It’s Christmas Time in the City菲律宾圣诞临城

The Philippines has arguably the world’s longest， most colorful and happiest celebration of the Christmas Season. Across the archipelago， local governments light up and adorn the public areas， while homes deck the halls with boughs of holly.

菲律宾的圣诞季庆祝活动堪称世界上时间最长、最丰富多彩且最欢快的。全国各地，公共区域都由地方政府张灯装饰，家家户户则用冬青树枝装点厅堂。

But beyond the usual glitz of the lights， there are localities which observe the season with time-honored traditions which make Christmas more heart-warming and meaningful.

不过，除了惯常的炫目灯饰，还有一些地方遵循历史悠久的传统来庆祝圣诞，让这个节日更温暖人心，也更有意义。

Easily accessible to Metro Manilans is the Giant Lantern Festival in San Fernando， Pampanga， which holds a weeklong nightly light and sound show of 50-foot lanterns at Robinsons Starmills. The decades-old extravaganza is also a showcase of Kapampangan craftsmanship in their lantern-making industry， which has earned the city the title of being the country’s “parol1 capital.”

马尼拉大都会区的人去邦板牙省圣费尔南多市参加“巨型灯笼节”很方便，该市在连锁购物中心罗宾逊商场思达米尔斯店举办为期一周的夜间声光秀，展出的灯笼高达五十英尺。这个盛大的活动已经有几十年的历史，同时也是展示邦板牙省灯笼制作工艺的窗口，该市因此得名菲律宾的“灯笼之都”。

Further up north in Tarlac is Belenisimo2 Festival where towns set up the “belen3” or manger tableau of the Nativity with Mary， Joseph， Baby Jesus， the shepherds， and the Wise Men. Road trippers can drive around the province and hop around the public plazas， but the center of the festivities is around the postcard-pretty Provincial Capitol Complex in Tarlac City.

再往北的打拉省有贝伦节，各个市镇会设立“贝伦”装饰，即呈现耶稣诞生情景的马槽群像，包括圣母马利亚、约瑟、婴孩耶稣、牧羊人和智者。公路旅行者可以环省自驾游，也可以到各处公共广场逛逛，不过庆祝活动的中心还是在打拉市美轮美奂的省府大厦周围。

Albay province， home of the majestic Mayon Volcano， takes pride of the “Pastores4” that depicts the shepherds’ jubilation on the birth of Jesus， and features musical groups interpreting the “Pastores a Belen” （“Shepherds to Bethlehem”） through song and dance.

雄伟的马荣火山位于阿尔拜省。该省引以为傲的是“牧人表演”，描述牧羊人欢庆耶稣降生的场面，主要是各个乐团通过歌舞来诠释“牧羊人来到伯利恒”的故事。

A new go-to place in Albay is Tres Hijos Hotel and Resort in Sto. Domingo town whose Christmas Village has been drawing Bicolanos with its colorful night light displays and food park. With a 60-foot Christmas tree as the centerpiece and silhouette of the towering perfect-coned volcano in the background， the place is an Instagrammable getaway for families and friends.

阿尔拜省新增的旅游打卡地是圣多明各镇的特雷伊霍斯酒店度假村。镇上的圣诞村一向以缤纷的夜间灯光秀和美食公园吸引比科尔人。以一棵60英尺高的圣诞树为中心，背衬锥尖完美的高耸火山的剪影——这里是和家人朋友短期度假的好地方，适合拍照分享。

Down in the Visayas， Cebu City is the epicenter of celebration with its unique mix of Old World charm and cosmopolitan living. With the city and the province dotted by Spanish-era churches and landmarks of Christianity， Cebu celebrates the Advent with deep devotion which spills up to the Feast of the Epiphany5 and the run-up to the Sinulog Festival6. On the dining table， the mouth-watering lechon is an ubiquitous delicacy in almost every Cebuano home as a sign of thanksgiving and to welcome guests.

凭借旧世界魅力和国际化都市生活交融的独特风格，米沙鄢群岛中的宿务市成了庆祝活动的中心。无论宿务市还是宿务省，随处可见西班牙统治时代的教堂和基督教的地标建筑。宿务人对基督降临节的庆祝非常虔诚，会延续到主显节盛宴和圣婴节前夕。餐桌上，令人垂涎欲滴的烤乳猪是宿务人家家必备的美食，象征感恩和好客。

In Mindanao， the relatively-unknown City of Tangub in Misamis Occidental is shoved into the limelight， quite literally， at this time of the year as it reclaims its title of being the “Christmas Symbols Capital of the Philippines”. A few years back， the city took their display to the next level as it recreated the world’s most popular landmarks in bright lights to transport guests to other parts of the globe. At day time before the lights are turned on at nightfall， people can ascend to Belvedere-Hoyohoy View Deck or the Hoyohoy Highland Stone Chapel Adventure Park further up for a breathtaking panorama of Mount Malindang Range Natural Park.

在棉兰老岛，东米萨米斯省相对不那么出名的坦古市现在每年这个时节名副其实地被推到聚光灯下，因为它重获“菲律宾圣诞标志之都”的称号。几年前，该市把灯光展示提升了一个层次：用明亮的灯饰复制了全球最富盛名的地标建筑，让游客恍如置身世界各地。天黑亮灯前，人们可以登上贝尔维德-霍约霍伊观景台，或者霍约霍伊高地石教堂探险公园，尽览马林当山自然公园的壮美全景。

Take your pick and visit these places with your loved ones， because it’s Christmas time in the city.

选个地方，带着亲朋好友一起去转转吧，城里的圣诞季已经开启。

（译者为“《英语世界》杯”翻译大赛获奖者）

1 parol灯笼。源自西班牙语farol（= lantern）。  2指菲律宾打拉市举办的跨省年度贝伦制作比赛。

3 belen贝伦。一种广泛用于房屋、学校、教堂、购物中心和各种商业机构的圣诞装饰，描绘耶稣诞生的场景。  4 pastore = shepherd牧羊人。源自西班牙语。

5菲律宾主显节，每年1月6日，纪念贤士朝拜耶稣。  6菲律宾圣婴节，每年1月的第三个星期，赞颂耶稣童年时代。