This is our Christmas tree in the picture! My wife and I set up our tree as early as the first week of September. We are not that excited, eh?! And our favorite color does not reflect here, huh? It is an old tree with new bling-blings, mostly from Megamall. The perfect star is from Mall of Asia, a product of malling a day before the Glorietta Mall blast, hehe.

 

And who’s not going to be thrilled about the approaching season? This is my first Christmas in the Philippines in five years. My second in seven years. My first with my lovely wife. I know that this time, Christmas will be different for me.

 

I missed celebrating Christmas here in our country. The festivity here is one of the best in the world. It is a family (and friends) event. I remember as I child how I go around house-to-house greeting everybody a merry Christmas.

 

Where I stayed for seven years, the season was just an ordinary winter season. There was no sign of an approaching Christmas day, except for a few dinner and party invitations in some houses. No flickering lights, no lanterns, no carols. Christmas was not allowed to be celebrated in the open.  I attended five small Christmas parties last year, most of them held very privately in the host’s flats. Christmas day itself was usually an ordinary working day for everybody, except for some “Merry Christmas” greetings from my Christian colleagues.

 

I feel for those who are away from their families this Christmas season. I also feel for those who lost their loved ones this year, celebrating the season without them for the first time. I feel for those who are not usually happy during this time because of their own personal reasons.

 

Whether you are celebrating Christmas with somebody or alone, whether you are excited with the approaching season or not, let us remember that this is the best time to share yourself to everybody. Forget all your worries (for the meantime, at least) and give time to families and friends. One of them may not be around next Christmas for all we know (uh, morbid!). Cherish this time of joy. It’s the birthday of our Savior, Jesus Christ!!

 

Have a happy Christmas, everyone! Cheers!