On the 8th day of Christmas...

Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year    Happy Three Kings na rin haha.

When I first arrived in SG, most of the Filipinos say that there's no Christmas spirit in the Land of the Merlion.  That is why lots of Filipinos go home for Christmas (including me :P) even if the airfare is almost double the price.  Of course for me our home country will always be the best place to spend the holidays.  But I think it is not entirely true when they say that you won't feel the joy of the season overseas.  As I ponder about it, the Christmas spirit is there, only that it is different.

*Disney Christmas @ Changi airport, SG

If in the Philippines Christmas is about family gatherings, Christmas carols and puto bumbong; in SG it is about friendship, multi cultural celebrations and Pinoy unity.   When we talk about the holidays, shopping is not the only common denominator between these two countries.  There is also Simbang Gabi in SG.  However, it is more like Visita Iglesia since attendees should hear the mass from ten different churches.  What makes this Simbang Gabi extra special is Father Angel's arroz caldo.  Haha... yes, food comes for free.  Thanks to the generosity of blessed Filipinos, they were able to feed thousands of churchgoers for ten nights with free arroz caldo, pancit, chicken with rice, champorado, sandwiches etc.  

Despite the global crisis, the spirit of Christmas has always been there.  Love, hope and sharing should always be there wherever we are.  After all, it is Christ's birthday that we are celebrating.  Let us not forget to pray for those people who were impacted by the recession; and also for those overseas workers who have been working so hard for their families or loved ones but weren't able to spend the holidays with them.  

 HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE