September marks the start of the “ber months” (October, November and December) meaning the long season of celebrating Christmas in the Philippines. It’s when Filipinos start buying and putting Christmas decorations either on their own home or in offices.
According to the interview at ’24 Oras’, GMA Network, people are starting to buy as early as September to get discounts or half price on lanterns and other Christmas decorations. Because when November comes prices of it will become higher. “Kapag maaga silang bumili, 50 percent ang discount nila,” said Archie Manlupo, who sells a variety of parol on Gilmore Avenue in Quezon City.
In a report in GMA Network, they interviewed Prof. Alvara Alcala, a sociologist from De La Salle University, to ask why Christmas seasons starts so early in the Philippines. “Pag sinabi mong ‘ber’, it’s leading to Christmas,” Alcala said. “Yung hilig ng Pinoy para talaga mag-celebrate. Napapakita sa pag-prepare nila until the time na mangyari ‘yung event.”
“Pwede i-capitalize ‘yung gaanong excitement ng Pinoy, so pino-prolong; kasi the more you prolong the celebration the more na mas kikita,” he explained
Source: Yahoo News