December - The Month of Christmas Season

The start of Christmas season begins on the very first day of December. Expect people from all walks of life busy preparing for Christmas day, like going to malls to buy gifts, buy new clothes, shoes, and toys for children, etc. Expect also heavy traffic during rush hour within Metro Manila and nearby provinces which is a yearly scenario for this month of December. Nevertheless, as long as everybody is happy, all this leads on Christmas day which is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Photos below is the centerpiece display of SM City Molino.

Welcome December!

It's the first day of December. Christmas is just around the corner. Everybody is happy and excited. I do believe that some of the employees had already received their 13th month bonus. Some are waiting till the middle of December to get their much awaited gratuity from their company. People are starting to flock at every shopping centers and malls to buy their Christmas presents, gifts, new clothes and shoes. You can hear Christmas songs are being played everywhere you go.  OFWs and "balikbayans" are starting to arrive to be with their family during this holiday season. Every house, establishments, and street corners are decorated with yuletide decors and lanterns, and Christmas lights are sight to behold during the night. Indeed, December is the happiest and colorful month in the Philippines. How I wish my December will be happy for me and my family. 

Christmas Tree display at SM Dasmarinas

Christmas Tree display at SM City Bacoor

Christmas Tree display at SM Molino, Bacoor City

Carousel at SM Dasmarinas

Missing in December

After five years of going vacation every year in December, this is the first time I will skip to celebrate my Christmas and New Year. Actually,  I had my original plan to leave this December 5 but due to the long vacation extension of the Indian colleague in our department whom I'm relieving, I have to change my vacation plan early next year. I will be missing so much the camaraderie and spirit of Christmas season with my family and relatives this year.  For an OFW like me, Christmas and New Year is so special for me because this is the season I can enjoy my vacation with the family.  Bonding together like going to the mall, shopping together, eating and dining together in a special restaurant, and most of all celebrating Christmas together especially during Noche Buena and on the eve of the coming new year watching the fireworks outside our house are all the things I will be missing this year.  Anyway, I will just make up with my family during my vacation early next year.  But for sure, I will miss them so much.  I will try to make my Christmas happy here in the kingdom, alone. 

I will miss this one

This one

And the camaraderie

December, December

I really like when the month of December comes.  First, December means cold season is here to give us relief from the scorching hot season of Saudi Arabia.  During December, the weather is really very good and you feel relax and you can enjoy outside the cold temperature, walking along the bayside, sitting on the fresh green grass. Second, December is a very special month for the Christian world, whereas we celebrate Christmas Day on December 25 in commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Third, December is also a special month for myself because it is the month I was born 40 more years ago. I welcome with open arms and with happiness in my heart the start of the month of December.