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Tuesday, January 6, 2009

A Christmas Like No Other

Ei, pips! I’m back in Manila.

It’s been quite a while, huh! For more than two weeks, I was stuck in my island-hometown (Capul, N. Samar), re-bonding with family, friends and neighbors. I have not spent Christmas and New Year there since probably six years ago, so my presence really meant a lot of catching-up.


That meant primarily two things: getting a daily dose of liquor from parties all over town and making-“tambay” in the neighborhood “tong-its” and “chismisan” venue. I tell you it was fun.

But while most of my time in the island was admittedly spent in hedonistic pursuits, I did try to put a deeper meaning to my Christmas celebration. This I did by organizing a caroling-with-a-twist, where instead of soliciting funds from those we sing to, we gave modest gifts instead.


What we handed out wasn’t really much, but I know our recipients, who were mostly the elderly, truly appreciated them. The vibrant smiles we triggered and the appreciative prayers we received confirmed that.


And for me and the rest of the young singers I asked to join me, it was a heart-tugging experience, an emotional ride to a reality we didn’t realize, exists in our place. So as we sang the standard Christmas hymns with more meaning than usual, I’m sure we all realized that despite the many challenges we face, we still are a lot more blessed than some of our brethren.


With that, I guess I could say that I did have a complete Christmas vacation.


15 comments:

Unknown said...

halap pa ba c hunahuna!
hehehe!

atto aryo said...

he he. slamat si kaam dimuan. ag pa post ko gad hamok gyapon kay gana pa lain pics ko. :-)

gibbs cadiz said...

happy new year! aynaku, pakita ka bago ka mag-fly ulit. :)

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year and congratulations for being able to have a truly meaningful Christmas. ive done the same, nag ikot din ako sa mga elderly relatives of my mother in cavite sharing my bonus pero they gave me in return, sacks of rice...hahah... hope to see you before you leave the country

The Gasoline Dude™ said...

Mukhang tatakbo ka sa susunod na eleksyon ah! *LOLz* Hapinuyir! Babalik ka pa ba ng Japan?

ian said...

happy new year!

uy. andaming nagbobook ng appointment bago ka umalis. ako rin ha! kukubra ng kape hehe

glad you had a meaningful celebration =]

totomai said...

asus sino kaya yung namimigay ng limpak limpak na salapi at goods lol

libre ka naman.

new year na lang naabutan ko sa pinas. have a great year ahead atty.

MysLykeMeeh said...

That was a nice way to celebrate..inspiring!

carlotta1924 said...

what a nice way to spend christmas. that definitely is fulfilling =)

happy new year!

Lantaw said...

yang ang totoong diwa ng pasko bai

Bryan Anthony the First said...

bless your soul dear
and ano update sa tsismisan?

happy new year!
woof!

Sprechtrel said...

What you did there was just awesome. Diwa ng pasko indeed. I wish my Christmas was the same as yours. It would've really felt good other than fun! :)

Anonymous said...

Yan ang totoong pasko. Ikaw ang namimigay habang nagkacarolling. I also experienced that when I was still young. I join masons and their family in their xmas carolling in indigent neighborhoods.

Panaderos said...

That's a Christmas well spent. :)

Ely said...

sarap mamigay, kahit konting bagay lang, lalo pag marinig mo ung "thank you"...