Weekend Activities: Four Compelling Reasons You Should Still Watch Movies in the Theater

"The only reason why we ask other people how their weekend was is so we can tell them about our own weekend" –Chuck Palahniuk

In the age of streaming services and applications, it is indeed a wonder why quite a lot of people would still prefer to watch movies in the theater. Despite the plethora of on-demand options conveniently at your disposal, a trip to the cinema is always worth the effort and not just out of sheer novelty either.

Indeed, in this time and age where streaming services seem like the more practical and feasible option to get our slice of entertainment, cinemas should have been rendered obsolete—a thing of the past. And yet here we are, peppered weekly with Ayala Malls Movie schedules, Movies in Greenbelt and even current movies in Makati being advertised in applications and newspapers. Instead of dying out, it seems like the theaters and the cinemas are thriving and they are ever as robust despite having a significant price hike on movie tickets. Why? Well, just because there are some experiences that you can only ever get within the walls of your local cinema.

Sure, there might be a myriad of ways to watch films without setting foot inside a movie theater (most of them legal, mind you) and the novelty of watching movies in theaters might never beat a Netflix subscription, the fact remains that the cinema or the theater has not lost its magic. Indeed, there are only a handful of ways wherein a makeshift home theater can emulate the kind of experience you have in movies, and that is a good enough reason to watch cinemas. Given that there are also a handful of bad experiences that might deter you from stepping in a cinema ever again, there are still compelling reasons why it is still worth watching movies in cinemas. Here are just some of them:

Avoid spoilers and be part of the conversation

Let us be realistic here and attest to the fact that spoilers are always present whenever a blockbuster movie opens. With social media being the constant and consistent medium of communication among many individuals, people would soon get word of what happens in a particular film before even seeing it. More importantly, as social media is a tool that allows users to communicate their thoughts to a broader audience, some netizens would inadvertently read these spoilers regardless of how meticulous they have screened their posts. Incidentally, if you opted to wait for a particular movie to air only on the streaming service then hearing spoilers is inevitable. If you wish to be in-the-know of the latest films without reading them through spoilers, then consume movies in a timely fashion. This process means you have to see them in theaters. Here are some of the ways you can avoid spoilers.

Movie Food

Granted that you can munch on movie snacks in your kitchen or even on your sofa while you are watching a movie, nothing quite compares to snacking on a tub of popcorn while anticipating your film. There is an absolute joy in loading up your movie snacks, beverages and maybe even some candy when you are at a movie theater that cannot be emulated by your home entertainment room. There are some people whose primary motivation for watching movies is getting to eat their favorite movie snacks. That, in itself, is pretty convincing.

Your home theater is good (but not that good)

Regardless of how much you spent on your home entertainment system or whether you have a 90-inch 3D TV with surround sound speakers, all of that would still not compare to the kind of experience you will get at a movie theater. As said above, there are just some cinema experiences that you cannot replicate no matter how hard you try. Certain scenes are made to be viewed in theater or viewed best in them. Scenes such as the ones in Gravity or that particular scene wherein Dwayne Johnson makes a jump in Skyscraper is seen best in a large screen. And let us face it; you really could not fit that kind of television screen in your homes. So, you might as well watch movies the way they are meant to be viewed: in theaters.

Support movies that you love

The movie industry is a business, and of course, it needs to make enough profit for future movie ventures. In this regard, only movies that do well will get sequels or get similarly made. After all, films are made based on what does well at the box office. In this regard, you can cast your vote with dollars and let them know that the movies you watched are the movies you like. If a film does not do well, then you will never see another iteration of it sometime soon regardless of how much you love it. Support the types of movies you love, and maybe you will see more of the same get made.  

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Living in the Philippines: The Worst Things about Commuting in the Philippines

“The daily activity that contributes most to happiness is having dinner with friends. The daily activity that detracts most from happiness is commuting. Eat more. Commute less” –David Brooks

If you have lived in the Philippines for a significant amount of time, you probably heard about the horror stories as regards the Manila traffic where commuting is said to be the worst.

Unfortunately, the traffic is something most locals need to content with every single day. Most employees would already be stressed out even before they make it to the office owing to the horrible commuting conditions. It does not matter where you work as there are various chokepoints all over Metro Manila that make it such a hassle for your average commuter to get through. It does not matter whether you are driving or taking a public utility vehicle either, the amount of stress will be just about the same and negotiating with traffic will always be a cumbersome aspect of every Manileño's life.

The stress of this everyday occurrence could have been mitigated had it been for better commuting conditions. Unfortunately, as every commuting passenger in the metropolis knows, the horrible commuting conditions are Metro Manila further aggravates that already terrible traffic gridlocks. Whether you are traveling from Makatito BGC or even just learning how to commute to BGC, you will quickly realize just how bad the commuting conditions are.

Given that one of the public transportation benefits is mitigating your local travel expenses, it seems like the conditions you will inevitably subject yourself under on your commute vastly outweighs the advantages. Sure, there might be things you can doto entertain yourself in traffic but that in no way alleviates the seemingly taxing routine we do daily to get to work. In any case, here are some of the things that make commuting in Metro Manila so terrible insomuch that at times it is better to stay at home than waste your time and energy in the process:

Bumper-to-bumper traffic

This scenario is already a given and a common occurrence in the Philippines' capital. At its very worse, it can take you anywhere between three to four hours to reach your destination. Just imagine what you can do with that time. Traffic has gotten so bad insomuch that even waking up early to make it to your work on time is no longer a feasible option for most. Instead, all you can do is hope that your client or your boss is stuck in traffic as well.

Long queues

Even if you are not the type to drive, you are still not excluded from the daily commute stress either. Sure, you might want to give your cars a rest today and board the local train. Unfortunately, you are not the only one with this idea. Do not be surprised to see a long queue when you reach the MRT or LRT station as there are a lot of motorists waiting their turn to board as well. On rush hours, you can expect queues to be even longer.

Lack of public restrooms

Apart from the shortage of functional public restrooms have, it seems like most public restrooms in commuting stations are under unsanitary conditions. It makes it even more difficult for the average commuter as they cannot be picky about where to go lest they want to delay relieving themselves for another couple of hours or so (which can seem impossible). 

Picky taxi drivers

Boarding taxis does not exempt you from Metro Manila's heavy traffic and dire commuting conditions especially since taxi drivers are so picky about their passengers nowadays. Despite having a direct competition with ride-hailing applications and services, some taxi drivers will still adamantly select only those passengers at their comfort and convenience. Even worse, they would ask you for an extra fee on top of what they are already charging you.

Pollution

A direct consequence of Metro Manila's perpetual Carmageddon is the worsening conditions of the city. Metro Manila's pollution has gotten progressively worse over the days that it's  highly recommended for commuters to wear masks as they make their way around the city. The pollution has gotten so bad that you would often feel the urge to take a bath every hour after leaving the house to go on your daily commute.

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Preparing for the Future: Blunders to Avoid in Choosing a University

“I have seen people spend more time choosing a car than they do choosing a college. A college education is going to last a lot longer than a car” –Mark Fisher

Malcolm X was once quoted to say that education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.

From this sentiment, we can readily assume that a good future is hinged on how well you prepare for it today. One of the essential preparations an individual must do to ensure a good future is to secure a good education. After all, education is the gift that prepares and sets you for life. In this regard, choosing a good university to attend right after your secondary educational years is pivotal to ensuring good education. More importantly, good schools can contribute to better employment in most cases. With all these considered, choosing a university to provide you with good tertiary education should be something that requires deep contemplation and much deliberation.

After all, choosing a good college is akin to selecting the instrument to pave the way towards your future. Unfortunately, most students who just graduated secondary school would not be as decisive in selecting a college as they ought to be. The prospect of choosing a school that would set you for life might be overwhelmingly intimidating insomuch that students are often at a loss as to where to start. For this reason, determining what you want to do and what kind of career you would want to have are two tasks paramount to choosing a college. The earlier you can decide the easier choosing a college will be. The Philippines has quite a lot of competent universities from DLSZ (De La Salle Zobelle Vermosa) to Ateneo de Manila—it is just a matter of picking one.

However, as the task is often fraught with complications—from deciding what you wish to do in life to determining whether the school is located in a good location—it is inevitable for some students to make mistakes. Unfortunately, when you will be paying a premium for tuition not to mention mapping out the foundation of your future, making mistakes should be something you should avoid. To ensure that this does not occur, here is a list of common mistakes you ought to avoid committing yourself:

Do not rush the process

Determining which college to attend takes time so you should not rush it. Some of the things you can do to start your university selection process is to take a look at the list of high performing universities in thePhilippines and then identify which schools offer the course you would want to take. Remember, choosing the right college is a lengthy process that requires a lot of time and research. With this in mind, take as much time as you can in researching a good school for you. Do not wait until the last minute or arbitrarily choose a school just to satisfy a requirement.

   Do not be a follower

When you are unaware of what you want to take up or what kind of school you should attend, you would inevitably end up choosing the same schools your friends or significant other chose. Understandably, it would seem like a good idea considering that you will still be with them and be able to spend time with them while you are in college. However, remember that this is one of the most pivotal moments in your life. What is good for your friend and significant other might not necessarily be the same for you. More importantly, your future is at stake here so you need to make decisions for yourself. Besides, if your relationships are strong, they can transcend both time and distance so you need not worry.

Following a legacy

Another error most students commit in choosing a college is selecting the same college their parents had attended out of parental pressure or because they believe it would work to their favor as well considering their parents are alumni in their respective universities. Unfortunately, choosing colleges your parents had attended or your siblings chosen might not be in your best interest. Like stated above, you should strive to make the best decision for yourself and explore your options. Find the college that can align your career goals with your personality.

Rebelling

In contrast, you might want to consider colleges that you parents do not wish for you to attend. Likewise, this is counterintuitive to your plan of attending a good university. After all, your parents might have excellent insights as to which college you should attend and which ones you should not. More importantly, if you are doing it out of spite then it would inevitably lead you to regretting your decision. Choose a college because you believe it is a good school and would fit your career aspirations. Choose based on what you want and not for any other motive than that.

Relying on reputation

While it is advisable to select competitive schools that have been awarded various accolades over the years, you should also determine whether or not the school will be a good fit for you. Just because a school is prestigious and highly-ranked does not perfunctorily mean that it would be the right school for you. Do not equate prestige and illustriousness with quality of education. It all depends on your style of learning. Some students benefit more from smaller classes and might thrive and excel in lesser-known universities.

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Discover Philippines: All You Need to Do About the Philippine Nightlife

“There is no night life in Spain. They stay up late but they get up late. That is not night life. That is delaying the day. Night life is when you get up with a hangover in the morning. Night life is when everybody says what the hell and you do not remember who paid the bill. Night life goes round and round and you look at the wall to make it stop. Night life comes out of a bottle and goes into a jar. If you think of how much the drinks are it is not night life” –Ernest Hemingway

The nightlife scene in the Philippines is unlike any other.

Influenced significantly by Western culture, there might be some aspects in Philippine nightlife that allude to the nightclub scene commonly found in the United States. However, there are also several aspects about it that make it so unique. For an instance, the nightlife in each district is so drastically different than how you would find it in another city. Makati nightlife is associated with upscale living insomuch that you can find some of the most luxurious and exclusive bars and nightclubs here. Other towns are also known for their distinct brand of nightlife—whether that may be a simple night at the pub or a speakeasy that is frequently patronized by up-and-coming writers, singers, artists and poets. Indeed, nightlife in the Philippines is so vibrant and colorful that everyone needs to experience it—whether they may be a local and even more so when they are a foreigner. Regardless of what your poison might be, the Philippine nightlife caters to everyone and you might find something just for you. Everything is there—from laser light discotheques, karaoke bars, underground music gastropubs and exclusive VIP clubs. There is always something for everyone’s fancy and kind of play during the weekend.

So, if you have been looking to hit up some nightclubs or bars this upcoming weekend, here are some of the things you might want to know before going on that nocturnal jaunt:

Friendly attitude towards foreigners

Filipinos are known for their hospitality. In this regard, a foreigner would not have a hard time striking up a conversation with a local. In fact, they may even expect Filipinos to initiate conversations with them first. More importantly, Filipinos have an excellent command of the English language so communication would not be a challenge. Aside from that, foreigners are basically treated like celebrities in the Philippines insomuch that most Filipinos would be receptive to accommodating them. Although things might be relatively different in low-end establishments, you can still expect Filipinos to be welcoming to foreigners.

English-speaking nation

As stated above, Filipinos have an excellent grasp of the English language that communication would hardly be a problem at all. In fact, this is seen as one of the many advantages when it comes to partying in the Philippines as most of the locals can speak English. Even the poorest urban communities can speak Basic English and would be able to accommodate tourists without a hitch. However, even if your trip to the Philippines does not necessitate the reading of a Filipino phrasebook, knowing a few key phrases will earn you extra appreciative smiles from the locals—just for trying!

Unique alcoholic beverages and food

Filipinos love their booze just as much as they love to eat. For this reason, most of their alcoholic beverages have food matches to further improve the taste and the drinking experience. A local drink that is a must-try to beer drinkers is the Filipino local staple for libation, the San Miguel Beer or simply called San Mig. This beer variety comes in a variety of forms from the classic pale pilsen offering to the super dry variant. Apart from alcoholic beverages and spirits, there is quite a number of recognizable American fast food establishments in the Philippines. Recently, there has also been a growth of Japanese, Chinese and Korean cuisines inside shopping malls.  However, if you truly want to experience the diversity of Filipino cuisine, take a stroll in one of the Sunday food night markets and food bazaars. There you can find a range of unique food offerings and flavors all in a single place. Have a taste of the local street food as well as Filipino “pulutan” or finger food and beer matches said to enhance the taste of your alcohol.

Love for KTV

Filipinos love to song—that much is evident from the series of KTV bars you can find in almost every nook and cranny in a major city. In fact, you might even find a standalone one in a local store with a singing patron to match. Indeed, a Filipino’s love for singing has no match and it is something you have to witness for yourself should you ever find yourself in the Philippines. Even those without the gift of vocal prowess can be found singing and belting out tunes in karaoke machines. After all, it is more about your performance rather than the song. So, do not be afraid to try your hand at karaoke too. Let go of your inhibitions by belting out your favorite songs.

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Cinemas Today: Four Reasons Why People Do not Go to Movies Anymore

“Movies are so rarely great art that if we cannot appreciate great trash, we have very little reason to be interested in them.” –Pauline Kael

The movie culture is dying.

While there are weekends and perhaps opening nights wherein we see long queues, it is ever so rarely and if they are there, it means a new blockbuster is showing in town. It is undeniable that streaming websites such as Netflix and Hulu contributed to the progressive decline in movie attendance. After all, why pay an exorbitant amount for a single movie when you only pay a meager sum to access a movie library with diverse titles? However, rising cinema tickets and streaming services are not the only two reasons why cinephiles turn away from the movie theater. Much like anything else, a multitude of factors have caused the further deterioration of movies and as a result, diminished the entire movie experience. Back in the day, Saturdays were made for children matinees, summers had several blockbusters and there was always a rainy day screenings. Unfortunately, the modern day movie-goer has perhaps become rather cynical in his or her selection of movies as all of these once-considered cinema staples are now obsolete. Instead, they have been replaced by blockbuster after blockbuster which in turn, would cause the Cineplex to play the same title for an opening weekend---and constrains people to relegate to home media for the lack of options. Do not get me wrong, blockbusters still feed the cinema business and keep it afloat. However, a series of blockbusters do not really give movie-goers a wide movie-selection for which they can refine their film preferences with. Indeed, movies have gone mainstream and resultantly stale insomuch that it affects those who consume them. In any case, if you have found yourself planning your next movie weekend and are currently scouring the Glorietta Cinema Schedule, here are a few of the interesting facts why not a lot of people might share your weekend plans:

Rising movie prices

Back in the day, an elementary student’s daily allowance would be enough to pay for one movie. Indeed, going to the cinemas was not so much of an expense back then with tickets costing us less than a hundred pesos. Theaters were lenient on what food you can bring as well even going as far to allowing patrons to bring their rice meals inside. However, those are all things in the past. A movie excursion nowadays, thanks to ballooning movie budgets and more expensive projection equipment, is significantly more expensive. Features like IMAX and 3D screenings would even set you back further and for posh screenings such as Director’s Theater and the like, you would be charged even more. In sum, this is to say that going to the movies is an exorbitant expense and if you made a habit out of it (together with your family nonetheless), it can already be considered a small luxury.

Inconsiderate movie goers

Everywhere we go, we encounter people with no regard for others and atrocious manners. However, there is no other place more saturated with rude and impolite people than the cinema. It seems like the skyrocketing movie ticket prices do nothing to deter this type of audience and it can really dampen your entire movie experience. Back in the day, movie screenings had a strict policy in admitting small children after a certain hour. Today, it seems like all that would bar children from attending movies is the MTRCB rating. Unfortunately, these little tots can be quite the nuisance in movie theaters—particularly if they get rather restless. They get impatient and as a result would scream, cry and just be an overall distraction from the film. The same can be said for adults who, at their age, should have known better. For this reason, an adult’s disregard for common courtesy would be even more aggravating than a child’s. They talk on their phones or incessantly keep it lit much to the distraction of others. People have grown so accustomed to seeing movies at home that they seem to have given up on all sense of good manners. In any case, it does nothing to elevate your movie experience which brings us to the point: Why spend a lot just to jostle with other movie patrons who have absolutely no regard for common decency?

Home media

With the rise of re-releases of popular movies, home media has become mainstream with more and more people opting to wait a bit rather than spend money and time to go to the theater. After all, it seems more economic to buy a movie release you can repeatedly watch rather than go to a one-time screening. However, even then, movie attendance was still at an all-time high. It was not until the advent of internet streaming services such as Netflix, Iflix, Hulu and the like that the cinema industry took a serious blow. That, in conjunction to the constant piracy of just-released films has caused movie ticket sales to plummet in some areas. After all, with the rising movie prices coupled with rude movie patrons, it would make so much more sense for your pockets to just simply pay an annual fee than pay for a one-time screening.

The internet

No doubt, the internet has contributed to the steady decline of movie ticket sales. Much as television once eroded the standard movie-going audience, the internet has largely kept people at home. The World Wide Web is rife with entertainment options that are not as linear as simply watching a movie. It gave rise to a new kind of audience that is perhaps, a bit more discriminating that the movie patrons back in the day. Today, the internet gives them a vast selection of movies and on top of that, games as well. With the internet being a competition to be reckoned with, cinemas can potentially see a further drop in attendance.

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Holiday Rush: Four Ways to Beat the Perpetual Manila Traffic this Holiday Season

“Adding lanes to solve traffic congestion is like loosening your belt to solve obesity.” –Glen Hemistra

“They say the universe is expanding. That should help with the traffic.”-Steven Wright

How often is it that we hear people gripe and moan about the traffic conditions in Metro Manila?

Well, if not every single day then quite possibly every moment of the day then. After all, if you have been living in the highly urbanized area of Manila, you would know just how bad the traffic onslaughts can be. In fact, it seems like the city is under a perpetual siege of hours which would take you anywhere between a couple of hours to more just to reach your destinations regardless of its proximity to you. However, while you think regular traffic is bad, it gets so much worse during the Christmas season when quite a lot of people would be out and about during the holiday rush. It gets particularly bad in areas like Makati CBD and other shopping districts where hundreds or even thousands upon thousands of people would converge to do their last-minute Christmas shopping. Unfortunately, for commuters, this can be really stressful as their normally long commute would be even longer leaving them to driving in traffic for hours. As this gives you quite a lot of time in your car to kill, here are some of the ways you can beat the Manila traffic which includes everything from parking solutions, route alternatives and entertainment:

Call a friend that you have not talked to recently

 While we do not advocate the usage of phones when making your way through the traffic and distracted driving, this is a good idea to do if you can use your phone hands free. If you happen to have a hands-free device, we suggest you call a friend who you have not talked to in a while (However, be careful not to ring up old flames and exes who might have moved on with their lives) during standstill traffic. If you are feeling extra mischievous, prank them. However, before you get carried away, let them know who you are and ask them what is going on with their lives. You can even arrange a meet up during one of the many holidays on December where you can bond over coffee or brunch. Turn it into a gabfest and you would be surprised how time can easily fly during this period. It might be that you have already arrived and the both of you are still talking.

Secure parking spaces conveniently

During the holiday rush, it can get incredibly difficult to secure a parking spot in commercial areas and shopping districts. In fact, the congestion of cars would spill over to the streets where you would even see some cars parked along the alley. Private car owners would find themselves circling for hours just trying to find a single spot available. Some people would opt to leave their cars at home and commute on their way to the area to address this dilemma. However, if you must bring your car with you, be sure to download the ParkEazy app which would help you solve this dilemma. All you would need to do after downloading the said app would be to pay online, scan the QR code and then park at your assigned slot.

Have a navigation app

Speaking of apps, anyone commuting through Metro Manila without the aid of a navigation application such as Waze is definitely behind the times and might end up being delayed in traffic for hours at a time because of this flub. Today, with overly congested streets and perpetual traffic gridlocks all over the metropolis, navigation apps such as Waze have become a necessity as it helps drivers take the fastest and shortest route to their destination—traffic considered of course. During the busiest season of the year, you really should not even consider driving around the city if you do not even have or use this app. You would likely end up getting frustrated because of the traffic delays and lock-ups.

Carpool

Do your part in easing traffic congestion in Metro Manila by opting to carpool in lieu of taking your own car. Carpooling is pretty much like the Tupperware counterpart in traffic where groups of people going to destination would all be in one car instead of driving separate ones. Gather around your friends during a night-out and instead of taking separate cars, opt to carpool and have a designated driver. Apart from doing your part in assuaging traffic congestion, carpooling with friends can be very helpful to your finances as your friends might pay you in kind in exchange for getting to ride with you. One of them might offer to pay for your gas while the other might even offer to buy you lunch. Not a bad deal, right?

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Being Filipino: Reasons Why Christmas in the Philippines is The Best

“Christmas is a tonic for our souls. It moves us to think of others rather than of ourselves. It directs our thoughts to giving” –B.C. Forbes

 Christmas is a wonderful time—no doubt about.

In more ways than one, the magic is palpable in the air. You can and observe people being kinder to each other, more patient and generous to one another insomuch that it brings you warm and happy feelings. It is that time of the year wherein you cannot help but smile and marvel at how this season seems to bring us all together that even complete strangers are capable of being nice to each other. Indeed, regardless of where you are in the world, Christmas is a season for celebration, togetherness and happiness—a time for when people can be extra kinder to each other. However, while Christmas is indeed an amazing holiday wherever you might be in the world, let us just say that no one celebrates Christmas like the Filipinos do.

In fact, the way Filipinos celebrate Christmas transcends most expectations as it is beyond epic and very much memorable. Nobody does Christmas like the Philippines does and indeed, forgive for saying it, but it is really so much more fun in the Philippines—particularly during Christmastime. Here are just a few of the things that make a Filipino Christmas an epic and memorable time of the year:

Longest Christmas Season

The Philippines is known to have the longest Christmas in the world. It starts as early as the month of September where you can already hear Christmas jingles blaring from the mall speakers such as Ayala CenterMakati and AyalaTriangle. The beginning of the “ber” months (September, October, November, December) marks the incipiency of the season. At first, it might escape your notice and might even be something you overlook. It can be subtle such as the early Christmas promotions for holiday sales and the like. Slowly but surely however, the season will creep up to you and the next thing you know, it looks like Christmas is in full swing despite being in mid-October. Apart from that, Christmas in the Philippines does not end until the celebration of the Three Kings with the province of Cebu celebrating it the longest, officially ending it at the third Sunday of January (which incidentally is the feast of the city’s patron saint, Sto. Niño).

  Simbang Gabi

The Philippines is a deeply religious country with most of its citizens being devout Catholics. In this regard, Christmas would be incomplete if Filipinos did not get to offer a daily mass that starts as early as 4AM in the morning commencing on the 16^th of December all the way to the 25^th of December. Most churchgoers regard this as a sacrifice during the Christmas season and by completing the 9 nights, you can have any of your wishes come true.

  Christmas Caroling

Christmas carols are typically done anywhere in the world. In the Philippines however, it is usually children who get a kick out of it. The local kids in the community would then go from one house to another in their neighborhoods and start singing classic Filipino and foreign Christmas Carols. Today, Christmas songs being sung in carols and out in the streets by children have their own unique contemporary twist with some of them going as far as to performing them with a matching dance number. Typically, as a display of goodwill, homeowners and drivers being sang to can give any amount or may even choose to given food and Christmas gift in lieu of money.

 Gift-Giving Tradition

While it is a Christmas Tradition all over the world to give and receive gifts during Christmastime, Filipinos have their own unique spin to this gift-giving tradition. While typically presents locally known as aguinaldos can be expected from godfathers, godmothers, parents and relatives, there is also a gift-giving activity being held during Filipino Christmas parties. This activity is designated as the manito/manita gift exchange wherein participants are to get a name in a ballot and choose a gift for said person. However, there are various ways and renditions of this gift-giving activity with each of them suiting the preferences of the participants of said activity.

 Big BIG Sales

Christmas is the season in the Philippines where shopping malls tend to go crazy with their sales and promotions. Seeing as most people have already received a hefty thirteenth-month pay by now (and are probably looking to start shopping for gifts), malls would only be more than happy to pander their retail needs. More importantly, to ensure that they draw even bigger crowds, they host crazy sales and promotions. Apart from that, most shopping malls would even stay open until midnight, so do not be surprised to see shoppers milling about in the mall. It is Christmas season after all.