Christmas 2009

Couple of days before Christmas, instinct or intuition or common sense whatever, told me that this year’s Christmas celebration would be totally different. And so it was, in many ways dissimilar from the past Christmases that I was so used to having.

Everything began with the parties we had for IPVG and e-Games. We tried to be as much lively and christmassy as we could be, putting all the work load aside and enjoying the nights with a mix of childish and grown-up delight.

First off was the IPVG company party we had in Bubba Gump, a resto which prides itself with its delicious shrimp delicacies that I was having a hard time to distinguish from common table fish. Haha. It was said that the place couldnt hold the sum of all the subsidiaries of IPVG, but I was sure that there many attendees from IP-Converge, IPCCO, Megamobile and FVSC too. Of course, e-Games dominated the party and I estimate that eighty percent of the raffle winners were from us. (Heck, I was wishing silently that I would get to win one of the Ipod shuffles which were up for the raffle, notwithstanding the belief that I have been inflicted with the curse that would not make me win raffles as long as I live).

Miss Jane, the one with the wig (from the first photo, left side) was the one who took photos of us during the affair. She toyed with her cam, experimenting with all sorts of wacky and stolen shots which she soon uploaded to Facebook. She was also the lucky grand prize winner of the 32- inch LCD television which none us knew what its brand was and what it look like. (Later on, I boldly commented on one of her photos in FB that if all it takes to win the grand prize in the raffle is to sport a fashionable wig, then I would, without second thoughts , wear the coolest, most trendy wig that I could find in the department store ).

Outside Bubba Gump (G3) after the party

The party that we had with the e-Games employees alone, wasnt much of a big gathering. There were no Christmas-themed programs or events or raffles there, it was more of an eat-and-drink-and-say-goodbye-to-a-good-friend kind of affair. The juicy, moving part of the party was when a video flashed into the screen, with the e-Games people dedicating their heartfelt farewell messages to Miss Grace Ty, who served e-Games ever since inception (as Trade Marketing Manager and just recently as QA Manager). I was fortunate enough to write on the dedication card with a simple message of ‘Thank you for the lessons and Take care’. Indeed, it was her from whom I learned the value of taking care of the community we serve, when she undescored the ultimate rhetorical question: “If we dont take care of our community, who’s gonna take care of them?”

Food was abundant and delectable and the place was totally fit for the mini-affair.

Toasted to a year full of surprises and twists and bad a woman goodbye and goodluck in her future career in Canada…

Tradition ran through the office with a small exchange gift activity the community team had together with Product Team. (Last year, I got a silver bracelet from Mike (GM Chromium to gamers) which still dangles in my right hand up to this day). This year, Ced gave me the one which I wrote in my christmas wishlist: a small, black Cabal AON Shirt, which looks like this:

Aside from the shirt which i got from the mandatory exchange gift activity, also got the following from office friends…

The word ‘Ninja’ means ‘Patience’ thus, the most distinctive and appealing quality of the shinobi is that he knows how to wait and to strike at every opportunity at the right time. Thanks Gelo and JP for the meaningful mug!

The fancy cp accesory from Jay Ramos just above perfectly captures my equally cute exterior. Haha!

Christmas eve rapidly came like a sudden blow of strong wind. Good thing I was able to get through the shopping rush and gift-wrapping in time for the celebration. Wasn’t able to budget properly so the gifts I gave weren’t of much value, but decent, useful and well-thought of nevertheless .

The photo that follows is a family pic taken during Christmas eve, inside one my grandparent’s original house.

The house will forever be close enough to my heart. As well as the people who have dwelt inside it. A lot of my exciting childhood days were spent on it, together with my cousins and titas and titos and ninangs and ninongs on my father side. During Christmas, it was a custom to gather there to greet each one and exchange gifts and partake of the food in the table. It was a practice that have been brought down from our immediate ancestors, a culture that is truly Filipino. I’ve grown up enough to finally stand apart from most of them, living my own professional life away and with a new set of families. But blood is thicker than water, so they say, and the calling of the family will always be strong especially in a family drastically tested by time. I am extremely proud of being part of this extended family, exalted with the affinity and the bonds that exist within each members, that no matter what tough complications come, the family will always find a way to be together especially on Christmas day.

I went to church on Christmas eve and heard the priest’s sermon with my mind and heart wide open. And I prayed to God. I realized there were so much things that I need to thank him for during the past year. Things that I weren’t able to fully appreciate or accredit him for. For the wonderful adventures I had, for the stable health, for the fantastic friends and fun at work and home, and for keeping me alive and well and away from death-defying danger.

Christmas was spent at home together with family again. Visited the families from my mother’s side whose houses were in close proximity to us as well (like 30 normal footsteps away haha).

“He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under the tree, “ shouts a cousin of mine in Facebook. I didn’t receive too many gifts this time compared from yesteryears, yet I feel equally or even more fulfilled this time. The thought and actuality of togetherness, I guess, were more than enough a gift this Christmas. Perhaps I am starting to learn the true value of yuletide, and growing up to be a better ‘kid’, one whom Santa Claus would be more than glad to give a gift on Christmas day.

Advertisement