| For most of us brought up in Western societies, | | | | eat any time, and from anywhere. I knew, too, that the |
| Christmas long ago became a commercial | | | | family whose food I ate for lunch, was even poorer |
| extravaganza. Over recent decades the commercial | | | | than that of my friend. That family would be going |
| impetus has intensified, with Christmas coming to the | | | | hungry that evening, which made me appreciate the |
| shops earlier and earlier, until now it arrives in full frontal | | | | hospitality so much I can never forget it.When it comes |
| mode, as soon as the kids go back to school after the | | | | to the approach to Christmas, Filipinos lap it all up. They |
| summer holidays.Each decade that has passed since | | | | have a festive fun loving spirit anyway, so Christmas is |
| the 1950's has seen bigger, brighter and more | | | | just another excuse. As in the UK, the start of |
| extravagant Christmas decorations, both indoors and | | | | September starts the countdown to Christmas Day, in |
| outdoors. For those who love Christmas lights and | | | | the stores and on TV. On September 1 here I was |
| other decor, that's great, but there's another side to the | | | | woken at 5am by some distant, but rather loud, music. |
| story. Decorating the home has become an obligation, | | | | Once I had come to my senses, I realised it was |
| which for the very poor can be something of a | | | | Christmas music. I assumed then it was an individual |
| problem, as neighbours and friends try to outdo each | | | | with a new CD, and that it would be a one off. |
| other.Perhaps the greater problem, though, can be with | | | | However, I was wrong. It is now mid November as I |
| Christmas gifts. Children have developed greater and | | | | write this, and that music (yes, exactly the same) is |
| greater expectations over the years, and this brings | | | | played every day. Now, I realise it is not an individual at |
| with it pressures on adults, and parents in particular, to | | | | all, but coming from a nearby military base. Each |
| pile as many gifts as possible under the Christmas | | | | morning, a bugle blasts out the First Post, and then the |
| tree, whether they can afford it or not. Often, poorer | | | | Christmas music is switched on.Despite the proliferation |
| families cannot afford it, and the financial pressures, | | | | of Christmas advertising, and music, Filipinos do not |
| fed by the social pressures, mount as Christmas Day | | | | seem to succumb to any pressure to spend too much |
| nears. All these pressures are fueled, of course, by | | | | money over Christmas. There is no expectation of |
| intense advertising from September through to | | | | any gift, and I am sure many children never get an |
| December 25. It is little wonder that the days after | | | | Xmas gift in there lives. Yet, people make the most of |
| Christmas are a peak time for family break ups.Due to | | | | Christmas in their own way, and it is an important |
| the fact that most Western children expect some | | | | family time. The Christianity of the Philippines is |
| wonderful Christmas gifts, it is no surprise to many | | | | probably far stronger than any Western country, so |
| when they get them. Sadly, many will never learn to | | | | the religious significance of Christmas is still |
| fully appreciate the acts of giving and receiving gifts. | | | | paramount.The combination of Filipino generosity, and |
| Once a gift becomes a routine obligation, it is no longer | | | | lack of expectation of a Christmas gift, led me to write |
| a gift, but a token. True generosity cannot be found in | | | | a Christmas story last year. I have learnt much about |
| such tokens.Hopefully, many poor and rich families will | | | | generosity and kindliness since I came here, and for |
| have a meaningful and enjoyable Christmas in the UK, | | | | that I have the Filipino nature to thank. In a way, the |
| where I come from, and in the US. Poor families in | | | | story was a way of encapsulating what I had learnt, |
| particular will find the financial pressures strongest, but | | | | and to admit that Western adults can learn an awful |
| it may well be that the poorer children will be the more | | | | lot, even from a Filipino child. The story, aimed at adults |
| appreciative.Maybe some rich families will experience | | | | and older children, tells of a 7 year old girl, living in a nipa |
| the fate of a birthday gift to a teenage friend of my | | | | hut on the edge of the Palawan rain forest, who has |
| son in England. On receiving a top of the range hi-fi | | | | never had a Christmas gift before; never expected |
| system, probably worth about $3000, as a gift, he | | | | one, and never complained. When she finally does |
| trashed it a week later, simply because he was bored. | | | | receive a gift, one that she knows with certainty came |
| I suspect it is less likely that a teenager from a poor | | | | from Santa Claus, she is faced with what most |
| family would do the same.Christmas in the Philippines | | | | Western children would find as a terrible dilemma. The |
| Since 2000, all my Christmases have been spent here | | | | action she took expresses the true spirit of Christmas |
| in the Philippines. After moving here, I soon found what | | | | and true generosity, in typical Filipino fashion.One thing |
| true poverty was, and that, despite all the moans, there | | | | Filipinos do splash out their sparse cash on is |
| is no real poverty in the UK. The "poor" of the UK and | | | | Christmas decorations, especially Christmas lights. It |
| US would pass as rich in the Philippines.My life has | | | | seems even the poorest of homes will try to spread a |
| been enriched in many ways through spending 6 years | | | | bit of Christmas cheer with lights from November |
| here, and getting to understand Filipinos and their way | | | | onwards, and very nice they look too. Puerto Princesa, |
| of life. I have been touched by the generosity of the | | | | where we live, is already preparing for its Christmas |
| very poor, having visited many ordinary, spartan | | | | display and events this year. We cannot wait to see |
| homes of the desperately poor. For example, one | | | | what will be added to the wonderful displays of last |
| morning I paid a visit to the mother of a friend. She had | | | | December. Poor or not, gifts or not, Christmas has its |
| no food in the home, and I knew the family were often | | | | own tropical magic in the Philippines.Make the most of |
| short of food and went hungry. Unbeknown to me, | | | | Christmas this year with Giant Outdoor Christmas |
| though, a neighbour was preparing what little food her | | | | Decorations and Nativity Scenes. Have a wonderful |
| family had to ensure that I had lunch, despite the fact | | | | Christmas and a very prosperous New Year. |
| that they knew I could go and buy what I wanted to | | | | |