TwEeThUmBsUp

Alaala ng Pasko

It is Christmas once again. The time of the year when most are the
merriest and lighthearted and generous. Hubby and I will be spending
Christmas with my sisters and relatives currently residing in Belgium.

Before I came to Europe, my holidays were always spent with family and
relatives. We usually meet in the house of the relatives or in ours,
depends on who the assigned host for the yearend celebration is. Year-end would be from December 24th up to New Years eve. Yes, it is one whole week of being together. During this time, relatives, cousins living in the provinces would come
to Manila as well to celebrate with us. My cousins and I, are almost of
the same age with an average of 1 year gap, so we were all very close to
each other. Not to mention that we have always lived so near to each
other that the closeness became more like a brother and sister thing.
From elementary to high school or at least until my family left for
Manila for good, we were always together. We went to different schools
but were always together weekends, spent either at the beach or biking
or just going roller skating at the town plaza. Those days were fun.
Christmas time was the best though. We get to stay up so late, and play
outside. Do whatever we want to do like sitting under the big mango tree
in the front yard of my Lola's house and just sing songs. My brother and
cousin were both good with the guitar, so we had instrumental
accompaniment as well. The younger ones would play with the candles or
flashlights, depends on which was available.

Gifts we got were not as grand, but hey, we were just kids. Ibig
sabihin, mababaw lang ang kaligayahan. Actually, they were not the most
important thing, but we did compete with each other as to who got the
most cash gifts. Some of my cousins, tried to cheat by saving up from their
allowance before the christmas holidays and then just add them up with
what they got later. For me, i had to join the regular christmas
carolers in the school to save up more. Kasi, sa school, malakas akong
kumain. In short, I didn't save anything from my baon for
Christmas...kaya, kayod pa ako. The fun thing is, after the holidays,
when everything else is back to normal, we then use what we saved up
during the holidays for stuff where we didn't have a budget, like going
to see a movie, buying scented stationaries and hanging out at the
halo-halo kiosk downtown together.

The last time I spent Christmas holidays with the whole family and
relatives was way back in 1996. Since we all went to different schools
in college, this was the only time we were all together again. I
remember, after the celebrations at home, we all got into three cars and
drove to Padis Point in Antipolo. We talked, teased and drank. It was
the first time after several years of not being together. We shared
escapades that the parents are not supposed to know about. Found out who
smoked, who have had "boyfriends" or "girlfriends", talked about the problems
with the parents, etc. We just talked about everything. After Padis
closed for the night, we drove all the way to Tagaytay, up to the Palace
in the Sky. We parked the cars and took out the drinks and snacks that
we bought along the way and drank under the stars that night. Talking,
laughing and listening to the music from the car stereo. It was a cold and foggy night yet we didn't seem to notice the cool wind. WE sat there, and continued
talking about our plans, dreams and ambitions. WE all boasted to each
other how we would be able to help the others the most.

On the way home the following morning, we were all so scared. Normally,
we have a silent rule: we are allowed to go out but we are expected to
be home long before the sun shines the following morning. Just two
blocks before our house, we stopped the cars and planned what to tell
the elders when we got home. WE had to have a valid explanation,
otherwise...well, we didn't find out anyway, what would have happened.
My brother drove ahead, followed by my cousin and me at the tail of the
convoy. When we got home, we were very surprised at the reception.
Instead of getting scolded, we arrived with the breakfast table ready
and food was served immediately. My dear Lola told us firmly to have
breakfast, and then ordered us to rest for we would then have our family
pictures taken that same day. No parent came to us to scold us or
reprimand us for not coming home that night. I guess, it was some sort
of declaration from them that we were already accepted as adults.
Imagine, the eldest among us cousins then was Czar1, she was then 26,
and still didn't have the freedom to go out the whole night and come
home only the following morning. The only exception to this rule is the
author/owner of this blogsite, hahaha. Why? WEll that's another story.