We have brought down our ‘winter’ outfits from the attic, pinagpagan, ni- washing machine and hang out to dry. We can wear them again- Christmas weather na here in Manila!
Felt the change in weather only last week. Di na gaanong namamawis ang aking batok at kili- kili as I travelled in the old, reliable (pero madalas nakakasuklam when you are in your own private ride kasi, they stop to get more passengers in undesignated places) jeepneys going to various parts of town. Wish ko lang magbakasyon naman ang rains and typhoons so we all can enjoy a proper celebra- tion.
Felt other changes, too- 2 days ago, medyo gumagabi na, we heard this tiny clanging na mal tugtugin in front of our gate. Aba naman, overtime yata itong dalawang ale from the Mountain Province, madilim na e rumaratsada pa ng sayaw. Every Christmas season mula nang ako ay magkaisip, these dancing guys from up the northern mountains of the country have been part of my Christmas experiences. Naglipana sila talaga para bumati sa mga taga lungsod- and batiin back naman ng cityfolk sa pamamagitan ng pag- aabot ng mga baryang coins. Sa akin lang, Pasko naman kaya, ok na rin siguro- do I encourage mendicancy? Hindi naman siguro. Hwag lang sobra naman.
Napapasobra yata lately cause I saw in the news how police and social welfare authorities herded off a small community of Badjaos who have decided to come down to Manila, too to receive their share of Christmas ‘baryas’ from pedestrians, commuters, residents. Naparami lang sila ngayon kasi mayrun na akong nakikitang mga taga Mindanao na naging oficio na ang ganyang gawain noon pa mang hindi Christmas- taking the jeep from Cubao to Divisoria, minsan nakikita ko ang mga paslit na my dalang maliit na homemade drums naaakyat ng jeep na sinasakyan ko, uupo sa bandang estribo at kakanta na in their own dialect. Tapos, may isang batang kasama na nagdi distribute ng envelope sa mga pasahero. Kapag isinauli mo ang envelope nang walang lamang barya, titingnan ka ng batang ito nang malamlam, nagpapaawa baga. Sa totoo lang, kaawa awa naman talaga ang dating ng mga kids- marurusing, ang mga suot ay gulanit, butas, at mukhang di nalabhan sa loob ng sambuwan. Pero hwag ka, antatapang pala nila at makikita ito ng pasahero kapag hindi sya nag abot ng barya at di napalambot ang puso sa paawang tingin ng bata – titingin ang bata ng matalim at saka pagalit na nagsasalita sa sarili nyang salita (siguro ansabi ng bata e ‘barat kang matanda ka!’ in his dialect). Meron naman minsan din, at the same area (CMRecto going to Divisoria), heto naman ang isang youngish nanay in Muslim getup pa, dala dala ang isang baby na naka angkla sa kanyang beywang at lalapit sa pasahero, mag i- emote nang palungkot at ilaladlad ang palad na nanghihingi. Pag hindi din nag- abot ,titingnan din ng matalim ang pasahero saka tatalak ng mga salitang di maintindihan ng taga Maynila.
Mabalik tayo sa apprehension – Kasi naman daw, aba nag campoff sila sa tabi ng riles ng tren pag tulugan time na. Naku, napakadelikado naman talaga ng napili nilang campsite lalo na siguro kung iisipin na di naman sila sanay sa riles dahil wala naming riles ng tren sa Mindanao (at lalong wala sila makukuhang experience sa katubigan where the Badjaos are known to build their stilthomes on. Hindi sila gaanong aware sa mga dangers ng oncoming trains. Paano na rin ang sanitation? Dun ba sa gilid ng riles sila uuu? Ngek naman, baka magkasakit pa sila because of unsanitary living conditions. Kaya, all in all, mabuti na nga naman na sila ay isakay sa barkong maghahatid sa kanila back to their homes in Mindanao as what the Social Welfare office plans to do.
…Hmmm, attendant to the season, mayron na ring festive area sa mga lansangan pagsapit ng dilim- parang medyo konti lang ang mga Christmas lights- nagtitipid na rin siguro ang mga establishments. Lalo na ang mga bahay- bahay. In my neighborhood, parang apat pa lang kaming nagbubukas ng Christmas lights sa gabi. Take note, 3 hours lang tapos pinapatay na namin. Ang mahal kasi ng kuryente. Laging nagtataas because of kesyo- kesyong reasons- di na tuloy kami makapaniwala. Di naman makatarungang awayin ang kubrador everytime he hands the resident his electric consumption bill- kubrador nga lang sya, ano at wala naman talagang pakialam sa rising consumption costs.
But I truly hope that inside the Christian/ Catholic Pinoy home, everything will be as it has been during past Christmas seasons- togetherness, glad tidings to everyone, taking time out to visit with friends/ relatives one has not seen for quite a time, little presents to tell the recipient he is remembered fondly during this time, Noche Buena with loved ones no matter how simple the fare will be, cooking extra food in case some unannounced guests decide to join one’s dining table, coins/ candies for the little carolers who may sing offkey and with wrong/ incomplete lyrics , including the poor and less fortunate among one’s list of people to wrap gifts for, going to Simbang Gabi and the Christmas Midnight mass minus the puto bumbong and bibingka if there’s no extra pambili, preparing a list of resolutions which one vows to abide by in the coming year (even if one knows that half of them one will not be able to fulfill.), and best of all, greeting the birthday celebrator Jesus many happy returns of the day and thanking him from the bottom of one’s heart for all the blessings given one’s way.
Please have a Joyous and Meaningful Christmastime.
THANK YOU, TORONTO!
