September 2009, when I walked into the SM Mall in San Fernando, Pampanga, I noticed that they were playing Christmas Music and the Christmas decorations were up. Since this was about the same time Christmas started when I lived in Puerto Rico, and I’d been coming to the Philippines since the late 60’s, I smiled and thought to myself; “Just the way it should be” As a kid I had to wait until after Thanksgiving Day to even think about Christmas and New Years. Who made up that dumb rule? A few days later I’m in downtown Olongapo City, and was happy to find the same Christmas spirit had also broken out.
With our two daughters all grown up, one married and the youngest working in Singapore (someday I’ll write and explain, how much money, her job cost me) Christmas causes me to miss the days when they were in school and I’d see them every day when I was home from sea, and after I retired.
Then there’s the last five years with my granddaughter here at the house during Christmas (she’s seven now, but the first two years, she had no idea what Christmas was all about) But OH! She does now! With her to spoil, Christmas has new meaning to me once more.
This November 2009, our ten year old artificial tree was expired, I learned from my wife, it is no longer good, and no longer works well, and a new one is required, as are all older decorations and lights. They worked so well last Holiday Season. Then I was dumb enough to ask the why, it was explained that you don’t put old stuff on a new tree. I should have known that! The tree was up and trimmed on 7 November. If it was a real tree, a fire would have broke out by Christmas Day. After looking at the pictures of the two trees in question, (2008-2009) as usual my wife was right, it does look better!
So it felt somewhat like Christmas this November, with the exception that the kids with the banging pots and pans have yet to appear. When I ask where they were, I was told that the Barangay Captain did not allow them to bang the pots until 2 weeks prior to Christmas. What a wonderful Scrooge he is. I can’t wait!
My granddaughter will soon provide me with her Santa wish list. She knows I have his e-mail address, and will ensure that he knows what to bring. My wife is a Santa for the rest of the family and has started her shopping already. Me, I give my eldest daughter my Visa card; send her to the mall to pick out my presents for my wife. I’ve known for years that her and our daughter talks about it before she leaves for the mall. But I did get away with it for a few years, maybe?
For years when I was sailing, I’d mail everything I had in my stateroom back to the home office stateside. Now I’d go shopping for the three ladies. If you walk into any Department store you will find young girls from the Philippines working there. I would go the manager, ask for help while shopping, I’d tell the young lady, I wanted the hottest new items that a teenage girl would want, Watches, Running Shoes, and perfume. I was never wrong, and my two girls thought I was the coolest old guy in the world. So their presents were all that I had in my luggage when I got home. Of course then I had to explain to Customs in the U.S. why my bag was empty.
Then a few days after Christmas will come, New Year’s Eve. This is the one night that I refuse to have a cocktail. For I must remain vigilant, with a fully charged water hose to extinguish the fire works that land on or near my house. And anyway who would want to consume cocktails with amateurs. That’s the night when people who can’t hold their liquor, decide to drink and act a fool. Hell I can do that on any Monday Afternoon.
Example; Last New Year’s Eve, I’m on my roof (also a patio) watching the pyrotechnics being fired off around the barangay. The empty lot next door is often used as a launching site, around Midnight this guy shows up with a two foot tall Roman candle. It was a little damp that night with a very misty rain. Three times he lit the fuse with a match, and three times it went out. I saw him scratch his head, and dash off, up the road. To quickly return with a very large umbrella and a Bic lighter. This was going to work this time. He bent over the candle, umbrella in place and lit the fuse that had shortened a bit from the other three attempts. Off it went like a Roman candle should, straight up in to the umbrella, setting it a Lite. Then came the part that put my sober self on the floor laughing, off he ran, full tilt up the street still carrying the burning umbrella. I assumed it was not his umbrella and he had to return it.
Please allow me wish you all and safe and wonderful Holiday Season, and remember its okay to say the word Christmas here in the Philippines, that’s another reason I choose to live here.
Hi Paul –
New Christmas Tree: check.
New Tree Ornaments: check.
Shopping Trip Plan: check.
Decorations Up&Lit: check.
Guess it must be Christmas time! All the best from “Up North”!
(Possibly in Subic Area later this week – Christmas, you know!)
Merry Christmas Paul;
While on Subic, stop by Tom Dryden’s restaurant for a meal. It’s on Canal Rd. on the left by the Union Bank as you head toward the back gate and bridge. This is a meal that both you and your Lady will enjoy. And enjoy your Christmas shopping, and have a safe trip coming down to Zambales. Ask Bob for my e-mail if you wanna’ do lunch.
This one’s gonna be a “whirlwind” tour so time will be a little tight. Perhaps a post-New Year visit is in order.
This time around, we’ll be heading down to Mariveles to pay some property taxes & caretaker’s wages (and inspect the property), check some relative’s property in Limay, shop in Subic and in Tarlac, and do a whole lot of “honey-do” related things. Not much on the agenda for the Kano, but might convince the entourage into spending overnight in an O’po hotel on da beach.
Will honk the horn if we pass by your “hilltop mansion”!
Hi, Paul K-
If you should drive through the barrio of Salaza (Palauig, Zambales) on your way back up north, do stop by at one of the sari-sari stores there and have some refreshments on me. Just tell the tindera to charge the bill to my cousin, Loida Fong. The national highway traverses Salaza.
Hi John – Thanks – I’ve noted it all down, but can’t say for sure which roads/directions/times of day/etc. we’ll be where. I’m strictly a rider on this trip. Perhaps, I should say rider/porter as I’m sure there will be a lot of carrying to do. 😆
I will use that info, though! Thanks in advance, John.
It’s finally started to feel like Christmas up here – Pasuquin gets a “chilly” northeast wind in the December-January period. We’ve been enjoying the “December Breeze” for about a week now. 😉
Hi Paul;
Most important, are those “Honey-Do’s”, I’ll listen for the horn as you pass. I like the idea about hotel on da beach that will give time to recharge the batteries. With the help of a cold San Magoo in your hand watching the sun set on Subic Bay. Ahhh Luxury!
Hi Paul, hope you and your family have a great Christmas. My wife has been over here in the states for three years now, boy how time flys when your haveing fun! She would like to get back over there to see her family, but around the Holidays it’s tough for me to get the time off. I work at Port of Tampa in Florida and it seem that it’s the busiest time for me. We load ship with Phosphate DAP to go oversea, but sooner or later will make it over there.Anyway like your site and always look forward in reading your post. J.C.
Merry Christmas, J.C.;
I know what you mean; my youngest daughter is working in Singapore and can’t get the time off for Christmas. I spent so many Holidays at sea and I understand how she feels.
I lived for a few years across the Bay from you, on Treasure Island, (by St. Pete) All you can do is give your wife a great Florida Christmas, anyway the weather will be the same as if she were home! Maybe next year?
Hi, Paul- Like what I told Paul Keating the other day, it must be hard to get into the spirit of the holiday season without the autumn chill and when there are no golden leaves falling on the ground. In your case, seeing your 7-year old granddaughter’s face light up when she opens her presents Christmas morning is probably all you’ll need to get into the holiday spirit.
Merry Christmas to you and your family, Paul.
Hi John;
And a merry Christmas to you and yours! You are right about how it’s really children that raise your Christmas spirit. Without them it’s just another day for me or overtime when I was on the ships. Since it’s been over 30 years that I’ve lived anywhere cold, hanging decorations off the Coconut Telegraph lines seems normal to me.
We are putting up our tree today. Have a Merry Xmas and a Happy New year. It is 1 degree C right now ( 34 F) and is expected to go down to -8 (17 F). Oh how I wish I was there!
Allan;
I feel your pain! When Miss Ahearn my 4th grade teacher explained to the class about the equator, my grades improved overnight. I took it a step further and figured out that if I lived between latitudes 15 degrees north, and 15 degrees south, I’d never again have to put up with a New England winter again. BTW, it worked! Do I miss it? Not a bit. But enjoy your Christmas, and all the best to you and yours!!! (I hope you can get here soon)
Merry Christmas,Paul! Man,it’s great to say that and not have some politically correct moron say “Happy Holidays” back to you. That is one thing I really love about the Philippines,I have freedom of speech that I used to have back in the States many years ago.
Loved your flaming umbrella story,this will be my first Christmas and New Year’s in the Philippines,so I am looking forward to observing how it will be celebrated here. We have fireworks on almost a daily basis anyway, so it should really escalate for New Years!
Hi Dave;
You’re in for a treat if this is your first Christmas season here. I saw my father-in-law set the grass roof on on his house on fire back in 1994. (I put a tile roof on their house soon after New Years), we put the fire out, everyone had a laugh, then he was right back in the same location, doin’ it again! New Years Eve, I like to call it Purok Renewal, we lose at least one house every New Years Eve here on the mountain. But a good time is had by all, and that’s why we live here.