Ever since I was little, Christmas tree, gift giving, noche buena, and pamamasko have always been a family tradition.
My parents would go to Cherry Foodarama to buy hamon, quezo de bola and whole packs of hotdogs a few days before Christmas. Nuong araw, one pack had 100 pieces. They gave these away to their mga kumare at kumpadre, our neighbors, relatives, and to their staff. Yung mga kalendaryo naman, they would buy from Divisoria. The white t-shirts were mostly from Crispa. Kasi yun ang da-best quality nuong araw.
Nung medyo nagkaka-edad na sila at humina na ang negosyo, yung isang pack na hotdog, ni-re-repack na ng Papa ko, hinahati-hati na kasi hindi na nila kayang mamigay ng marami. At sobrang mahal na rin ang bilihin. Hanggang inabutan ko na totally hindi na sila nakaka-pamigay.
Our small Christmas tree always had full of gifts under it- calendars,
t-shirts, and a few gifts for our family. Nuong araw, people asked for calendars, hindi payong, hindi pera. People were happy to receive even one calendar. Ngayon, baka ibato pa sayo.
Noche Buena was a big production in Ka Cardo and Ka Felicing’s household. A few hours before midnight. Our small kitchen would be full of sous chefs. My mother’s former maids, wives of our drivers, distant relatives, all showing up on that day to help my mother prepare noche buena. Syempre, their whole family also get to share in the food. Meron pang take-home. Meron pang konting pera, dagdag pa yung kalendaryo at kamiseta.
My father would be ready with one whole can of coins for Christmas day. Puno ng barya yung pinakamalaking lata ng Del Monte pineapple juice. Ubos lahat yung barya kasi dose-dosena ang mga dumarating na namamasko, kung saan-saang baryo, bukid, at isla sa Binangonan. Yung mga inaanak sa kasal, na nanganak na, nagka-apo na, lahat yun kasama at namamasko.
Pero, yung mga hindi namin kakilala, hindi nanghihingi ng pera. Hindi namamasko. You only go to ninong-ninong, hindi kahit kanino pwede kang maghingi. Nuon, pag biniro mo ang isang tao ng “Asan ang aginaldo ko”, ang isasagot sa’yo, “inaanak ba kita?” Kaya nakakahiya kung mamamasko ka na hindi no naman sila ninong at ninang.
Pero ngayon, iba na ang panahon, ibang-iba talaga. Lahat ng basurero, kartero, tiga deliver ng credit card bills, kahit yung once a year mo lang nakikita eh expecting something. Nung isang araw, palabas kami ng gate, meerong isang basurero na naligaw, humiwalay sa truck nila, binigyan ko ng P40, dalawang super lutong na bagong P20 bills, ayun, sinimangutan pa ako.
Yung ang susungit na gwardya, ngayon, super friendly sila and very respectful. Ang daming mga bata nagkalat, dinadala ng mga magulang para mamasko. Hindi na yan in-keeping with the Christmas tradition. I don’t know what to call it. The parents are training their kids how to be lazy and become beggars.
On Christmas Day, my mom served those coming to our house mainit na sopas at tinapay with a choice of Dairy Creme or Star Margarine.
I would be excited naman come morning time, inspecting what Santa sneaked inside the medyas hanging by the window. Usually merong 25 centavos and one bar of chocolate. Hindi Godiva or Kitkat. Yung Serg’s. Their huge factory was located in Cainta, Rizal. Wala na ngayon yun, meron ng Ever Gotesco Mall. Nagsara kasi puro imported na lang ang chocolates ngayon at tila nag-strike yung mga tao. Ewan ba. Naalala ko tuloy, nung maliit pa ako, pag dumadaan ang jeep namin sa Ortigas Avenue, malayo pa lang ang bangu-bango na, amoy tsokolate. Kahit walang aircon, ang sarap ng hangin. Ngayon, dapat you shouldn’t breathe till you get home.
In keeping with our family’s Christmas tradition, we also stayed till midnight for the Noche Buena.
Instead of throngs of volunteers like what my mom had, our maids voluntarily stayed till midnight. The other one, Mary, chose to sleep.
Jennie, Nonie, and Jo
We give and we receive gifts too. The foodies from friends go straight to our kitchen counter for immediate consumption.
Edmund called me when this gift from our neighbor arrived. He couldn’t figure out what it was for. He said it looked like a stroller.
Naisip ko naman, baka kako akala ni Connie eh buntis ako kaya binigyan ako ng baby stroller.
Okay, another year had been bestowed upon us.
We are lucky to spend Christmas again together, in peace and harmony.
It’s midnight, December 24, 2013 tuesday.
Eating time
Let’s open gifts, it’s Christmas Day!
With all the golf get-ups Edmund received from us, he’s now the image model of J. Lindeberg and Munsingwear or Penguin. He didn’t like some of it, it’s okay, he could exchange them, there are gift receipts.
French Connection dress for Oyen. Tila malaki ang size.
Art introduction. I gave my son a painting from Teody Racuya. The subject is very thought provoking.
He doesn’t have a wall to hang it on. I told him to just keep it for his future house, kung meron na syang sarili nyang place.
Glittery gift wrapper from National Bookstore.
Silver figurine for Oyen and elephant for Nyke
Wala na daw syang maisuot na suit, kaya I gave him a Zara set to wear to the Ford Convention on January 25. Maliit ang size, it’s okay, there’s a gift receipt.
The finale gifts, something they would get every five to ten years.
When they were little, every gift opening night, I had nothing to open. My joy was being able to give them something, kahit mura lang. I enjoyed watching their little hands rip-off the toy wrappers. One time, medyo nagkaka-isip na sila, I heard my son whisper to his sister “mommy has no gift”.
Things have changed, my kids have grown-up and now have jobs. They can now afford to buy me some cute gifts. Kaya every gift opening night, kasali na rin ako.
Thank you anak x 2.
