“Christmas Might Be Different”
- Sinag Publications
- Dec 28, 2020
- 2 min read
by Kyle Antonio
“Christmas will be the same because Christmas is in the hearts.” - Jose Mari Chan
It’s that time of the year again; the scent of food is in the air, radios broadcasting Jose Mari Chan playlists that seem to never fade away into obscurity no matter what year it is, the boisterous laughter of your relatives can be heard from miles away; and of course, who could forget our favorite jolly red-hatted mascot, Santa Claus; his face plastered almost everywhere you go! Yes, it’s that time of the year again; although this time, things are a bit different.
Ever since people realized that Covid-19 is a catastrophic event that wouldn’t simply go away overnight, people worried that the disease would rage on ‘till Christmas. Despite the government promising that things would go back to normal by December, it appears the promises were not kept and the people’s fears became true. But even so, the long celebration of Christmas persisted; people kept their holiday spirits up and one can still see ornaments hanging on homes as early as October. The bustling markets of Divisoria and Baclaran remain as busy as ever, albeit with strict protocols in place. Schools hosting virtual Christmas parties for students so as to have a sense of normality given that they’ve been quarantined in their homes all throughout the year. These are testaments to the people’s optimism to make Christmas possible; an outcry of some sorts to the proverbial virus, that we will not allow it to take away this season from us.
It is truly fascinating, to say the least, how we managed to overcome the struggles of social-distancing; to celebrate an event that has been, not only a tradition, but etched at the hearts of the Filipino people. You’ve never truly experienced a wonderful Christmas if you have never experienced a Filipino Christmas; one cannot say less even in our current situation. One can find true joy and happiness in a Filipino family celebrating the holidays together; this is something that can never be taken away from us, no matter how chaotic our country currently is.
This holiday season may be different, but the message of love and appreciation rings true louder than ever. Let this Christmas be a beacon of hope; a herald to a great new year. Let it be a time of healing; to reflect on the things we’ve been through and to be thankful that 2020 is about to end. Let it bring smiles on those who have suffered enough. This season is proof that things might be improving after all. Though it may be different from what we were used to; we will continue to endure and see this pandemic through.
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