It’s September and the mom starts looking out for value Christmas trees. Of course, plastic Christmas trees (Pine trees are not that common in the Philippines). While shopping she can already hear on the background  a collection of Jose Mari Chan Christmas songs that has outlived World War II veterans. She is confident because part of the 13th month pay of her husband, which is mandated by the government, was already handed out by the company. The wind is getting a bit chilly, a good sign for a Filipino Christmas.

*****

Streetchildren, as they are oftenly tagged, whose daily task is to knock on car windows through the daily traffic to beg for money are not on the streets. They are found in the community center making “Parols”, a christmas ornament shaped like a star. They are looking forward to sell them;  this time they won’t be asking alms. That is their Filipino Christmas.

*****

The uncle who has been working in Dubai for the last 5 years has just dumped his duffel bag in the overhead compartment of Philippine Airlines. He didn’t bring any clothes. What he brought instead was a hill of presents that beats Santa Claus’ sack of gifts for everyone in his extended family and friends. He is obliged to do that but he is happy. He also prepared a thick wallet for everyday feasts in the household, that is what Christmas is in the Philippines, he reasoned to himself. Although he knows he’s going back to the same seat in this plane after the festive season totally opposite to what he has in his pocket, he can’t wait to jump off the plane. This is his Filipino Christmas.

*****

It’s the eve of Christmas and grandma cries on the steps of their old mansion. Despite the fact that everyone from everywhere is arriving home to celebrate Christmas in the Philippines, her joy is not complete as she lost her youngest son who was serving in the military. The lieutenant was ambushed on one of their daily patrols against militants a decade ago. It was also Christmas during that time – An army jeep halted in front of the mansion and with excitement and full of expectation, she raced to the front door with the Queso de Bola (a ball of chees wrapped in wax) still at hand. There was no sign of  her son, just two officers with an unwelcoming expression. They did not need to say anything. The Queso de Bola dropped from her hand, split open and rolled down the steps of the mansion, she sat unwillingly and did exactly what she was doing every Christmas from that time. She remembers it well like a fresh wound.  She was startled from the memory when she realized she was holding a Queso de Bola. She even thought time went back to change the story. When she looked up, it was the lieutenant’s daughter who handed the cheese. She cried even more. This has been her Filipino Christmas.

*****

The cousins are arguing how best to roast the chickens. They don’t have an oven. All they have are a pile of coal and a pole of bamboo. They argue and agree while cleaning the bamboo pole, cutting it up and setting up a post for the spit. They then measure from the tip of the bamboo, by instinct, how long the skewer would be for 5 chickens. It is 4 hours till midnight of the 24th and one of the cousins got punched on the jaw. They argue, they agree, they laugh, they had the chickens on the table just as the clock hit 12. This is their Filipino Christmas.

*****

This is the fifth time that the house maid is going out to the gate to give pennies to the carolers. She is getting annoyed but she can’t be angry because they are little angels from ages 5 to 7. It’s a week before Christmas and she needs to tell the madame that she wants to go home. She is just waiting for the right moment to ask. She never worked so hard just to get that 1 week Christmas vacation. She even made the Christmas ham in advance to please the family. “Aren’t you going home this year?” asked the madame, “If you are going to, just tell me so we can go to the market before you leave.” She felt her heart jump to her nostrils. She heard the carolers for the 6th time this night but she gladly picked up the coins from the caroling tin, added some of her money and skipped to the gate (she has no idea that these carolers are the same kids all night). She’s ecstatic with her Filipino Christmas.

*****

It is the 23rd of December and this is the last day of Simbang Gabi or early morning Christmas devotion. Christmas in the Philippines gives miracles, as old people say: if you complete the daily Simbang Gabi from the 15th of December up to the Noche Buena or the 24th Christmas Eve fellowship, you can ask for anything and it will be granted. He left her for another woman. She is hopeful. This is her Filipino Christmas.

*****

This is the best time of his life. All the alcohol he can consume and it’s all for free. From the neighbors, to relatives, to friends from other towns, everybody witnessed how he laid waste all the bottles and cans. Ah, Christmas in the Philippines is a dream come true to drunkards such as himself. He felt awesome and cool as all the alcohol clogged up his nerve endings 24/7. He felt handsome and invincible. He lit little dynamites and watched the wick burn nearest to the explosive before throwing it. A gesture of experience from the thousands of explosives he blew off every Christmas. This time he is seeking grandeur, glory, respect and majesty from his neighbors. He gathered every explosive that did not explode… from Triangles, Sparklers, Fountains, Trompillo, Super Lolo, Judas Belt, 5-stars, Kamara, Pagoda, Mayon, Sawa, Pla-pla, Piccolo, Bawang, Pinatubo, Atomic Bombs, Goodbye Philippines and all sorts and names of fireworks, firecrackers and mini-dynamites. He mixed all the powder in one huge paper tube, packed it tightly with all his drunken strength and  inserted the wick that would act as a fuse for his monster explosive. “They will be stunned”, he whispered to himself. He placed it in the middle of the street for all to see. He heard them cheer, he drowned in their applause as he lit the fuse and ran as drunk men do. There was no explosion. Before everyone can declare that it was a failure there he was running back to his giant and face to face, he inspected the thing and blew on it to revive the dying ember. The neighbors trembled, the earth shook, all the lights in the town went off and there was darkness and silence after an ear deafening explosion. That was his last Christmas in the Philippines.

*****

He is contemplating while he is driving his newly purchased, second hand, Toyota Corolla. This year has been good to him. He got promoted twice, he finally was approved for a car loan and using their 5 year savings and his Christmas bonus and 13th month from last year, they moved out to a rent-to-own 2-bedroom house which is a 2 hour drive from Manila. Contrary to what everyone believes, a career in a call center is not bad, he said to himself. As long as you work hard, be there 2 hours early to get ready and stay for 2 hours more to assess your sales for the day, you will get somewhere. He doesn’t even mind being abused by their overseas clients, which happens always. It’s all about the money, that’s the phrase that keeps him going. He can’t have everything perfect though. This year has been shaky in the family. The fights were endless. She said he doesn’t have time for her and their son anymore. She said, “It’s either you have a woman or you’ve made your office desk pregnant you have to be there all the time”. And this month she actually left him with their son and went home to her parents. He is too embarrassed to call her because for sure, he will be speaking to his father in-law. He doesn’t really want to go home to celebrate Christmas all by himself. But he is too scared of Akyat-Bahay gangs and all the house robberies that happen every Christmas season. As he drives to the front of their house, he was alarmed because the Christmas lights were blinking on the windows. His heart was beating fast, he jumped out of the car and cautiously walked to the front door. He noticed, that there was a cardboard art of the nativity scene hanging on the door which wasn’t there before with a note saying, “Look at God there, he wasn’t fussy being born in a manger. I don’t want more money, I want more of you. Don’t go inside unless you’ve made up your mind. And I don’t want to see you without any food for Noche Buena. Buy softdrinks too.” He opened the door to see his Filipino Christmas.

*****

What’s your Filipino Christmas story?