Jingle Bell Rock

I can feel the cool wind against my skin. I can see lights flashing on and off. I can hear the sweet voices of children caroling and "Jingle Bell Rock" playing on the radio. I can smell the scent of pines hanging in the air. It's Christmas time.

Years ago, Christmas for me is hanging socks on the window, waitinh for Santa Claus until I fall asleep and waking up with a grin on my face knowing that Santa dropped a gift on my sock.

Years after, I haven't discovered yet the real meaning of Christmas. But I found out that there's really NO SANTA CLAUS. It was just my parents and grandparents who we're putting 100 peso bills on my sock every other day.(hahahahahaha!)

Now, I know the real meaning of Christmas by heart. Christmas is NOT about the competition on who's house has the prettiest decoration, who's family prepared the most delicious food or who received more gifts. The true meaning of Christmas is sharing what we have to our less fortunate brothers and sisters.

One of our Christmas traditions is attending "Misa de Gallo" before Christmas. This just proves that Christmas is the time when all people come together to worship Jesus Christ.

Birthday Blues

I have so much to say in this particular entry. It's because November's a very special month to me.

November 13

[It's my sixteenth birthday. It was supposed to be a blissful day. Unfortunately, it wasn't because it was the last day of our adviser, Mrs. Josephine Parel, in teaching service. We planned a short but meaningful send off party for her.]

In the morning of Nov. 13, I was walking down the Juniors Park on my way to our room. I was smiling at my classmates 'coz I was expecting them to "GREET" me. To my surprise, I was already walking past them but I haven't heard a single birthday greeting yet. Just 'Good mornings' and 'hellos' but no 'Happy Birthday'. When I reached our room, a close friend of mine greeted me but still, the others did not. Oh, I was sure many of them know the exact date of my birthday! I just said to myself, "Maybe they're just SOOO consumed by the fact that today is the retirement day of Ma'am Josie." I couldn't seem to argue with that.

I felt really bad so I went to IV-Marconi's room. My best friends and close friends greeted me. I was shocked when I saw others' heads turn to look at me. They started yelling Happy Birthday. They even sang Happy Birthday. I was deeply touched. "How can these people sing Happy Birthday for me while own my classmates don't even seem to care?," I thought. I thanked them for doing such thing. When I returned to our room, they stared at me in disbelief. OH I KNOW THEY FORGOT MY BIRTHDAY. The next thing I remember, I heard "Happy Birthday!!!" here, there, and everywhere. They sang Happy Birthday, too. Then I was teary-eyed. I was touched. I was moved. Then I whispered, "I still love you, guys, even if you forgot."