Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – It’s Labor Day, and most Americans are enjoying their three-day weekend, heading to the beach, visiting with family or firing up their backyard barbecue grills.

How is this holiday observed in the Philippines, a former colony of the U.S. ?

Well, first of all, it is not a non-working holiday in the Philippines.  It’s not a holiday, period. Outside of the U.S., including the Philippines, Labor Day is observed on May 1st (May Day) and is known locally as Araw Ng Manggagawa (Day of Workers).

But holiday or not, September 1st is oberved big time in the Philippines. Filipinos joyously welcome the start of the “ber” months – September, October, November, December. Here’s how this day is observed:

• Local radio stations start playing Christmas songs
• Malls start putting up their Christmas decoration
• Households start putting up their artificial Christmas trees
• Newspapers start carrying ads for Christmas sales
• Employees start maxing out their credit cards in anticipation of their Christmas bonus (more popularly known as ’13th month pay’)
• Politicians hand out little red envelopes with a few pesos in them to greet their constituents, or  really, buy their votes for the next election.
• Government employees start selling home-made holiday treats to their co-workers (fruit cake, empanadas, espasol and other local delicacies)
• Filipino expatriates in the U.S. and elsewhere start shipping Balikbayan boxes to their loved ones at home, packed with used clothing, cans of corned beef and SPAM bought from Costco, Dove soap, boxes of Marlboro cigarettes, designer cologne and perfume, among others.

The Philippines Department of Tourism’s meme, “It’s More Fun in the Philippines,” is alive and well!