Christmas Spirit

Christmas season is fast approaching. Here in the Philippines people usually start feeling the season once the –ber months comes in. We start hearing Christmas carols on radios and see commercials centered on the celebration. By the time All Saint’s Day is done, the decorations start to sprout up. Bright, colorful, twinkling lanterns. All those Belens everywhere. At which point the air takes in a different type of hum. Folks get to smile more, kids are more polite. It’s the 13th month pay and the thought of getting tons of gifts we know, but having something to look forward to makes our spirit happier.

This year should be no different, but it’s already the end of November and the same cheer is not evident. The streets are not lit up, the building looks the same mundane gray slabs of concrete. There are a few that put up their decors, but it seems sad somehow seeing one structure standing out in color amongst a silence avenue. It’s like people are not welcoming the holidays.

I was passing by Roxas Blvd in Baclaran going home the other day. They have been fixing the sidewalks and installing light fixtures along the street for a few months now. It’s a tall pole with 3 colorful globes in the middle that I guess when lit up would showcase a nice glow on pedestrians when they walk under it. The theme looks very Christmas-y . But what I noticed when I was stuck in heavy traffic is that the colorful globes are already falling down. It seems a shame that nobody has seen the lights yet, and now it looks like we never will. (I refrained from thinking about all of my tax deductions that probably paid for the damn thing and now I won’t even get to see it shine. I was having a sad moment.)

It seems an apt message this season. Hope tarnished.

Wherever you look lately you hear and see oppression, hunger, bombings, killings, corruption. All things that make the spirit feel like there’s no more hope for this country. You hear about a 12 year old kid hanging herself due to poverty. About women being prostituted to make a quick buck. Of our kababayan who had high hopes for her family so she went overseas, leaving her husband, kids, family, to earn dollars. But suddenly found herself being abused by her employer. Then barely a month has passed and she is found dead in her room. Is this what weighs heavily in our minds and the reason why we can’t celebrate Christmas properly?

We Filipinos have always prided ourselves for our resilience. Our ability to bounce back from great tragedy. Heck! We’re even famous for laughing at our misfortunes! So what’s happening now? Where is the indomitable warrior-katipunero strength and will that we always put on when faced with adversity? Where is our unquenchable spirit? Where is our endless supply of hope?

If I had one wish this season, it's this. To Filipinos everywhere. Bring out those lanterns, those synthetic Christmas pine trees made of durable plastic. The fake snow made from shredded cotton balls , the Santa Claus decors that's sooo white it’s ironic. Most importantly, put a kickstand on your hope. I know it needs help to stand right now, but the more friends, family and love ones you have around you this season, the more props you can use to help you.

Show your Christmas spirit Filipino!