My Perfect Christmas

Written by Ma. Angelica Diez
Illustrated by Christine Raine Dela Cruz
Posted on December 19, 2020 | 4:00 PM

The busy sound of vehicles. The loud laughter of people. The joyful carols of the children. Every sound in the city seemed to be harmonizing. I see red, blue, and green lights flicker across the streets and ornaments hung on windows.

As I walked through the cold breeze of December, I heard my phone ring and felt it vibrate inside my pocket. I stopped to pick it up and then, I heard my mother sweetly speak from the other line.

My mother asked me, "Anak, are you getting close?"

I answered, "Opo, I just got off the station.”

She requested, "Anak, is it okay for you to buy a cake at the bakeshop near your old school?"

I sighed in return but still accepted her request. As we had already exchanged I love you’s, I hung up. My mother knew that I was quite busy this year since I was about to graduate. Surely, she insisted that I go home for the holidays. 

Honestly, I never understood the reason to come home for an event that happens every year, especially when I am busy. I kept on explaining that I need the time to finish every work and prepare for graduation, but my mother kept on insisting that every year is important. I mean, what difference can last year and this one make?

The baker handed me the chocolate cake that my mother always ordered and I immediately paid to head home. Walking home, I heard someone call out my name. I then turned to the voice to see a childhood friend of mine, excitedly waving at me. 

As I approached her, she asked, "Uy, kumusta na?"

"I'm doing good, malapit na graduation kung ga-graduate. How about you?" we hugged as I jokingly replied. 

She then answered, "Same as you. It's been a while—," but as soon as she spoke, a group of children ran past us and one almost bumped into me. We both looked at each other and laughed. 

"Just like old times, ‘no?" She giggled and I nodded in agreement.

"Naalala ko ’yong mga pangangaroling natin,” I laughed as we reminisced together while watching a group of children sing. 

"We did earn money doing that, but we bought it with ice candies,” we once again laughed together. 

After a few more exchanges of words, we bid our goodbyes and then I continued my way to our house. 

In a matter of minutes going home, numerous simple events unfold before my eyes such as children with drums made from powdered milk cans and other children lighting firecrackers, men and women taking their turns in singing at the karaoke machine, and teenagers doing their photoshoots. It all left a smile on my face when I knew that I was like those children before. 

After a bit more of walking, I finally reached my family's house. Before I opened the door, I let out a sigh of relief and maybe of worry. The moment I did turn the doorknob, everyone looked at me and cheered. All of my siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents, and my parents welcomed me. 

My mother came up to me, asking if I bought the cake. With a little smile painted on my face, I held the cake up and she then hugged and thanked me. I approached the rest of my family to greet and catch up with them. After a few moments, my grandmother invited all of us to attend the last day of the Simbang Gabi. 

The countless memories of every Simbang Gabi I attended started to overflow. I remember being so excited every time because of the parish priest’s fun stories with interesting moral lessons in it. We would even buy puto bumbong and bibingka enough for all of us. After the mass, we all walked back home.

When we arrived home, my mother and aunts immediately urged us to eat the food prepared on the table. I felt like I was in an eat-all-you-can buffet with varied cuisines: Filipino, Chinese, American, and also Italian food. As I was about to be served with my food, I pulled out my phone and then found a text message. I was about to excuse myself, but my grandfather tapped my shoulder and asked, "Apo, can you put your phone and work away for a moment?"

I looked between my grandfather and phone, contemplating which I should listen to. I turned to my grandfather with a bittersweet smile. In return, he warmly smiled and lightly squeezed my shoulder. 

I was confused as to why he would do such a thing over a simple text, but the confusion eventually disappeared. My whole family was happy with each other’s company. I thought to myself, maybe I was too dense over why my mother wanted me to come home. Christmas was about home—to where I have always belonged. It was not merely my studies nor work that mattered but them.

I bursted out laughing when I put my phone back in my pocket. My family turned to me and started to be worried. My mother approached me asking, "Anak, are you alright? Did something happen?" 

"No, Ma. I'm great and I am just incredibly happy to be here!" I exclaimed with a huge smile on my face. 

Everyone looking at me all started to laugh. I hurried to the dinner table and catched up with the rest of my family. I knew my mother was happily looking at me and so I turned to her and stood to give her the tight, warm embrace I had always given as a child.