by Erlinda Apoli
Christmas, the most wonderful time for me! As soon as the “BER” months begin, Christmas carols fill the air, bringing a special feeling of comfort, joy, and excitement no matter the circumstances.
When I was just a kid, my father would wake us up at midnight every December 24th to celebrate the birth of the Savior and my mother would eagerly prepare for the Noche Buena. Biko and suman sa ibos or sliced bread and margarine were already special for us. There was no exchanging of gifts, just a simple family get together to celebrate the season. It was fun and the joy that Christmas brought to us was lasting!
Now that I have my own family, Christmas is spent in various ways. There are times it’s just my husband and I with our kids. We would have about four kinds of dishes, do a sing-along and watch some movies. Sometimes we spend it with family and friends close by or go back to our hometown for a family reunion. There would always be gatherings of family relatives and friends, gift-giving and receiving, food preparations and some Christmas shopping! That is what a normal Christmas has looked like for me in the past.
Filipinos usually start preparing for the season as early as September by decorating their homes with lights and Christmas decors. Not to mention the glistening Christmas parols invading the streets, whether in the cities or in the barrios. Some people do their Christmas shopping months earlier to avoid the holiday rush. Normally, as Christmas day approaches, glittering malls and marketplaces are packed with people, but with the present situation caused by the pandemic, will this Christmas be the same?
According to Compassion-Philippines COVID-19 Needs Assessment survey; food security, loss of employment, and health concerns are the top three needs. When COVID-19 pandemic started, discomfort, pain, uncertainties and fear also set in. It has affected not only people’s health but the economy as well. Moreover, travelling and social gatherings are restricted; embracing and handshaking are prohibited. In some municipalities, going to the store or market is scheduled according to the color code of the quarantine pass. We have seemingly become prisoners in our own homes!
Amidst this situation, can Christmas still be merry? Filipinos have always been optimistic and resilient. As the song of Jose Mari Chan goes, “Life is a Constant Change”. Because we are resilient, we are able to smile and still hope for the best as we accept the truth that life is just a constant change. This change sometimes causes us to feel uncomfortable, but joy comes afterwards. To summarize Solomon’s point in Ecclesiastes, man goes through the ups and downs of life in specific times and seasons. But Jesus assures us in John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Now that we are adjusting to the new normal, shopping will be different, more time-consuming and difficult. Our food preparation might not be as plentiful. We are not sure if we will get to enjoy any Christmas parties at school or our workplaces. The fun of exchanging gifts and family gatherings may NOT be the same as usual.
However, a dish or two and an early dinner with our children will do. Gifts might be few this year, but we can exchange positive words to each other on family devotion time. Then we can still watch movies or do a sing-along or play scrabble together; because one thing never changes, we celebrate the reason for the season, our Savior, the Giver of life. He gave Himself as a gift so that those who are hopeless will have hope, those who grieve will be comforted, those who are sick will be healed, and those who are broken will be restored. We celebrate Jesus!
