The country's gift this Christmas

Today's the start of Philippine's traditional Misa de Gallo.

You can now surely smell the cold breeze of the air as the holiday seasons come near.

But looking back, are we really having a merry Christmas despite the latest happenings in the country?

The latest on is the Ampatuan-Maguindanao Massacre where more than 50 people were murdered heinously.

Is this the country's gift for Christmas?

Nobody thought that would happen. Who would right? Only maybe those people who did it.

But on the brighter side, I still believe we're having a merry Christmas.

This would really be up to us now.

What we need to do now is to pray as one for the justice of the victims.

It wouldn't happen that fast, but we still need to believe that it will come, in time.

The country's gift might be gruel and tragic.

But giving it back with prayers and faith is one gift no one can ever take from us.

Merry Christmas everybody.

These I want for Christmas

I back read my blog when I first started it back in December and saw a Christmas wish list entry.

Then I thought, I should start thinking of my wish list come Christmas.

Here goes another list of the stuff I want this season of GIVING. Yes, yes, yes. I know. Ma-ma-materialism strikes back. I know this is untimely amidst all the chaos in the country. But hey, this is just a wishlist. Let's put insensitivity aside.

This is for your sake anyway. So you won't have a hard time thinking of what to give me.

Or am I just dreaming?

1. Last year I asked for a Fisheye Lomo cam. This year, I still want one. This is not the one I asked for a year ago, I want the chromiac version of the Fisheye. Perfect for photo taking while waiting for 12 midnight on Christmas.

2. How about my own portable DVD? The vacation will surely bore the hell out of me and that portable DVD is the perfect company. What do you think? Maybe you can include a DVD or two.

3. My eyes have been glued on Traffic shoes for quite some time now, and I think this is the right time to get one. Those pointed, shiny shoes would be perfect to wear on Noche Buena. Yes?

4. The child in me wants a Nintendo DSi. PSP is way too overused. I want something different this time.

5. Would I forget my long overdue dream? A DSLR for myself - whether a Canon 500d or that Nikon D5000. I think I should start plaguing my mom on this.

There you go.

My very own Christmas wish list.

I don' care whether it's wrapped or not.

Coming home for Christmas

(The busy street of J.P Laurel in Davao City)

I slept. I woke up. I was late.

I always have this habit of coming late during my flights. I don't know. It's either because I woke up late or it's simply because of my delaying tactics. As I said, I don't know.

I have been a constant traveller and I love the feeling of being one with the heavens and seeing what's below through a bird's eye.

But this trip is a whole lot different. With just the thought of it, butteflies start flying in my stomach. It was not the airport, not the airplane, and definitely not the thought of flying.

After an hour and a half of sitting on a window seat, the flight attendant finally spoke, "We have just landed on Davao International Airport," I sighed. And there I realized. What made this trip different is that Im coming home. Finally.

There I saw them - my aunts, my uncle, my cousins, and my lola. I was almost in tears, but I decided not to. I don't want to start my vacation with tears. Not a good start, I thought.

Seeing smiles from your family was heavenly. It was like I haven't seen them in years.

Everything was the same - same food we are, same songs we sang, same beers we drink. What made this extra special is the gift-giving session. Excitement filled the air when I gave my Christmas gifts - smiles, thank you's, I like it's..that made it more special.

Celebrating Christmas with my family means a lot to me. It's not about the gifts that I'll be receiving. Not the drinking sessions. But it's celebrating the season with the people you love, the reason you call it a celebration.

I am now looking forward to a Christmas celebration same as what we had this year. We may not have the fireworks. We may not have the special hamon. What we have is a blessed and meaningful celebration of Christ's birth. Nothing compares to that.

Nothing could ever replace the bliss when you come home for Christmas.

Hark the heralds and Falalalalas

I've been spending nights on my bed, silently listening to children singing Christmas carols. But it was until last night when I heard a whole lot of them. From Pasko na naman to Silent Night, children sang from the top of their lungs either to express their joy towards the birth of Christ or to earn a penny or two.

I, too, am fond of caroling. 

I could still remember how we do it in my childhood days. Two pieces of stone are enough to accompany our Christmas rituals.

It is fascinating to know how children today, despite of technological changes, still spend time gathering their friends, and jump from one house to another to sing Christmas carols.

If I still have the luxury of time, I would eagerly spend every night caroling. It's a different feeling when I sing Christmas songs for people, or even just for me. And it's even a greater feeling when they give you money just for singing. 

I think it's not just about the money. It's how we express our love for the season through singing. 

So I sing, "We wish you a merry christmas, we wish you a merry christmas, we wish you a merry christmas... And a happy new year!"

A different Noche Buena

I wonder how Christmas would be in the country now that we are amid a highly controversial economic crisis. 

Would it still be the same as last year? Would there still be the much-awaited hamon and the long-existing queso de bola? Would each family still exchange gifts? Would ninongs and ninangs be hiding from their inaanaks, again?

I, myself, am confused on how would Christmas be for me and my family this year. With the continuous price hike in the market, we would surely be celebrating Christ's birth in a different way.

We used to have two celebrations on Christmas eve, one is with the whole family - that includes my uncles, aunts, and cousins - the other is with their own families. Now, with what is happening, I think there would only be one for each family member. 

Before, my uncle used to give his nephews and nieces a thousand bucks on Christmas day. I vividly remember how we rush in line to get our Christmas 'gift' from him. I think the amount would lessen this year - or worst, this wouldn't happen at all.

The family usually have a roasted pig during this season, matched with cases and cases of beers and drink until we all drop. This year, maybe we'll settle with fish and a case of beer just to celebrate the night away.

There will surely be a huge difference as to how each family will celebrate the holidays. But despite such, it matters not we put up glamorous parties or expensive food for Noche Buena. What matters most is the presence of each family member on this very special occasion - the hug, the kisses, and the care we feel from each other.

Lucky you people you have your moms and dads with you this season. I don't want to be too mushy here, but really, you should celebrate Christmas thankfully with your family. I may celebrate one with mine, minus my mom and dad however.

Celebrating Christmas is not all about the gifts, it's about the love we share on this season of giving.

Christmas woes

(TOP: Christmas Tree in Glorietta, SM Mall of Asia. BOTTOM: The Fort. Photos by Jepoy Malinao)

I am starting to feel that Christmas is really different in the city compared from that of the province.

Gargantuan Christmas trees are sprouting around the Metro as the Yuletide season comes near.

The whole city is filled with lights that add colors during the night.

Lanterns of all sorts are hung in every posts throughout the city.

People rush around shopping malls trying to find the perfect Christmas gift for the perfect person.

Truly, Christmas is a lot different in the city.

Back in my province, due to its laidback nature, you would seldom see those hugh Christmas trees, those playful lights and those colorful lanterns. 

But what makes Christmas in the province far better than here in the city is when you feel the warmth of your family throughout the season. You may not have those flamboyant Christmas trees and lanterns, but the best part is when you see the smiles of your family because you are all there, complete, as you celebrate the birth of Christ.

I am being mushy here.

But I just can't help thinking of how will I spend Christmas this year.

This is my first Christmas as a young professional - and I tell you, there's a huge difference when I was still a student. 

Back in my college days, my mom provides the expenses needed for my trip - from the transportation down to the pocket money. Now, I have to bear with the fact that I have a work, and I'm supposed to finance my trip to the province. Add to that the pressure as you go home since nephews, nieces, and young cousins ask for their Christmas gifts. 

Despite all those, I am still hoping I could spend time with my family this Christmas. 

My salary might not be that high, but what's more important is the presence of each family member. 

And then I thought, it has been eight years of Christmas without my mom beside me for that very special season. 

I could hardly remember how we spend it together. 

Don't get me wrong here, I don't feel any grudge towards my mom.

I just feel lonely. I just miss her. So much.

So if you ask, what's my sole wish for Christmas?

This is to have my mom with me for this solemn season. 

To hug her, kiss her, and say to her, I LOVE YOU.