Rough Groove

Series 22: Pasko 2005

Photos in series with Christmas theme at binary silver until the new year.

Noche Buena

Well, despite being just here in Makati, a noche buena feast of ice cream, chocolate cake from Cheesecake Etc., ham from the company, stir fried rice noodles (with shrimps, veggies, shiitake and chicken) and shanghai lumpia from Luk Yuen, a 1.5 liter of Coke Light, Black Forest Selecta ice cream (as inspired from Red Ribbon), a slab of liempo (roasted pork) from Andok’s just made the crossover celebration complete.

Merry Christmas!

24th of December

24 December. I woke up rather early even before my mobile phone’s alarm went off. But when it did, I changed the alarm to 0615H and just waited. When I checked again, it was 0637H! I erroneously set it at 0915H, that’s

why I immediately headed for a quick shower, got dressed and went out of the condo. Brrr, the morning air is quite nippy. I just like December mornings. Its cold and slumber’s just good. When I was still studying in Cebu, heading out to school, I used to blow into the air and just enjoy the “smoke” that’s generated, just like those movie scenes I’ve watched.

Bus not so crowded and traffic at the SLEX (South Luzon Expressway) was just light except when I arrived in Bicutan where it took time for the bus I’m riding to cross the highway. From morning to afternoon, I was at our Paranaque office for my Christmas duty. Not so hectic with just hourly reports being prepared and the usual coordinations with our counterparts who were manning in the provinces.

By the way last night at Glorietta, I’ve just noticed that most people there were busy shopping, both hands full with assorted bags of gifts and food from the smallest plastic pouches to huge cartons in tow. Me on the other hand just bought two shirts, underpants and a present for my amour. Expect that today until the evening, people will be in a rush for last minute shopping of gifts and food for noche buena. Red Ribbon’s stores (a local pastry outlet that was just bought by the giant Jollibee) will again be stacked with lots and lots of boxes of cakes while Delifrance (another Jollibee subsidiary) is stacked with the usual fruit cake.

A few hours from now and the whole world will be celebrating Christmas. All will be busy with the noche buena preparations. I just remember years ago when I was still based in Cebu, I used to prepare our crossover repast of pasta, usually spaghetti or lasagna, bake something like brazo de mercedes or sans rival while my sister prepares her chiffon cake but this is usually overshadowed with the more fancy ones from Red Ribbon that I buy in the city while my mother usually does the macaroni salad. In later years, I just leave it to them or buy directly since I was just too lazy to cook.

After the feast, after the firecrackers, its just back to our beds and wake up in the morning, expecting the usual SMS of holiday greetings, pamasko (gifts) and eating the noche buena leftovers.

23rd of December

23 Dec. Two days from now and it will be Christmas Day! How time flies so fast. I just didn’t realize it that I’m already 1 year and a month here in Makati. Come tomorrow afternoon, and as usual, I’ll be having my work duty but this time, I’ll be in Paranaque, at our Network Operations Center. It was supposed to be a crossover 24 going 25 of December, one of two of the year’s most anticipated events (the other is New Year’s Day) when network usage is at its peak. But then my manager called this evening and informed me that duty will be starting tonight and that I can report for a 0800H - 1700H duty.

Swell. It will be my first time in years that I won’t be doing any crossover duty. Come midnight, I’ll be having noche buena with my amour.

Just a year ago, I was able to go home, spend my crossover duty and holidays in Cebu. This time, its just two of my staff were given the priviledge: one in Cebu, the other in Davao. Hmmm… as much as I want to go home even for the New Year, it seems that this time, I will just pass off the possibility as plane fare’s just too high.

Christmas, and as usual, the shopping frenzy is high. The usual congested department store counters with people lining up with items to be given as gifts, restaurants’ kitchen busy for partying diners or catering to this party here and there and preparing cakes, pastries and anything that will be sold for the noche buena feast back in people’s homes.

Christmas. Its just too commercialized. A season of hope, forgiveness and sharing transformed into a season of bright, showy and expensive gifts. New clothes, new toys and gadgets that are sure to be flaunted about but hey, everyone’s got an excuse to splurge on their bonuses. Of hard earned money going down the cashier’s counter. Kaching! Kaching! Kaching!

Christmas. Its also the time of year that people and corporations start to remember that there are also other less unfortunate people around. That’s why, they compensate their seeming forgetfullness with gifts, donations and parties for a cause. After the holidays, its back to the old mindset and people in orphanages, hospital wards, old people’s shelter and other disadvantaged persons to just simply stay back and yearn that the next Christmas would not be too far behind.

How I would hope that it will be a simple event that would really be celebrated for its meaning and not for its momentary luster that dazzles the eye.