It is Almost Christmas

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by: Charlene Bolanos

It is almost Christmas... Christmas is near, oh, the 
holiday cheer!

Decor everywhere from houses, to streetlights and malls, 
lighting up lanterns, shops, selling Santa decors and sugar  
cane designed gift wrappers, and hearing 
those carols on the radio,  tells everyone the 
same thing: Christmas is near!


Well, for us in the Philippines, it starts when 
the clock strikes 1st of September! 

No date to early to be called Christmas season, 
most especially here in my country. So don't
be surprise if you get a Merry Christmas greeting
early on on September, and November... even before
advent begins.

Nothing compares to the traditional Filipino way 
of setting up  decorations and filling every street 
with Christmas spirit.

Filipinos would be busy greeting  everyone
 "Merry Christmas"  ... our neighbors,  our friends,
and families, and even across
continents through  social media online. 

Malls and radio stations playing the tunes of Christmas 
carols (#shoutout to Jose Marie Chan, Ryan
Cayabyab, Pentatonix and Mariah Carey).

But what better way to prepare the most waited
holiday of every year  is with people whom you grew
up with,  our brothers and sisters, cousins our Mom
and Dad, Uncles, Aunties, Grand Dad and Grand Mom....

Filipinos working abroad take time to go home at Christmas 
time, because Christmas is Christmas. 

We especially prepare Christmas by attending the 
Simbang Gabi,  nine days Novena Mass. The nine days novena
Mass is a way of strengthening our relationship with God.
Imagine a  person just loving you, without asking anything
back.. we have to be like that to our Lord, just loving Him, 
adoring Him. Loving the God who is Love, will He, in His 
Being, as pure Love, will not Love us back? Imagine how 
much He love each one of us... that is Christmas! It can make
you happy joyfully crazy... in a good sense  :) ! 

Loving is contagious... we end up loving not only our family, 
but those people who needs love too. That is why
miracles at Christmas do happen... just believe!
long lost friends finding each other,
sweethearts eventually getting married at last... 
our neighbors in need having some lechon manok for 
Christmas, can make any heart melt.... 

It is not the lavish Christmas parties, extravagant giveaways, 
and competing number of gifts received at Christmas, it is 
the day when you spend  an enjoyable time with your family, 
relatives and friends,  cherishing the  memories and
celebrating.

We share this bond that can never be replaced and becomes 
stronger most  especially at this time of the year. This is 
the holiday when we  celebrate the birth 
of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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