Everything, Everyone, Everywhere

Written by: Ysabell Kristine Z. Palo

Illustration by: Quolin Lexine Medina

December 23, 2022 | 5:45 P.M.

Walking along the streets of Binondo after her shift, she hears children singing "Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn king!” as she walks past the big fountain. She smells the sweetness of the puto bumbong being prepared nearby, and glimpses at the green dahon ng saging used to hold the bibingka, accompanied along with the sound of people attending mass singing inside the church.

She is baffled as everywhere she looks, busy people are trying to find the perfect dresses for baby girls, basketballs for their kids, and cool shirts for loved ones! So many things are happening in the streets of Binondo, and ah! There it is; a giant parol beaming so bright, almost as if a star had gone down. 

She finds a spot along the trees and sits down, contemplating whether to admire the beauty and authenticity of what's happening around her or ride a jeepney and go home.

"Neng, bili ka na bulaklak,” a lady approaches her. Usually, she avoids these encounters because she fails to find the need to buy but today is different; today is special. She buys all the roses that the lady was selling and tells her, "Nay, uwi ka na po,” she smiles. Gathering all that she has, she went home. 

Upon entering, she smiles again. She sees her parents, despite being of age, still preparing eagerly for their Noche Buena. They are putting every bit of glamour on the table, and even plates and bowls that weren't usually used are out and plated. All the curtains are in shades of green, the tablecloth too. 

She stares in awe at her parents who had given their best to put up with everything, and she is reminded of how they did everything and anything to give her all that she needed so she could pursue what she wanted.

She approached them and said, "Ma, Pa, Merry Christmas!” The corners of their mouths rose and their open hands stretched out, telling her to come closer. She gave the flowers to her mother who gently placed them on a vase in their sala. They sat at their table, ate, and laughed ‘till the night slowly fell asleep.

It was simple, yet for everyone, it was everything. 

This is what makes Christmas, Christmas.