HELLO. TORONTO!
We’ve brought down the Christmas decors from the attic for cleaning and dusting in mid November. We’ve started putting them up on the last week of November and decorations continue up to today.
My aging limbs are getting sprightly again as I lead the rest of my household in ‘creating’ the Christmas spirit in the house and it is all because of our audience of 1, our youngest son, four- year old Christian Joseph. He has started to appreciate seeing the trappings of Christmas, Philippine style.
CJ was one of the small family crew who set up the Christmas tree in our tiny sala. How engrossed he was as he helped her two ates hang the ‘palawits’- brightly colored Christmas balls, miniature santa clauses, pine cones, and gold-hued buntings wound around (the brighter and gaudier, the better, that’s our motto for doing our decoration) and as we finally lighted our imitation and Divisoria- purchased green pine tree, CJ’s eyes likewise shone as bright with awe. ‘Wow’ was the word that came out of his mouth as he looked up, entranced at the dancing Christmas lights, also bought from Divisoria.
For this year, I think my family will be enjoying a Christmas just as when our 3 elder children were very young experienced it- complete with a kris kringle experience, gift- wrapped surprises, treats specially cooked for children on noche Buena, and all of these in the bosom of the family here at home.
For indeed, many of how we celebrate Christmas have been altered. I am adjusting but I must admit that I do not appreciate the changes – not so many attend the misas de gallo anymore perhaps because people have been very busy with daytime activities whether at work or in their leisure and are too tired therefore to wake up before dawn to prepare for the predawn mass. As in last year, I do not think there will be many children doing Christmas carolling this year- their parents would be too afraid to allow them to wander off in the neighbourhood and beyond for fear that they will get snatched by kidnappers. Our 3 children, all grown up now have, in previous years been in the company of chums on Christmas day- I wonder if they will be present this time to give our small boy CJ his first conscious observance of the season now that he is big enough to know what all the hulabaloo is all about. We are even introducing him to Santa Claus this year. Around the neighbourhood, Christmas lights will adorn our neighbor’s bakods, front doors, or windows. But when evening comes, I know they will turn on the cheery lights just like we will do at our own home but I know too that budgeted ang power consumption so, the pailaw should last only for a couple of hours each night- we are all tipid these days.
My children have not pressured me to get that them whole ensemble of Christmas get- ups even when they were very young. I have taught them to be prudent in spending the cash gift that I would traditionally hand to them. So, they are used to getting just a new tshirt, or a new pair of sandals or sneakers for themselves on this occasion- para lang there is something new to wear for Christmas. The rest of their money they use to get simple presents for everyone who mattered in their lives- teachers, friends, neighbours, members of the family. There is always something gift- wrapped for loved ones. This, plus the simple Christmas dinner or lunch that we prepare for those who have less in life around the neighbourhood are two things that I hope the young ones in the family will always remember and repeat as part of their tradition in the many Christmasses that they will celebrate.
For, even if I am not so good in lecturing them about the true meaning of the season, I hope that by their taking part in these 2 activities, they will learn by heart that there is true joy in sharing and giving to others who are not blood relations but still are our brothers and sisters and children in the eyes of God.
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And talking about the young, I am happy to note that last month’s National Rice Awareness Month gave some lucky city youths the chance to take part in a rice harvest in MetroManila, in Rizal Park, to be exact.
I have not been to Luneta for years so that it came as a happy surprise for me to learn that rice has been planted in some vacant patch of land in that Park for years- 300 square- meter terraced garden being tended by Philrice , Department of Agriculture- Bureau of Plant Industry, Philippine Commission for the New Century and the Millenium, National Parks Development Committe and Asia Rice Foundation based in Los Banos, Laguna. What a treat it must have been for the 39 elementary and high school students to be part of the harvest crew! I am now 61 years old and I have not had the opportunity to harvest rice. I know, too that millions of children here in our country have not seen a palay or where the rice they see on their dining tables come from. Kudos to the people who have made this rice farm in Luneta possible!
… My UP Mass Communication classmate of many years ago, MaryAnn Santos- Marfori is in town and has planned a get together so we will have the chance to meet up again. I hope the old classmates come so we would catch up on one anothers’ news and stories. MaryAnn is based in Vancouver, Canada.
THANK YOU, TORONTO!
