Since the very beginning when we conceptualized WeddingsAtWork.com, we’ve always wanted to highlight the beauty of Filipino weddings. And no other theme captures its essence better than by having a Filipiniana wedding.

In a library or bookstore setting, Filipiniana is the section you’ll find the Philippine-related literary materials, and literature in Filipino or any other Philippine dialect.

In formal social events, the word means that the gentlemen should come in their finest Barang Tagalog; and the ladies, in their traditional terno or baro’t saya. The theme is more pronounced in weddings, usually involving the nuptial mass to be said in the vernacular; and the menu of banquet is composing of local culinary dishes, with a lechon (roasted pig) as the central focus of the handaan.

But the Filipiniana theme need not always be the expected and conventional. There are ways to spice things up and make a Filipiniana event all your own.

PINOY TOUCHES

For our own wedding, we had a Chinese-Filipiniana theme to honor our respective families and heritage. ‘A merger of two cultures, a union of two souls’ — that’s how we called it. The theme was most evident in the wedding garb worn by us and the rest of our wedding party.

Nowadays. there’s this new ‘Pop Pinoy’ wedding theme. Think of jeepneys and “Kahit Maputi na ang Buhok ko” by Sharon Cuneta for background music. Still very Filipino although of a more recent vintage. Indeed, something this generation can relate to more.

Here’s an onsite video of a recent wedding having such theme:

NOT JUST WEDDINGS

But putting very Filipino elements in a social event is not confined exclusively to weddings. In our daughter’s 4th birthday party, we did away with characters like Barbie or Barney and instead, created a Barrio Fiesta atmosphere for a kiddie party. The kids played perya games and the piñata was replaced by pukpok-palayok.

In my recent birthday celebration, we had an election-themed party. The campaign battlecry was ‘ABET is my bet!‘ (I was christened John Albert hence the nickname) with the celebrant as the pseudo-candidate. We chose to hold it in Club Filipino for the venue’s historical significance. The cocktails were replaced by local street fare — ice scramble, isaw, bananaque, fishballs, ‘dirty’ ice cream, kropek, halo-halo and other the likes.

We tried to evoked a sense of reality and nationalism into the fun theme and it was best captured in this video/’campaign ad’ that my friends in Threelogy came up with.

Indeed, the Filipiniana theme has evolved with the times. With our rich culture and innate creativity as a people, the possibilities are limitless.

Mabuhay ang temang Filipiniana! Mabuhay ang diwang Pilipino!