Christmas Carols.

Hearing Christmas carols playing in malls always make me feel giddy with joy and excitement. It has been and will always be my most favorite time of the year. It's not because of gifts..okay so let's say the sound of ripped Christmas wrappers and untying ribbons is part of it but we know it's not that. It's the thought that counts NO MATTER how cliched and corny it sounds, but it all boils down to that. Well at least that is for me. It is a big deal that someone actually cared. It delights me to know that someone queued at a busy counter in the mall secretly smiling and hoping that you'd like that little something he/she bought for you out of his/her limited resources. 

In fact one need not wrap elaborate gifts, somehow a simple, Have a Merry Christmas, can only make one's Christmas complete OR a hug OR a smile OR a laugh OR a simple dinner. Yes, I have a soft spot for small gestures. I'd rather have buckets of these than a sparse supply of grand ones. My parents always remind me to appreciate the smallest things and I'd always be grateful for that insight for the rest of my life coz it keeps me grounded. 

AND speaking of family, it'd be the FIRST EVER CHRISTMAS I'd spend away from home. Merely thinking about it bugs me big time. It saddens me actually. I immerse myself in work to avoid thoughts of home, Dad's home-cooked meals, my baby (who's not much of a baby anymore) brother who incessantly talks about history and robots, my weekend shopping trips with Mom, and a whole lot more. When I signed up for this I told myself I'm ready for this kind of stuff, apparently my mind-setting is an epic fail. My cousin was right, I can never really say until it's there in front of you. 

So all I can do this season is to heave a huge SIGH and hope that my Christmas and New Year's will end up well surrounded by merry friends. I HOPE.

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Christmas Weekend: Celebrating It The Traditional Way

We know what a big deal Christmas is for Filipinos. In fact, we have the longest celebration for it. There's the preChristmas, Christmas and after-Christmas parties. Decors are already put up months and months before. And how can anyone forget the long list of parties and gatherings to which always  involves a whole lot of sumptuous food and flowing booze and drinks? It's my favorite festive season of the year, I know, it shows! I even made two posts about it or I might add another and another..

 So how did I celebrate mine? As much as I'd love to say I celebrated differently this time like Christmas out of town or out of the country (I wish!), well, as every year goes, I celebrated mine AT HOME, in the same town but thankfully with family and friends. Tradition ain't so bad after all.

We always attend the Christmas eve mass. The grand choir sings these Christmas carols heartily. Every year when I hear them, I get sentimental. I choke up, hold my brother's hands and whisper a short prayer to God of how thankful I am for what I have now.

On Christmas day, we all gather to my father's hometown where THE CLAN hold a small party exclusive for family and friends. When I was a kid, I excitedly looked forward to these parties. Lots of parlor games, candy goodies, gifts, coins and crisp money bills awaited us. Now, we the older grandchildren organize these parties for our nephews and nieces.

I was appointed photographer for a day along with my other cousins. Good thing I wore comfy shorts with a huge bow and my favorite floral Kamiseta shirt!

Papa played Santa. Everyone immediately lined up as he revealed a wad of crisp 20-peso bills! The smell of new money. hmmmm.

My brother appointed himself master of ceremonies. Boy, how fast he's grown. He was incessantly throwing historical trivia about countries and war. I was admittedly in awe realizing he knew these things. WHERE WAS I AND WHAT WAS I DOING WHEN OUR TEACHER DISCUSSED THIS? HOW COME I DON'T KNOW THEM AT ALL! LOL.

Lola Tita. Our grandmother. Mother to ten kids, grandmother to 30plus grandchildren and great grandmother to 10plus great grandchildren and great-great grandmother to one great-great grandchild. Yep, we're a huge, huge clan. Pity, a lot are not home for Christmas. 

Everyone basically had a great time merry-making, gift-giving and shared what we can. We took a LOT of pictures!

The following day, we headed to CDO to shop (well my bro did. I AM BROKE!). Had gelato at Missy Bonbon's. I needed a sugar rush after all the walking in the mall. 

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HOLIDAY CHEERS!

MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I always loved Christmas. I happily anticipate the coming of this particular day. The pre-Christmas days are especially warm and dreamy. Everyone is so perked up and enthusiastically busy with preparations. Every corner is adorned with colorful lights, the streets are bustling with shoppers and Christmas songs dominate the airwaves. 

You see, the happiness around is just contagious. You cannot help but be perky and happy as the excitement builds up. The picture of my family gathering all together in one place having a good time and sharing what we can with each other is an annual tradition I always look forward to. It's not that you don't appreciate their presence more than this day but it makes you extra grateful you have a family you call your own, your own support system. 

Others were blogging about Christmas wish lists. Nothing wrong with that. In fact, I had mentally made mine too. But, I have become less and less materialistic as I grew older. Mine included:

1. Peace of mind
2. Contentment
3. Graduation
4. Lasting years of friendship 
5. Good health for my entire family
6. the initials, CPA attached to my name 
7. A MAN (after board exams lang, pwede?)
8. Blackberry or touch phone
9. External hard drive
10. Ipod Touch 32gb

I did not get the BB, nor the HDD nor the Ipod Touch but I am glad I have what I have now. It doesn't have to be grand, as long as I am with family enjoying noche buena and watching a movie afterward.

So far the best sight I had on Christmas day was the sight of my nephew opening his present. The excitement on his face, his eager hands unwrapping it and his huge, huge smile while doing it was EPIC. It was heartwarming I almost melted. No wonder why adults love giving kids presents. Whatever you give them, whether it be the cheapest you got in the store, they always receive it with a warm and enthusiastic smile that is hard to fake. 

Gosh, I am such a fan of Christmas! Even if I don't have everything I want, I can't help but be happy.

HOW WAS YOUR CHRISTMAS? 

PS I have a lot of pictures to post and blog about. Of parties and get togethers. That's what keeping me busy these days. AND, I have a problem with FOOD. I CAN'T STOP GRABBING ONE! January will be a hard month. Losing all these weight will surely frustrate me.

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