What Filipinos should know about Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is now included among special Filipino traditions because of that indelible mother-children relationships that could not be severed even by long overseas deployment. 

So, what makes Mother’s Day special for Filipinos? 

1. Mother’s Day in the Philippines should be in December 

Starting the 1920’s, Mother’s Day was traditionally celebrated on the first Monday of December. 

In 1980, former President Ferdinand Marcos formally declared through a presidential proclamation the first Monday of December to be both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. 

But President Cory Aquino changed the date to align with the American tradition of having Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May, and Father’s Day to be the third Sunday of June. 

The dates were changed back to the first Monday of December under former President Joseph Estrada in 1998. There hasn’t been a new proclamation since, so legally, Mother’s Day is still supposed to be in December. 

But due to the heavy influence of American culture on Filipinos, everyone in the Philippines continues to celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May, and Father’s Day on the third Sunday of June. 

2. Carnations are the traditional flowers for Mother’s Day 

Carnations are associated with mothers because they are symbols of ‘purity, sweetness, and endurance.’ This is the tradition in other parts carnations are traditionally the most popular Mother’s Day gifts. of the world. In Japan and the US, 

Schoolchildren used to wear ‘cadena de amor’ (pink carnations) on their chests on Mother’s Day. If the mother has passed away, children should wear white carnations to show respect. These days, with the large number of Filipinos living abroad, it is common to order fresh bouquets online and have them delivered to their moms and relatives in the Philippines. 

3. Mother’s Day involves the whole family for Filipinos 

In Filipino culture as well as in other countries’ cultures, mothers are the epicenter of the home. Filipinos fondly attribute the title of “ilaw ng tahanan” to their mothers to recognize the warmth, generosity, and shining guidance that mothers bring to the family. 

In the Philippines, the close-knit family calls for a full celebration of Mother’s Day together with members of the extended family – grandmothers, aunts, cousins, and other women in the family who are also mothers 

Filipinos, young and old, by tradition, always show their respects to their lolas, ninangs, and titas (grandmothers, godmothers, and aunts). To get extra points, bring them a bouquet of carnations! 

4. Filipinos celebrate Mother’s Day seriously 

Mother’s Day in the Philippines is a big deal. Filipinos take their celebrations seriously. Showing up empty handed during Mother’s Day is socially unacceptable. 

Mother’s Day celebrations, similar to that in North America, usually involves chocolates, flowers and various mother-pampering gifts. While many Filipinos choose to eat out, there are those who prefer celebrating at home, to include with certainty the obligatory Filipino party staples – pancit, sinigang, lumpia, kare-kare, fried chicken, maybe even halo-halo.