Food and Restaurant Review

As the fourth law of ecology states, “there’s no such thing as free lunch,” in everything we do we must have a reason behind it. So, I was on Zab’s Interactive buffet for the first time and had an eat-all-you-can lunch with my colleagues for our Advanced Writing class. And yes, there isn’t such thing as free lunch because I had my 329.00 Pesos spent. I kind of understood the law literally. Actually, the amount made me anticipate a whole lot of bloating food because I have been to buffets before but not with a sum exceeding 200 Pesos.

There I was. I plunged in to my anticipation. I filled my first plate with their main dishes and the interesting fried rice – in two kinds. And got myself more plates and saucers for the other dishes I found on the various sections the restaurant has, such as Mongolian, Pasta, Seafoods, Pizza, Crepe, Mongolian, Japanese, Dessert and Ice Cream stations. Sadly, the Pasta station was empty. I loathed that there wasn’t any Meatball Spaghetti or Carbonara (my favorite) available at that time. But just like a famous cliché goes, “the show must go on!”

I was unerringly starving at that point in time. So, after having placed my filled plates on the table, we all started to dive into the ravenousness. I first had a sip of their corn soup, it wasn’t warm anymore. But at least I still had a taste of creaminess on the tip of my tongue. Subsequently, I took a spoon of the colorful fried rice they served. Then I paired it with every little portion of their Fish with Special Sauce, Pork Cordon and Buttered Veggies with my pick, Soy Chicken, which caught my taste buds among the rest. It had a taste close to teriyaki and the sauce soothed to the chicken bones. I loved that! It was a simple dish made a little more special than the usual adobo.

Beside me were slices of their Pizza. I was thrilled to notice that it had a thin crust. But I wasn’t that satisfied with its sauce. Something was lacking. Perhaps, it was more of sweet than the usual Pizza I enjoy. So, I just had one of it and left the other three on the platter. Then, it’s time for the roasted beef. Honestly, I don’t get to devour beef much often but I believed it was cooked medium-rare. I just haven’t enjoyed it that much since I filled it with its gravy-like lumpy sauce. It would have been scrummier if it was glazed with spicy honey paste.



I was also interested with their Mongolian noodles in Hoisin and Terriyaki sauce. I can’t exactly describe how it tasted but it was not a typical savor of noodles. I only took a small fraction of it using chopsticks. Since I didn’t have it ordered from the station, I was too busy nourishing my eyes with all the other cuisines surrounding me.

After feeding my hunger, my favorite part has finally arrived – my right to abuse the sweetness of the world. I just got hyped after seeing in my hands cups and saucers of sugarcoating. I ordered a plain crepe without even knowing how it would taste. But since it looks sweet, alright! I thought to give it a try. As I sat back to my seat, I started to take a teaspoon from a spoon of Crème Brulee. A classic French dessert presented cold in ramekins, with a hard caramel top. Mmm.. That was my first time to have a taste of it and it felt like the taste can’t allow itself to leave from my buds anymore. I remembered how my Mother cooks Leche flan. I didn’t finish it at an instant, I left some so that I can still have it later. 

The cookies and cream was equally enjoyable for my sweet tooth, as well as the rest of the deserts I had. More especially when the Crepe arrived at my table. Though it was like a pancake because I expected it to be thin, it was still quite good for a first-timer like me. At the moment the waiter served our Ice Cream sprinkled with colored bits, I and a friend hurriedly went to the ice cream station to sprinkle more sugary toppings on my mouth watering bowl. On my way back to our table, I can’t help but take a spoon as it starts to melt already. Plus, the best chocolate cookie I ever had so far. It was more than I expected. Chocolate crumbs inside the cookies blasted inside my mouth and it was a delightful surprise.


As I had more spoons of it, I then felt the feeling of sweetness overload. The Vanilla flavored-ice cream isn’t that pleasing anymore, seems like my sweet tooth is beginning to explode. Then, I thought that perhaps it’s time to end my gluttony. Too much of something is bad enough, just how a lyric of a song goes. Indeed! Time for water. Water, water, water for those entire lip smacking dishes.




A sugar lover like me just met my limitations. That was it! But it appears like something inside me is still asking for more. But I can’t take another sweet or heavy bite, so I just had the Pomelo Salad to equalize the sweetness that took over me. Never mind the absurdity to have an appetizer in the late part of my eating. 

The whole Zab’s experience was worth my payment, I can say. I would love to go back there when I have all the means to be back. If you can’t wait for me to be back when I can, well take yourselves to Zab's now. After the dining, it was just then that I understood why it was called an “interactive” buffet. The cooks are right in front of you and you can tell them what you would like to have on that particular station, which I think isn’t presented in other restos. Cool idea!

Precisely, there’s NO such thing as free lunch. My lunch at Zab’s wasn’t free at all, but I wouldn’t mind paying if it’s worth my anticipation, gratification and edge of gluttony. Test yours too!

BAND REViEW

“Go out and form a band.”
Raimund Marasigan, a rock band icon would always say on MyX BandaRito, as the show’s host. Little did he know that those words inspired a band, Alto Indio.
Alto Indio is an Indie band made up of a female vocalist and guitarist, Breanna Agunod, Bree as she would love to be called, and four guy musicians – Macmac Arocha on drums, Baian Valdez, playing the bass and doing some vocals and Aton Tsang on guitars.. Each has diverse musical interests but it did not stop them to cluster and form Alto Indio.
On a rainy Saturday night of January 28, 2011, the band managed to grace the Rock Show at Sa’Less Diner. I took the opportunity to meet them and talk to the band, minutes before they finally go onstage. I was surprised to see a doll-like lady coming with us for a talk. Bree, looks so cute that one would not imagine that she’s a rock star, an Indie rock star. Then, she started talking about a band she never thought would have come this far.

She said it all started as an FB (FaceBook) band. Bree uploaded her composition. Unexpectedly, her band mates found her then decided to form their group in the August of 2011. They came up with the band name “Alto Indio” because Indio has a negative connotation, they want to transform it into something with optimism. So they prefixed Alto which means “second highest”. Their music is a mix of Pop Rock. Their musical influences are Barbie's Cradle, Cambio, The XX, Metric, Narda, Duster, Ham Sandwich, Ida Maria. The Late Isabel. Moonpools & Caterpillars. They write their own songs, and have so far done one cover song.


The said Rock Show was just one of the long lists of their gigs. “Walang pay,” Bree said when asked if they go out, hold onto the microphone and their musical instruments to earn. They play music because they are passionate about it. They don’t require talent fees. Whenever there’s an offer, they play.
Their sound may reverberate like noise to some people, but a pop ballad oldies fan like me realized their music. I was reminded of Jason Lee, Jeff Bebe of the Almost Famous band, Still Water said… “Some people have a hard time explaining Rock and Roll. I don’t think anyone can really explain Rock N Roll… Rock n Roll is a lifestyle. It’s a way of thinking. And it’s not about the money, the popularity, although some money would be nice. But it’s a voice that says... Here I am and fuck you if you can’t understand me. And one of these people is gonna save the world.” And, Alto Indio is living such lifestyle.

This March, the band will be releasing an EP (Extended Play), it’s a collection of songs but shorter than an album. Details of the EP’s release will be posted soon. As conquering the music industry – the “industry of cool” and helping the Indie scene is by far their greatest achievement, let us help the scene and the band per se as well. Stay tuned with Alto Indio. Be updated through their FaceBook account, facebook.com/alto.indio.

Growing Wild

On a smoky afternoon, “Yosi ta,” Suzanne hastily pronounced upon seeing a male schoolmate lighting up his cigarette stick, not minding to interrupt our own conversation about random things. I looked at the guy and not even recognize who he is. He replied, “Yosi ta Madam President!” The two cackled. Well, I just joined them. A tongue in cheek, I know she doesn’t smoke. We were back to our conversation when in a while, another schoolmate comes near us calling her, “Madam!” then another, “President!” And she greets them too just like she knows everyone. I took the time to glance at her and realized, she is like something I always see around. And that is what I am yet to discover.

That was at the sidewalk store fronting the Annex campus of an institution we’ll soon leave and call as our ‘Alma Mater’ in four months time, the University of the Immaculate Conception. On wooden chair I and my friend, Suzanne, were seated. We were eating Banana-que and Milk Bar, which were within our means that moment. We are usually partners in sauntering around the city to look for restaurants with palatability. Most of the time she initiates the gluttony and I give in to temptation just as long as we have greens. There I join her in the undomesticated desire of filling our stomachs like there is no tomorrow.

At that instance, we were conversing about random things. Indeed, anything that comes to mind. We talk that way. She merely picks anything under the sun and put it into exchange of thoughts. An especially soft spoken lady translates to the name Suzanne Somido Misagal. No one could ever guess what we were exactly chewing the fat about since she typically speaks in a low tone voice and her facial expressions are most of the time droning. While we were talking, I just had a sudden notion that if I didn’t know her for roughly 4 years of falling in love with the same art, Communication, I would have never thought that this lady in front of me is a year younger than a 20 year old. Though her height at 4”10 doesn’t suggest it too, her wits and the words coming out of her mouth say she is someone in her late 20’s. No one can tell, even with a wild guess.

As we continue chitchatting, there were flashbacks running in my head. The scene was so clear to me, a fellow freshman who sits at the 1st chair of the 1st row in the right side of the room, where she remains to be seated until now, spoke gently yet with conviction. She stood up and introduced herself as a Valedictorian of a secondary school in Mangagoy, where her family resides as she temporarily stays on an apartment here in Davao with her elder sister.

But as days passed by and I got to be with her more often, I saw in her this sense of responsibility though she is pampered by her Ate Darin who also became an elder sister to me. She always involves herself on in and out of campus activities while giving time to some silly yet fun things. For the many roles she portrays, a lot of responsibilities are at her back. She finds such as laborious demands yet still puts her heart in it. I can attest to that after countless times I was by her side. We do a horde of school works together since we are both tasked with same responsibilities excluding that of reaching the Finals of a Regional News Casting competition of ABS-CBN and being into places as a member of Christ’s Youth in Action.





Surpassing all distressing and nerve-wracking moments together, with the whole group or as an individual, she has become more of a non-stop far from the stereo-typing of a ‘lady’. She is learning to laugh at random things, even at her predicaments. She is saying anything that pops out of her head not minding if it’s offensive or ridiculous. When she doesn’t understand a thing she instantly asks the people around without pretensions. She suddenly cuddles her closest pals, sweet yet playful of her. Out of the blue, she even raises eerie questions like, “Do I stink?” We, people around her find it odd because it’s awkward answering such question especially when she adds, “Simhota ko bi!” Then we roll on the floor laughing.

Nevertheless, she’s not just the 2011-2012 Student Supreme Government President of UIC who is dubbed to be the loveliest with her pretty face and sweet treatment to fellow students nor is she just a Yahoo Messenger icon look-a-like as she would tease herself.

She seems to recognize everyone and they appear like they know her enough. But behind is depth in her eyes, in her laughs, in her words of wisdom and in her whims. There is more than what meets the eye of a mere acquaintance and that is particularly that unanticipated wild side within.

Much has been said, she is like this and like that. Past everything I have seen her do, I just discovered what I was asking myself while looking at her at that moment. Gotcha! She resembles a flower which signifies femininity, that kind which nurtures on her own yet blooms wonderfully. An image of a Wildflower whose wildness is endearing and never vicious is what I see in her. And I hear in her the tune of a ballad with the similar name. She signifies that song with the most significant letters -- a free and gentle flower growing wild.

MEMENTO of Ghajini

“The world doesn’t just disappear when you close your eyes, isn’t it?” Leonard Shelby said. These words were spoken by the main character of the movie, MEMENTO, at the beginning of the movie. It smacked my senses. But as it progresses, it smacked me more and I just thought that what I thought was the beginning part of the movie was almost in the middle part of the story as a whole.



Memento is a Christopher Nolan film in 2000. It is a psychological thriller, both written and directed by Nolan. It is about a man with anterograde amnesia which impairs the ability of one’s mind to keep new explicit memories, in search for the guy who raped and killed his wife. It stars Guy Pearce, as Leonard Shelby, the one who suffers memory loss. Carrie –Anne Moss as Natalie, who gives him things he needs to know. And Joe Pantoliano as Teddy, the one he kills at the opening of the movie.

As aforementioned, the opening credits of the movie reminded me of one of my favorite movies, Ghajini. It is a Hindi romantic action drama film written and directed by A. R. Murugadoss and produced by Tagore Madhu and Madhu Mantena in 2008. It is somehow similar to this movie, since the main character, Sanjay, played by the famous Aamir Khan, revenges for his killed girlfriend, Kalpana played by the prettiest Hindi actress I have ever seen, Asin Thottumkal.

Elements in the movie such as a Polaroid Instant Camera which photos serve as remembrance of everything they need to commit to memory as well as permanent tattoos on his body were present in both movies. But there are still a lot of differences as to how the story was presented, the characters playing and the point of revenge, a wife in Memento and a girlfriend in Ghajini. Both were all for the name of love. There were rumors that the Bollywood movie was a mere remake of the one in Hollywood 8 years ago, but Aamir Khan says the movie is just inspired from the Hollywood flick and is not a copy or remake of it.


It took me a while to watch that movie several times backwards and forwards to end up eventually not understanding it. After finishing it, I can’t help but contrast it with Ghajini. I can’t honestly get what Memento is all about because I thought of it as a highly-intellectual movie in some way. After all, I can still say that Ghajini is better. The story and the plot appears more clear to me. And I was really swept away by the movie. After watching it, scenes in the movie are still playing on my mind. It has inflicted an impact to me, and I love it.

I always remember – A Walk to Remember

“But our love is like the wind. I can't see it, but I can feel it,” these was his last words. “I always remember it was late afternoon...” the song started singing. Then the ending credits were already rolling yet I am still in tears.




It was definitely A Walk to Remember. The movie was released in 2002. It made me think “Is anyone smarter than a 5th grader like me when it comes to love?” At that time, I was a 10 year-old kid who was never been in love but in love with the idea of love. This movie taught me how.

I have borrowed a book from a classmate and that was the very first romance novel book that I have read in my entire life, aside from those Filipino pocketbooks that are loitering around the house way back. After finishing it, I was really encouraged to see the movie for myself. So, I had a DVD borrowed but that’s when I was already on my 1st year in high school. Yet I still feel the same drama within me. I have watched it again when I was a freshman in college. And recently I have watched it all over again, now that I am on my last year in undergraduate school. Tears -- the manifestation of my inexplicable emotions were still present. Even if I stare at the cassette tape I have bought, more when I listen to the soundtrack sang by the top lead actors themselves, watch video clips online, read articles about it on the internet and look at still photos of the movie, the same rush of hopeless romantic blood creeps into my veins.

The ones to blame are Jamie Sullivan who was played by Mandy Moore and Landon Carter portrayed by Shane West. I charge the romantic story written by Nicholas Sparks on his novel, adapted on screen by Karen Janszen, the movie itself who was directed by Adam Shankman who was recognized after directing the movie “The Wedding Planner” and Warner Brothers for producing a heartwarming film as this, guilty beyond unreasonable doubt. It showcased the pastoral scenery of the small town of Beaufort in Carolina, providing a wonderful milieu for the blossoming of first true love. And aside all its beautiful elements—sincerity, trust and forgiveness, hope and sacrifice, it was more à propos to miracles. Miracles we tend not to believe, but exist for real. We just aren’t able to become aware of it happening already.

A campus heartthrob, Landon (West) and dedicated reverend’s daughter Jamie (Moore) were falling gin each other’s arms in this movie. Landon lived a life of prominence, pleasure, and excess, abusing and looking down on anyone outside and below his cool circle of friends, including Jamie. He’s forced to take on charity work after devising a dim-witted stunt that nearly paralyzes one of his pals. While mopping up hallways and tutoring youngsters, he came across Jamie. And there, everything else followed. Chance and fate brought them together and Jamie teaches Landon there is a different way to live and love.

The part where Landon grants Jamie’s wishes on her Top 50 to-do list with all his might was indeed a most wanted and my personal favorite. Especially the scene where he took Jamie on the border of Beaufort and he got her feet straddling the state line which makes her in two places at the same time, was a simple yet the coolest way of making her happy. Jamie, in her every move and speech, reflexively affected and inspired Landon, to have faith in himself and refurbish his life into something worth living. Landon, in turn, became her ever-dependable stronghold, especially in the face of tragedy.

The screenplay was a bit different to the book, and many would agree that the movie was better than the novel. Sentimental though not mushy, this is not only for the young, but for all viewers. After watching it, you sure would want to see more in life. You’ll see and learn more of God’s purposes in everything that is happening in our lives and miracles that we just close the eyes to. This is definitely a feel-good-must-see movie for everyone who inhales and exhales. Learn to inhale love, exhale hatred, and breathe with GOD in your life.

Off the Beaten Path

Happy holidays! This was on my mind after taking the last Prelim examination on 2011. I have a lot of laidback plans for the holiday vacation just to be different from my usual hectic days. But when I and my group mates received an approval message from a DSWD officer, the one we have been courting for almost a month or so, my plans fluctuated. We were reminded of the things we need to do for our thesis. Since our thesis is all about the attribution of Juvenile Delinquency to Sex and Violence in Media, it would be best to coordinate with the authority. So we headed to the DSWD Region XI Field Office and were oriented of the steps we have to take in order for us to continue with our study. Suzanne and Arcy, my thesis group mates and I set or schedules and planned for the days we’ll be spending together.
While most of our classmates were on their hometowns and others were busy on the malls dashing to prepare stuffs for Christmas, we were on our busy road heading to the most integral spot of the fulfillment of our thesis. On a cold morning of December 22, 2011, I together with my group mates were leaving for a place we have always heard of but we have never been – Mintal. The location is situated 761 kilometers south east (149°) of the approximate center of Philippines. Whiz kid of me? Nope! I just got the aforementioned information from the web. We took a swift jeepney ride, way off from what we have expected to be an hour or so travel. While on the ride, I was looking on the road and making sure that we’ll be able to stop at a market, which was the instruction of the DSWD officer. My eyes




were fed with different unusual sights, my hair was fluttering with the wind that the jeepney express was causing and my ears were eavesdropping to the local rap tunes playing on the stereo. The whiff of the trees was also starting to mingle with me.
We reached an area which seems like a little city, there were a lot of people, motor side cars, food stalls and commercial stores. We asked the jeepney barker if we were already at the market, he corroborated our inkling. We then stepped out of the jeepney and motor side car drivers approached us. We asked them if they can bring us to the DSWD center (that was the only information we knew). The other drivers refused because they were not familiar with it. The only driver who took us brought us to the locale’s health center. We asked the health workers and they directed us to go to the barangay hall next to them where the CSSDO staff were. We were entertained by a CSSDO member for us to learn that we still haven’t reached the peak of the trek, the DSWD center we’re looking for which is called as RRCY or Regional Rehabilitation Center for the Youth is located a few kilometers away from where our feet were currently planted. “Sa Bagoshero to! Kani sakay mo ug motor. Manong, sa Bagoshero sila,” the officer helped us talk to the motor side car driver. He replied, “Sige. Sa Bagoshero? Tag diyes ang ulo didto, ma’am.” Okay! We agreed. Just take us there, it’s fine.
I was riding at the back of the driver and I still had a chance to grab my phone and take some photos on our way to the mystical place (as we would laugh about it). On our way my eyes were wandering around, I saw a lot of green and brown creations. The trees, the leaves, grasses, farm animals and huts are opposite to the busy streets and colorful lights of the metro. We agreed to the feeling that tickled our senses, it feels like the province. The reek of nature was evident. It was like everything surrounding us was green and brown, leaves, trees and the soil.
After almost 5 minutes, we finally reached what we were looking for. Alas! The security guard welcomed us in and all the other officers were accommodating. I paused in holding my phone just to take photos, it’s prohibited inside. We were brought to their office and there we were able to sit down and talk to their Center Head. We arranged our schedule of activities. We feared of not spending our Christmas at home so we concurred of having our next visits after the 25th. The timetable is now fastened. To my mind, the plan was kind of wrecking my slipshodness but it was outweighed by the apprehension of not being able to finish our thesis on time. Then, we left the place and said “See You next week!” The other workers at the center thought that we were On-The-Job trainees and we’d really be regular at the center.
While outside the gateway, I took the moment to take pictures. Good that one worker accompanied us outside while waiting for a motor side car to bring us to the highway. I asked for a favor and he took my phone and captured this photo.
Since it was already taking us long to wait, we opted to take a few steps away and thought that perhaps along the walk we’ll have a ride. We haven’t noticed how far we’ve already been as surrounding us was a panorama of nature and a vista of simple living. There were also hilarious bits and pieces that we have noticed. This park which was named after a vernacular term for “poor” with a signboard posted at the gate which reads “No Caroling, Crisis!”
I took the pleasure in pacing our way to the corner of the long street where we can have a ride to the main road.
3 days after, subsequent to my father’s birthday, our Christmas Eve preparations and the anticipated Christmas celebration on the day itself, we headed back to the center. We arrived earlier as we did last time. We underwent another briefing but this time with our thesis interview respondents. They are male minors who are in conflict with the law, instead of having them imprisoned in public jails, they stay in the
center for rehabilitation. There were five of them. There is uneasiness deep within me but I waited for their voices to be heard before I considered my off-putting thoughts.
That was on the 26th of December when our whole day was all about talking to the five of them which later in the afternoon, another respondent was added to our interview. I easily got along with them as I was listening to their stories on how their lives evolved before the gates of the RRCY and why they were brought to the center. It was a day filled with realizations for me, for someone who is out in the city with my family and friends, going to school and claiming that I have never been into my own little crimes.
As the day starts to close, the raindrops haven’t ceased to pour. I was thinking that we’re still far from the city proper, it will be a lengthy road ahead. While waiting for a motor side car to fetch us, we were chatting with the center’s security guard. My eyes were meandering once more. Then it went on reading the address inscribed at the topmost of the RRCY’s structure – Bago Oshiro, Tugbok District, Davao City. I was a bit baffled with “Bago Oshiro”, it sounds like “Bagoshero”, the place we’ve been hearing from people around the vicinity. I was laughing so hard and told Arcy and Suzanne about it. They joined me in laughter. All along, we thought that the place we’re at is spelled as “Bagoshero” as how we would always hear the inhabitants speak of the place. But we were wrong, it’s “Bago Oshiro”. We went our
way home hurting our stomachs out of much hilarity. Though the streets were slippery because of the whole day drizzle, we were just on smiles.
That was one heck of a droll experience to me and to the three of us. The next day, we went back to conduct final group
discussion with the six of them in the center, we were kind of hesitant if we have to say “Bago Oshro” or just the accustomed way of saying the name of the place, “Bagoshero!” A simple misunderstanding on the pronunciation, but that made the whole travel splendid. Still, I was able to say “Happy Holidays!” 

`Tis The Season

My eyes were closed and I am in tight slumber around a bunch of cottony cushions. I was hearing soft tunes of twinkles and lullabies above my head when I smelled an aroma of appetite. I was then half-awakened. I tried to open my eyes as much as I could and saw stars and little cute and colorful animals hanging above me. My playmates! All of a sudden, I heard a familiar voice in enthusiasm saying, “Countdown na! 5, 4..” I closed my eyes again. While counting, the voice seems to come closer to where I am. “3, 2, 1!” The voice has already reached a few inches from where I am lying. Then I heard, “Tammmm! Gising na!” A hand touched my face. I recognized it immediately. It was Mother’s. I tried to open my eyes really wide. I saw my Mother with the smile on her face. It confirmed the warm feeling I got when her skin touched mine.

She let me stand. My head is on her right shoulder as we leave out of the cold room. The door opened for us and there was a figure of a man. I can only see a shadow and I can only hear a voice, again a familiar one. As it went fronting my face, I identified it at instant. My Father was making faces in front of me. He was so funny doing his best to make me laugh when all I see is a trying hard humor on his face. Then he was following us as we finally left the room.

Various voices were all I heard, welcoming us as we approach the living room. Then they were all at the back of my Mom. Trying to be in front of me but they just can’t fit all at once. They were saying


“Merry Christmas, Tamm!” in chorus. Their voices were overlapping one another. Then eventually I was able to recognize them. They wore familiar faces but I can’t remember their names or even my relation with them. But all I felt was delight because they were in uniform wearing a big grin on their faces.

Then we headed to the dining room. There I saw lots of colors painted on what’s above the plates. I can’t recognize those but I think those are what they call as ‘foods’. Before they start to lunge into the filled plates, they settled themselves among the chairs around the table. And my Papa got me a special seat. There I was comfortably seated. He led the prayer for the food and began to pass over the food to everyone except me. I wonder why I was of exemption. But at that time I was not that hungry so it was alright for me. I was just seated in between my Mama and Papa and enjoyed looking at each one going on a binge. They were talking and laughing while eating. Every once in a while, they take a glance on me to check me out and then they start to talk about me. They were noticing every little change in me, usually physically. Well, I also didn’t care. I was just listening to them as they were in high spirits in appreciating everything of me. Deep inside, I felt so good upon hearing all those. But I just can’t stop showing an indifferent façade.

After clearing the table, we moved to the couch and assembled ourselves on the living room where a lot of creatures are also living. There I perceived breathing colors everywhere. I saw red, green, yellow and blue display of series connected tube of lights. There is an old man with white mustache all the time standing above the table of fluffy bears, rabbits and dogs which I always try to reach and play with. As I panned my vision to the right side of the room, I spotted a small house made of scraps of wood. Inside were non-moving men, there were three of them with something striking above their heads. They were surrounding a man and a woman kneeling and looking at a cute baby laid on a lawn. And at the corner was a tall green tree with silvery balls hanged on it and a glimmering star at its peak. Below it are boxes wrapped in colorful papers and ribbons. WOW! I was in glee with everything that was fed to my eyes.

Then my Mama starts singing, “I love my Manita. Yes I do!” She was singing it over and over again until she handed her gift to an old lady. I just heard her calling her, Lola. After a number of rounds of singing and exchanging of presents, they all went near the green tree and got a box. They went closer to me and gave all those boxes to me. I was surprised because I can’t understand why they did that. I didn’t give anything but then I received too many. I was just fixing my eyes on the boxes and place my hands on them. My Mama and Papa were around me and opened the boxes for me. Then revealed from the inside were very nice things. I don’t know what those were but I just find them pleasurable since my parents were very glad upon opening. At that moment, everyone still had that smile on their faces which just drew one on mine. They cackled seeing me smile and laughed more when I chuckled. Everyone was merry.


After a while, I find myself back to the cold room where I was sleeping a while ago. I am gazing around the room and notice that almost everything had changed, even its size. It doesn’t feel cold inside anymore. It feels warm. There are many things around me and all are red, gold, silver and green decorations. I’m sitting on a chair while noticing my Mama elevated by a chair, trying to reach the tall green tree. She’s placing flowers around it while recounting to me our 12 midnight of December 25, 1991. I was just 4 months old back then but I haven’t felt that while Mama was telling me the story.

I am 20 years old now and I realized how Christmas had always been for our family since the day I was born. It was the same as before. Gift-giving, food sharing, decorating, everything was just as how it was for almost two decades ago. Probably excluding those 9 years when I was the only endearing small kid at home that I got to receive all gifts from each of them. Nevertheless, the feeling was just the same.

I may have not fully understood what the occasion was all about at that point in time, but the sensation was exactly similar. I have gone through differences with the members of my family through the years as I was growing older yet the same affection since my 1st Christmas Eve lingered not just for a certain time of the year but for the whole time I was with them. “Christmas isn’t a season. It’s a feeling.” That is how a renowned American novelist, Edna Ferber, depicted Christmas on her book Roast Beef, Medium. Indeed she was truthful with how she put into words ‘Christmas’ -- a very joyous feeling in everyone’s life since a Savior was brought to life.