Maligayang Pasko!*

So Christmas has come in my part of the world. It's a big thing here in the Philippines; the season starts in September and ends in January. It's always been this way as far as I can remember, and I don't see how it will ever change. Because despite crazy ass and depressing problems like floods, explosions and insane attempts at a coup d'etat, our people's resilience remains intact. Christmas is Christmas and will be celebrated as such, no matter what. Children will still be ecstatic with glee at the presents they receive, laughter and engaging conversation will still go back and forth amongst family members over the Christmas table; Christmas carols will still be playing in the background.

Also, an unconventional looking Santa Claus will always be directing traffic in Manila during the Christmas season. Photo lifted from Sidney Snoeck's site, My Sarisari Store.

Those are constants in a number of people's Christmas experiences, here in the Philippines and elsewhere perhaps. But another constant that is overlooked most of the time is this: change. Is Christmas this year the same or even greatly similar to last year's celebrations or the years before that? Are we exactly the same individuals who celebrated Christmas last year? If you can honestly answer "yes" to that question, then I will be honest with you in return. And all I can say is, I don't know whether to envy you or to feel sorry for you.

This is a Christmas of "firsts" of a sort for me. There are quite a few things I'm experiencing for the first time here, much of which I'm still confused about. In a strange way, though, I'm sure about them too. And much of this I came to realize only within the past 24 hours, after some soul searching. (Yes, I did get a migraine after that, thank you very much for asking. But it wasn't anything a few beers couldn't take care of, haha.) I'm not claiming to know the whole truth and nothing but the truth, but what I perceive it to be sucks big time. My karma maybe for my penchant for that particular activity?

Anywayyyy...

I'm sending all of you, newcomers and old-timers alike, my very best wishes. Whether your lives are taking twists and turns in new directions - welcome changes or otherwise - or whether they're still the same old boring shit, all the sincerest best to you. Merry, merry Christmas everyone! And a prosperous, exciting New Year too.

*That's "Merry Christmas" to you non-Tagalog speakers.