It’s Christmas eve and whether we like it or not, tomorrow is Christmas day.
As usual, the airwaves are congested with the music of the holiday season and while we continue to wade through the hardships of life, the songs are calming, soothing and heartwarming not only to the ears but to our hearts, minds and souls.
Aside from the usual “Jingle Bells”, “Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer” and the Filipino classics “Christmas in our Hearts”, “Ang Pasko ay Sumapit”, or songs by Michael Buble and a thousand and one other artists, songs touches life.
“Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” makes one feel the essence and meaning of the birth of Jesus, especially in this extraordinary times. The lyrics simply make one pour out sentiments of living… “Let your heart be light (as) From now on (all) Our troubles will be out of sight, miles away. More importantly, as in the olden days of yore, (family and) faithful friends who are dear to us, gather near to us once more to be together, Through the years! So, hang a shining star upon the highest bough and let us all have a merry little Christmas now.
It is another season to be jolly and old as we may seem to be or feel, memories of our Trancoville days when we and the other brats would go caroling using tansan or flattened Coca-Cola crowns looped in laundry wire as maracas and singing away “You better watch out… Santa Claus is coming town..”
Before the “tenk yu, tenk yu” spiel and we receive our largess usually averaging P1 which was a huge amount then for poor kids like us, we would sing “Apo di kam agpili ti ited yu aginaldo mi, uray nu kendi, uray nu kuwarta pada-pada awatenmi.“
Indeed, times have changed and now carolers are wearing barong Tagalog or three-piece suits or worst, wear police or Bureau of Internal Revenue uniforms, the former “demanding” nothing below their minimum set by Ali Baba and his thieves ha ha ha. Joke of course!
The coming of Christ is celebrated and as we gaze around and look at the faces of those who weather the cold mornings, the message remains, “Give love not only on Christmas Day but the rest of the days and years to come.”
Yes, Virginia, there is hope despite the economic challenges and the financial wrath it gave us. There is indeed hope that we will face a better tomorrow.
Just make sure though that “we better watch out, we better not pout, let’s not be naughty but be nice”, otherwise Santa Claus will catch up with your life. Enjoy the rest of the holiday season. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!
May 20, 2024
