A
lot of Filipinos working in different parts of the world always say that
celebrating Christmas in the Philippines is happier and more fun. But despite
living far away from our homeland, I do believe that the responsibility still
falls on ourselves if we want to make our Christmas memorable.
Of
course, being our family and loved ones is the most important of all that puts
meaning in the holiday season. However, unlike some Filipinos who have
immigrated with their families in the States, there are still a majority of
Filipinos who came here by themselves not knowing anyone. I for one belong to
the latter.
Finding
friends that you can treat as a family and vice versa and spending time with
them makes our Christmas a meaningful one. I do not mean mere ‘acquaintances’ or
‘friends’ that you have to stick with just because you have no one else to
spend Christmas with. But rather those
circle of friends whom you can call your family, those whom you can depend on
when you need help especially in emergencies, when you need to hear the truth,
when you need a ride to the airport, when you are sick, etc. Although it will not be a substitute as
spending with our families back home, but perhaps close to it.
However,
if you have children back home in the Philippines while you are by yourself working
here, it is a little bit different. I admire those Filipinos who continue to
persevere in order just to provide for a better future. Despite the yearning to
be with their children at this time, the longing for their hugs and witnessing
their lives unfold, I know no friends can take their place. But then again, it is still a person’s choice
to be working in a foreign land. A person can only make the best of it. I do believe that wherever God puts you, you
should ‘bloom’ and do your best despite your circumstances and sacrifices that
you have to make.
I am
fortunate that in the pursuit of my interests, I have found various groups of
friends that I can call my family in the U.S. I am grateful that God has
blessed me these friends. All of these
friends I have called my family are not old friends from Philippines but people
I have only met for the past 6 years of my stay in the U.S. It is amazing how
God had intertwined my life with their lives and how our friendships have grown
through all these years. It is an
unbelievable blessing to be able to share my life with these friends.
As
the writer Elizabeth Gilbert said, “If
life give you lemons, don’t settle for simply making lemonade- make a glorious
scene at a lemonade stand.”
Have
a Merry Christmas Everyone!