Maligayang Pasko!

Maligayang Pasko and Merry Christmas!!!

Pasko (Christmas) here begins the 1st day of September - I awoke on September 1st at 6am to Alvin and the Chipmunks singing "I Can Hardly Wait", followed (thankfully) by "Joy to the World" sung by humans. Joie, my host sister told me that Christmas here officially begins "with the -BER months".

So, Typhoon Juan was experienced with Christmas music (when there weren't brown outs), as was the Ms. Gay Pride parade and the leave-taking of my wonderful Paje Family in Olongapo.

My arrival here on November 13th to work with Taw Kabui on Palawan coincided with the children's intense rehearsal schedule for their Christmas stage performance at the Capitol on December 10th (phenomenal that these severely disabled children performed well in front of 400 guests - great experience for all).  Thus, except for the last 4 days of August, my entire time in the Philippines has been cocooned in Christmas. Or so I thought.

Nothing compares to the advent of December 1st: THE BER of the -ber months!  I haven't been to as many parties, events and celebrations in the past 5 years as this last month!  I hit the ground partying here - and, as in the States, parties are networking opportunities...I was the new kid on the block and excited about my NGO and took action.  So, Pastor Mon, his wife, Ofelia, and I were able to get the word out on the NGO and secured a lot of interest and commitments from social workers, academicians, health workers and foundations.  We were overwhelmed with the interest and the work 'we' need to do...I'm just so happy that I know how to do this and can show them!  The week before Christmas, we attended four parties, I think and this week probably another four.  We were able to attend a sumptuous dinner the Mayor  held for out of town dignitaries   

and I sat next to Mayor Hagedorn, whose focus on the environment has gained him mega awards.  Now, we hope, he will show interest in the plight of the Special Children here and support us! 

The food, you ask?  Lechon (an entire roasted pig in full view on the table), vegetable and pork lumpia, fresh grilled lapu-lapu or tilapia or yellow tail, chicken curry, meatloaf, radish and carrot salad,  lobster hollandaise in the shell, gargantuan hipon (shrimp); and sweets: agar-agar salad (seaweed),  maha-blanka (corn in a sweetened cornstarch base with coconut on top), flan, bicol (sweetened rice), ube (violet colored sweetened yam), buko salad (coconut), etc. etc.  Enough carbs and cholesterol to kill Santa Claus...just like home!

The gift-giving was different from American traditions - my Ustares family had everyone over for Noche Bueno (Christmas Eve) and we chowed down on spaghetti, chicken adobo, macaroni salad, seaweed (beautiful and really salty and crisp) and snails 

       (I couldn't believe it - I hunt for hours at the beach for shells (kabibi) and they are chowing down on these beautiful creatures - depressing to see all the easily purchased shells) and rice (ubiquitous at every meal and every occasion).  The gift-giving wasn't the main event, and not everyone gave (or got) a gift.  I couldn't figure out who got presents ('regalo' here), but I think all of the children got one and some of the adults - several people gave me presents and I felt guilty that I only had a few small gifts for my immediate family (which I gave them later). 

We feasted Noche Bueno and Brenda and I were to attend a women's group party on Christmas Day, so we put the left overs away for that.  I stayed up late doing some work and fell asleep around midnight.  I awoke to a great clamor at the locked gate around 6am - yells of "Merry Christmas"..and knew that teenaged Genesis would never wake up.  Jessa Mae let everyone in and I felt awkward joining since I'd not recognized any voices.  Finally, Jun came to get me  "Tita Deb!  Come out!  It's another party!"     Came out in my pj's to about 20 people chowing down on all the leftovers!  This also was another tradition - that no one told me about (I mean, why would they?)  Cousin Jethro said, "The termites have arrived" which I really liked!  Unfortunately, Brenda and I had nothing to take to the next party, but what a fun surprise!

So, at 9am on Christmas Day, about 25 women met at a local swimming pool (where there were tons of people - a tradition it appears) and had a gift exchange (I stuck to the 100 peso limit as instructed, but was embarrassed to see that others spent much more). 

These women have started an empowerment group and it was wonderful to watch.  Everyone talked about their difficulties and blessings and thanked God for everything.  Many tears and smiles.  Including mine when they accepted me as their "adopted Pilipina." 

The pool water was too cold and crowded to do real lessons, but I tried...and am determined to have Brenda, Ofelia and Glenda swimming before too long.  It is hilarious to see Ofelia in her woven winter cap, sweater and sweat pants, saying "Malamig!" (Cold!) when it's 24C (72F) outside, but maybe I'll get her in the summer.

Today is the 26th; my family is at church all day and I'm contemplating here in my room.  Thinking of all the blessings I have had in my life, and that this is an unlikely place to find happiness.  No hot water or shower or TP; seven sharing one bathroom; mosquitoes, tuko and frogs as roommates in an 8x8 room; unpaved roads of dirt/mud/rocks; hand washing muddy clothes with no dryer; no oven to bake my Christmas cookies (1st time in 30 years no cookies!!).  But, I'm needed and valued and accepted for who I am in an incredibly caring and loving culture.   Really, what more does one need?

Blessings to everyone in America, on this Christmas Day, 2010