Sing a Song of Christmas

     “Whenever I see girls and boys selling lanterns on the
street,
I remember the child in the manger as he sleeps…” 

             
       And so the song goes. But how can lanterns remind us of a sleeping baby? How can children selling stuffs remind us of a season worth celebrating? How can those children be associated with Christmas when they only have a vague perception of it? How does a child these days celebrate Christmas? How do they define Christmas?

                There are so many things around us that are use to symbolize Christmas. People sometimes see Christmas with decorated pine trees, colorful twinkling lights, joyful sound of Christmas carols, and the unknown relation of Frosty the Snowman to Christmas. And for us Filipinos, the Pinoy version of the star in Bethlehem that one faithful night, known as the “parol”. However, he star that once led the wise men to the baby Jesus seemed to slowly lose its luster and brilliance as the meaning of Christmas become obscure, especially to those little children often associated to during Christmas season,  with each passing years. At least this is what the Inkrush has noticed.

                Since children take their share of spotlight during these times, Inkrush took the liberty of asking a few of them about their Christmas. This conversation led to what they have had as their Noche Buena.

Lost in Translation

                Jericho, 10, who was first asked about the subject, could not answer. A few moments later it came to our knowledge that the boy doesn’t know what the meaning of the word was. In our attempt to explain it in simple words, he was lost in translation. He thought that it was just a feast, just any feast with variety of foods on the table. Confidently, Jericho tried to by himself answering “Alam ko ‘yun” (I know that). “Nag-ganun nga kami nung binyag ng pamangkin ko sa Bulacan, eh. May spaghetti, sopas, menudo, kanin, manok at baboy. Ang dami nga, eh.” (We have had that when it was my nephew’s christening at Bulacan. We had spaghetti, soup, menudo, rice, chicken and pork. There are so plenty of food.) Later, we have known the reason behind the boy’s dim knowledge of the word.

                He came from a poor family from Bulacan who in attempt to have a better life, migrated in Manila. Unfortunately, they became one of Manila’s thousand s of informal settlers. He was the youngest among the 12 children of a cigarette vendor and his wife. They live in a “kariton” beside a well-known bank just across the Sta. Cruz Parish Church.

                 Because they are incapable of sustaining their regular meals let alone have themselves a Noche Buena , they went to their grandfather in Caloocan City on the morning of the 25^th to have their “pamamasko”.  While on the very Christmas Eve, Jericho and his family quietly let the night pass without recognizing the celebration. When asked what is Christmas to him, he plainly said “Masaya… pagsasaya” (happy… celebration) “Alam mo ba kung bakit may Christmas?” (Do you know why there is Christmas?), the Inkrush asked.  In one word he said “Hindi...” (No) Adding up to this saddening story, he told the Inkrush that the 24^th of December is his birthday.

A Voice behind the bars

                Another boy, Buknoy, 11, boost up our Christmas cheer when he shared to Inkrush his family’s celebration of Christmas. In the cold of prison cell there they had their Christmas with their mom. Although the boy admitted that they were indeed happy to sleep beside their mom on the Christmas Eve regardless of the place they were in. With no particular expression registered on the boy’s face, he told the Inkrush that the prison held a Christmas party for the inmates and their family. Their food was sponsored by a huge fast-food company packed and prepared. The celebration according to him was just as how it was celebrated outside.

                Out of curiosity and with all due respect, the Inkrush asked of the reason as to why his mother ended up in jail. The boy doesn’t seem to mind as he casually told us that his mother was innocent of any crime and that someone has just barked on the wrong tree. For that, they paid the price of almost a year apart from their beloved mother. Buknoy, compared to Jericho, is living a good life only he was apart from his mother.

Will You Sing Back?

                Stories like this are just accustomed to nowadays. It is still heart wrenching, though, to hear it from the mouth of the children. While other people, other kids from other parts of the city, of the country, of the world were busy complaining about their not so glamorous Christmas, these are some of those of who can only be thankful for their family in spite of the different crises that befell them. They could have been happier had they known the real deal of Christmas.

             
                How many of the world’s population have the same Christmas like them? How many children have to experience the same as they have?  The tiny light from the star has slowly been put off by poverty and ignorance. With apathy we are slowly wiping the hope off from their system. What we need are stars that would not be selfish to shine not just for themselves but to be a light and guide to those who are in the dark.  Christmas doesn’t have to be a once-in-a-year celebration. Let’s make every day a Christmas day. Let us not be deafened by the clamor of the season. Let us keep the Christmas atmosphere, the spirit of giving, of hope and most especially of love that binds us all.

Cheers to Christ to whom we celebrate the season!

(note: photos, not property of InkRush)