Thanksgiving Spirit

After a month long silence, I am now again able to speak. Pardon if I will not able to explain the reason here, perhaps you would truly understand me if I opted to also keep some harmless secrets for myself.

It’s the first day of December and for many of us, it ushers in the spirit of the Christmas season and thanksgiving. Schedules are packed with parties, reunions and get-togethers, neatly arranged in-between the traffic and the shopping-spree. I often agree that December is indeed the month we have been waiting for the whole year. That Christmas is strategically placed at the end of the year because we are all saving the best for last.

For the past ten years, me and my wife and two kids have been spending the holidays at the house of our parents in Bicutan. Noche Buena is always shared by all the family and opening of gifts is exactly at 12MN. Thanksgiving is always the format. Tatay often wears a Santa costume and he mimics Santa’s gift-giving ceremony. Consequently, my Ate Jo’s birthday is on the eve of Christmas, that is why, all her life we are always celebrating her birthday. Complete family with complete set of gifts for all.

December is also our thanksgiving month. For the whole of December, we are silently expressing our gratitude to all those that have helped us become a better person from last year. So if you receive a small present from any member of the family, consider it as a gift of thanks. We dedicate this month for all those friends, relatives and strangers alike that have affected us in their own small way and inspired us to continue what we have been doing all along.

So, don’t be surprised if one of these days you received a small gift from Santa, we have given him our naughty and nice list.

Merry Christmas everybody!