The way we, as members of the Filipino diaspora, engage with our Filipino Christmas traditions is key to understanding our history of surviving colonial and imperial oppression as well as the current structural issues we continue to face. These customs can act as vehicles for meaningful conversations and tools for our cultural autonomy and self-determination.

Questions rain heavily upon us. Who am I? What are my beliefs? What are my values? Which customs do I follow? What norms of social behavior do I adhere to? Which section of society do I belong to? To shield yourself from this rain, whose droplets feel like…