Manyanita

by: Kera Galvez Published on October 19, 2023

In spanish language, Mañanita comes from the root word mañana, which means "tomorrow" or morning. Mañanita took a different meaning in Mexican culture, which was then applied and transferred to Filipino culture because of the ties between the two countries. In Mexico, Mañanita is pertaining to someone's birthday or a saint's birthday celebration at dawn or morning to awaken the birthday celebrant. In contrast to a birthday party, 

Mañanita is celebrated by family members, friends and relatives on your birthday.Learn More

Up to the present this culture is still alive, a lot of Filipinos are still practicing this tradition that every someone's birthday Mañanita is being held. In our community at San Miguel Surigao del sur this is one of the most exciting part during birthdays. All youth from the church starts practicing the song to sing to the birthday celebrant during dawn. At 3:00 AM in the morning we all gather together to prepare for the Mañanita and go to the celebrants house. We sing different songs just to waken up the birthday celebrant and when the celebrants awake, we offer the flowers freshly picked from the neighbors and giving gifts as well. The family of the celebrants then prepares food and morning coffee to the singers and while eating music is playing. This is indeed a very heartwarming celebration and I think this is one of the culture in our community that I am very proud of. Simply because this is not just about the Mañanita itself but the thought of them remembering the most important day of the celebrants. The reason why Filipinos are known for its hospitality, because we give importance to each other and having the heart full of joy and being helpful. Just by simply serenade we made a difference to someone's birthday. Learn More

Photo taken by: Lonewulf's Den

Just to share my experience being serenade, last 2021 of December 30 at dawn was one of my most unforgettable moment on my birthday. I did not expect something to happen like that but I was really very happy. My family haven't told me that a serenade will happen, so I sleep early thinking tomorrow is be my birthday. At the dawn, a noisy people singing outside our house and I remember 'oh it's my birthday!' i suddenly wake up, on the lights for them to know I was awake. After the song I open our door and I receive a lot of flowers and gifts, my family then prepare for food and coffee and we all eat a little music while eating. That was indeed a very emotional birthday. In our life, what matter most is how we appreciate things and how people care for us either our love ones or not. It is the value that stands out among Filipinos and I am proud to be one of that.