5 Pinoys tell how they are preparing for Christmas Eve away from their families There’s no stopping Christmas for Filipinos who love the season which they celebrate from September to January each yea
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But in keeping with tradition, many Filipinos are making the effort to observe the celebration of Christ’s birth. Baker and choir boy Reynard Ong, 34, said he usually gets excited every Christmas decorating his home with lights, wreaths, and trees, and filling every room with scents of cinnamon and pine and the sound of festive melodies. But this year, he decided to face the reality of the pandemic and how it has negatively affected people’s lives.
“Our choir master has already declined the invitation for us to serve during Christmas, which means no singing for us this year,” he said. His choir group usually sings in a church every Christmas. But that yearly tradition was broken because of the pandemic. To make up for her absence, she sent care packages to her family back home. She also made sure to buy her son the toy car he wanted.
Lea Cagula, 33, is another caregiver who would be spending Christmas without her family, although she is hoping that her employer would allow her to make a short visit to her husband and daughter. But travel is still not feasible for her family, since she is wary about letting her toddler get on a plane while the pandemic is in full swing.