(Christmas in the Philippines... Pre-Marriage... Pre-Babies... Just my parents, my siblings, our family-like neighborhood in Casimiro Village...)
Our own family tradition was: On the day before Misa de Gallo begins, we would decorate our house to formally welcome the Christmas season. If you didn't know, Christmas in the Philippines would be welcomed as early as September. So, our house would always be the last house to be decorated - my brother, my sister, and I would just be so eager to put up that Christmas tree and brighten up our terrace with Christmas lights.
The next day, our mom would wake us up at 4:00 in the morning to prepare for first of nine dawn masses. God bless my mom for coming up with a sure-fire way of waking up the kids at such an ungodly hour: presents under the Christmas tree!!! Everyday for nine days, we would get one present! So of course, by the fifth day, even when I felt like crashing back to sleep, I would find that strength to get up and check out if that fifth present would be there -- and it was there -- every... single... year!
Nothing beats seeing your best friends first thing in the morning. We just had a blast picking each other up, going to church together, and buying puto bumbong, bibingka, and puto't kutsinta after the mass. On days that we didn't have school, we would just hang out until it was time for lunch! (sigh) Those were the days when life's most difficult problem was passing the third quarterly exams at school!
One final incentive: Upon completion of the nine dawn masses, we get to make a wish to the Lord. Any wish... and it will be given unto you... Sometimes, I feel like everyday is the ninth day of Misa de Gallo for GOD has showered me with so many blessings: most of them I had wished for... some, I haven't even wished for yet, but God has already given me because He knows what my heart longs for... and still others come as blessings in disguise - unfortunate incidents that turn out to be all a part of God's divine plan, for me to become a stronger person.
I wish you peace and happiness this Chrsitmas season... and always..
GOD BLESS!
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Edward's Masterpiece @ 6
2/4/08: Artist - Rufi "Nono" Vidal; "Crayonist" - Edward Balingit
1 comment:
I miss the smell of puto bumbong & bibingka cooking! Do you have Simbang Gabi there?
I like your Mom's gimmick to wake you up early in the morning! No wonder you're a thoughtful and sweet woman. Do you do that to your kids too? :)
My family is coming over in 4 days! WOOOOHOOO!!! :)
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