Bisdak Babbles

It’s still August and yet my mind is full with Christmas thoughts. It’s too soon to think about Christmas but not for me, and I guess for many OFWs like me. I have already booked my tickets two months ago. How I wish I could start my Christmas shopping soon but that would be impossible. Well, the most important thing is, I’ll be spending it again with my family in the Philippines. I’m looking forward to a three-week vacation, this means no more leaves for me before December.

With that, I already have one major project in mind: turning one of the spaces at home into a playroom/study room for the two cute little angels (my daughter and my niece). I just hope I could find discount laminate flooring in our small city. Children’s table and chairs would be hard to find, too. There are lots of good ones here in Singapore but the shipment would cost more. Back to the real world, I seriously need to keep my excitement down because now, the days seem to pass soooo slow.

It’s a bit overdue but I didn’t have easy access to the internet when I was on vacation in the Philippines. We have decent internet connection at hand but our PC is still the old Pentium III and I didn’t want to test my patience with it either. So how was my Christmas 2009? We didn’t prepare much. As usual, the “traditionals” were there: spaghetti and macaroni salad (we’ve had these since I was 5). For the first time in a long time, food preparations were done a few hours before Misa de Gallo. Maybe because this time, it was not my mother who did the preparations. Still, we were about 5 minutes late for the Christmas mass. Good thing we brought chairs or we would have stood until it was over! Shaynna was really ecstatic that she did not take her afternoon nap. The result? She fell asleep 15 minutes after we arrived at the church, and slept through the night! So, no photo with Shaynna. Only with my mother and some relatives…

We didn’t have much for the Noche Buena. But being just there with my loved ones just made my joy overflow. How I wished Papa was still with us…

It’s been a while since I’ve last put up the Christmas tree at home. In fact, we’d never put up a Christmas for more than 5 years. Because of Shaynna and Kiera, my 2-year old niece, I bugged my mother until she gave in. Two weeks ago, Shaynna happily told me over the phone that it is finally Christmas at home because we already have a Christmas tree!

If I were to decorate a tree, I’d consider putting on silver and blue ornaments such as this tree at the CityLink Mall:

It’s almost Christmas! Many people are going to colder places to experience “white Christmas”. Others prefer something like myrtle beach vacation rentals. In my case, nothing could contain my happiness and excitement to go home to the Philippines.

I’ve spent the last three Christmas seasons in Japan. Christmas day there is a work day. To avoid serious bouts of homesickness, I’d rather go to office.I was so glad to have some friends with me but still, there’s really no place like home. By home, not only just being with your family. Rather, being with your family and other special people, in the Philippines. I could not point out why spending Christmas in my country is so different, so special. It’s like the Christmas warmth and joy is enveloping you even if you don’t receive something to unwrap, even if you only have one lechon manok on the table. It’s just being there makes you feel so complete. For Filipinos like me, don’t you think so, too?

I’ll be posting photos of different Christmas trees here in Singapore. The photo below was taken at Vivo City. This huge Christmas tree had been there when we were on our way to Sentosa on November 1.

When I was a child, I loved Christmas because I love receiving gifts! I always look forward to what my parents prepared for me. Though due to financial constraints, I didn’t always receive gifts from my parents. But still, I was happy. My godparents live far from my hometown so I couldn’t collect gifts from them.

Now that I am an adult, one of the things that I love about Christmas is the joy of giving. I also enjoy finding the right gift and scouring for the best bargains. Now, with the help of the internet, the search for gift ideas has never been easier. The good thing about being here in Singapore? Shopping malls websites are always up-to-date.

How I wish I could buy my mother a pair of shoes or a shoulder bag from Cole Haan. I can’t afford to buy expensive gifts to my loved ones but at least it’s from deep within.

Have you started your Christmas shopping already?

I think everyone loves Christmas decors. There’s this one department store in Osaka that has wide display spaces to put up Christmas decors such as this one:

One of the parlor games we had at the Christmas party.

Check out the Wordless Wednesday HQ