symbol of celebration, abundance, and gratitude. And isn’t that the essence of Thanksgiving?
Pasasalamat: A Time for Gratitude, Not Just Gluttony
We often joke that Filipinos don’t need a special day to say “thank you” because it’s ingrained in our culture. We say salamat po almost as frequently as we take selfies. But a Filipino Thanksgiving could be a deeper celebration of pasasalamat — a time for heartfelt gratitude beyond just the food on our tables. We can use this day to appreciate the often-overlooked blessings in our lives: the unwavering support of our friends, the resilience of our communities, and the small everyday joys that make life in the Philippines special (like a good taho on a rainy morning).
A Season for Giving Back
In the U.S., Thanksgiving kicks off the holiday season, leading to a frenzy of shopping on Black Friday. In the Philippines, why not use it as a prelude to our beloved Simbang Gabi? Instead of rushing to the malls, we can use this time to be generous — to donate to those in need, volunteer, or simply help out a neighbor. It’s a way of living out our gratitude in action, transforming it into a ripple of kindness that echoes across the country.
Making Thanksgiving Filipino
Perhaps it’s time we make Thanksgiving our own — a celebration that’s not about Pilgrims and pumpkins, but about bayanihan and pasasalamat. It doesn’t matter if the turkey is swapped for adobo or if the cranberry sauce is replaced with banana ketchup. What matters is the spirit of the holiday: a time to pause and give thanks.
In a world that’s moving faster than we can say “TikTok,” a day dedicated to gratitude is a precious pause. It’s a chance to say thank you to those who’ve helped us along the way, to count our blessings instead of our burdens, and to appreciate the joy of simply being together.
So, whether you celebrate with a roasted turkey, a sizzling lechon, or a pot of sinigang, let’s make Thanksgiving more than just another imported holiday. Let’s make it a day where we Filipinos can celebrate what we do best: gathering, giving, and being grateful — with full hearts and even fuller stomachs.
Happy Filipino Thanksgiving, everyone! Dakal a salamat kekayu ngan.