Back home, it is never surprising September perks up. As always, Christmas carols begin to traffic the sound waves and it is no doubt that whenever we hear those carols we begin to feel the Christmas spirit. It is during this month that homes begin to fill their best Christmas decors. Shopping centers begin to splurge on new yuletide designs with facades overlaid with the most intricate and captivating motifs. 

Such excitation of time is always attuned to Filipinos' inundating attitude of celebrating the Yuletide. With mundane life, extravagance always comes closer to our minds showing off that we still have the festive atmosphere in every home. It’s Filipinos’ has-been for any festivity.

We see Christmas in many perspectives. For many, it is a time to gather the family together; it is gift-giving time; it is a reunion of long lost friends; it is the time to prepare the most sumptuous meal; it is a time to take a break; it is the time to have the most shopping spree, and, it is a time to remember the Nativity. It is indeed the season of all festive seasons.

While we think these are special things we do during Christmas, we would never feel the true meaning of it unless we begin to realize that we celebrate it with that reason coming from our heart.

Christmas is always a celebration of life. To many, I think, it calls for no specific day or time. It is always a day-to-day mustering of what we wish and hope for. For the working people it is the-long-wait-is-over period for bonuses and 13th month pay.

Then, it was a joy sight-seeing at night with those Christmas lights in different sizes, colors, and forms. Then, it was a great walk on the lobby of any malls with shops parading different displays of Christmas creations. Then, it was beautiful humming old time wassails being played along. Then, it was wonderful with the cool breeze fondling every part of us.

Now, I feel and see again another beautiful Christmas night. Lights flicker. Firecrackers blast endlessly. Horns blow deafeningly. Carolers sing joyfully. Streets are filled with last-minute shoppers. Every person greets each other enthusiastically. The night is filled with laughter. There is the Christmas rush, too.

Yes, they all happen now. But everything is now a masquerade of my nostalgic moments that relentlessly revisit me. The great and beautiful images I see are just another works in TV stations' studios featuring Christmas moments around the world. While I glue myself to TV, I can't help but start reminiscing every Christmas piece I can put together just to relieve myself of such wistfulness.

And, it's been six months now. It's worth that I had many firsts away from home. I had that first summer reaching up to 50°C. I had my first experience of a sandstorm. I had my first November rain. I had my first winter chilling up to 10°C and below.

All the while of accounting those firsts, I never noticed time really flies. I think it ain't Christmas yet.

I never noticed it is December. For the past months, it’s great if I could make busy of myself with office works rather than thinking where I am and knowing much that I’m away from home to celebrate Christmastime with my folks.

It is always sweet to remember the many Christmases we had. Once wishers, now we turn ourselves to Santas granting wishes of people who are dear to us. We celebrate Christmas in a much varied ways. Some may have celebrated it in a much colorful, grandiose or fun-filled way, and others may have been the reverse, but the best thing is that we always laugh our heart out with family and friends.

Thanks to youtube and on-line FM stations, whenever I’m in the office I still have time to watch and listen Christmas treats. Thanks to networking sites (friendster, wayn, facebook, etc.), I still can extend far home greetings of the season. Thanks to cable TV, I still get to enjoy Christmas shows whenever I am in my room. Thanks to my nightly walking exercise, I still can sing soulfully Christmas songs in my aloneness. I still have time to relive moments of my Christmases.

Now, I am thinking how to have the very least time to celebrate my Christmas Eve, alone for now. #