Yuletide Points of View

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It's that time of year again—the Christmas season.

There are two distinct ways to experience it.

First, there's the cheery version. You hear Christmas songs playing on the radio, catch the aroma of chestnuts roasting on an open fire, witness the mesmerizing twinkling lights adorning homes and street corners, engage in decorating the Christmas tree with your family, wrap gifts for your loved ones, contribute to charitable causes, and attend church to express gratitude to the Lord for sending His only son to save us from our sins.

And then there's the gloomy version.

You find yourself grumbling about...
...the same old Christmas songs that have grown tiresome, particularly the versions in Kapampangan or Tagalog.
...the exorbitant prices of chestnuts and LPG.
...the soaring electric bill.
...the sorry state of your Christmas tree and decorations, and the hefty expense of acquiring new ones.
...the inflated prices of everything and the overwhelming crowds at the malls during sales.
...the growing number of beggars in the streets.

You attend church, completing the Simbang Gabi novena, purely in the hope of having your wish granted while pondering the existence of a higher power.

Merry Christmas!

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