"The most outstanding characteristic of our Philippine Island Christmas is food. People who are total strangers or whom you haven't seen since last Christmas time-aunts, uncles, cousins, godparents, friends-all come and go, eating some preserved fruit now, a lunch later, but always eating. It's just like one big, long open-house with food for everyone at any time." As we munched "turron alicantes," a delightful Philippine candy of honey and cashew nuts, Helene Benites, of Manila, Philippine Islands, described the Christmas season as celebrated in her native land.