time of the year

Christmas is the time of the year when we celebrate with gratefulness in our hearts the birth of the most amazing figure in history – our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the time of the year when my family, like most families do, would gather and enjoy food, laughter, fireworks, drinks, and just about anything together.

I have some not-so-fun memories of Christmas, too. One of my uncles was shot dead by another drank uncle. My long-time friend Noel passed away after suffering from kidney failure at the age of 25. Another policeman uncle was shot by the rebels many years ago.

This year my family have some first time Christmas experience:

• We are not complete. We missed Ate Espie, my older sister, who is now in Canada for work. For the first time in more than 30 years of celebrating this season together, she’s not around. Thanks to technology. Through the internet, we are able to talk and see each other using a webcam. Nothing could replace a face-to-face interaction though.
• Hospital, again! Just after we had noche buena, my sister Gen, niece Cary and helper Dong got sick. They all felt same stomachache. They went to the toilet endlessly! It must be the crab meat that we ate. We spent the first six hours of 25th December at Chong Hua Hospital. Later in the day, I felt sick and dehydrated, too. But thank God I didn’t have to go to hospital. I just missed my trip to Ormoc. I was supposed to visit my friends Dia and Sheba.
• New home. For the first time in more than 30 years, we celebrated Christmas in Cebu City. Cataingan (Masbate) was our home, but not anymore, for this time. Though we miss our small hometown, we are happy to be here in the city. Our lives here became simpler. It’s a whole new world especially for the kids and my parents.

I thought of all of these and I smiled. Whatever the circumstance is, the meaning of Christmas never change. The love of God is always the reason to rejoice and celebrate!

Thanks to all who have journeyed with me! Blessed Christmas and Happy New Year!