The Holidaze

IT is the week before Christmas. Malls and department stores are getting fuller by the day. People involved with the production of made-to-order Christmas gifts are having to refuse and turn down some (much to the dismay of many), simply because it is already humanly impossible to fulfill. If gifts have not been sent out, the hustle and bustle to do so ensues. Traffic has built up even more, and to say the very least, the holiday fever is in full-swing. Yet, many awake to church bells extra early to observe the Misa de Gallo, and get a head start. And while earlier mornings this time of year are quite synonymous to late evenings (and a lack of sleep), because of all the holiday festivities, we welcome, and give it a big warm embrace. Because the camaraderie and cheer of Christmas is like no other. That is what I’m imagining is going on in my beloved Manila. I write this as I am on board a long-haul flight bound for New York City – my Narnia, as I like to call it. For what was once my home for four years and my stomping grounds during the most rigorous, yet transformational time in my life has become my happy place. Although far away from the place I do call my home, there is an indescribable sense of comfort and refuge I get from this favorite city of mine, half way across the world – especially when clad in a white blanket of snow.

You see, New York City taught me to dream very big. And for some reason, there is something extra dreamy about the holidays, I tend to associate dreaming with Christmas. There is a sense of invincibility that somewhat envelopes my soul the moment I land in the concrete jungle. It will always be synonymous with a great sense of fulfillment because many days and sleepless nights I once thought were impossible, turned into the sweetest of successes. New York City taught me how to work like no other – and to deliver to my fullest capacity. It awakened my sense of competitiveness to the fullest extent because my days as a hustler in the Big Apple always reminds me that though my best was applauded, there would always be someone better. Because of that, it taught me to never settle for second best – if there is a will, a way definitely exists. Mediocrity is unspoken of, and a standard of excellence is what the majority seek. It taught me to multi-task and to respect the very essence of time at its core – time is precious, punctuality is the most basic form of respect, and the New York minute is what will get you ahead of your game. To sum it all up, New York City kicked me in the gut with all that. But it is also the place I have to thank for that extremely necessary baptism of fire. The one that empowered my appetite and enabled my abilities to turn dreams into realities.

Bringing that dream back home, and seeing how it has gone forth to multiply in ways that would have been unimaginable then will always fill my heart. But knowing that while it has already impacted hundreds, if not thousands of lives, there is still so much more to be done encourages me to keep on going. MovEd was born out of my undergraduate thesis, and being able to manage that, while taking on a multitude of other “rackets” (as we like to call it) on the side to not only continuously raise awareness, but let us face it, for someone who works in a non-profit organization who gets paid in satisfaction and fulfillment, it doesn’t hurt to also make a few extra bucks, I won’t lie to you that though exhilarating, can sometimes become exhausting. I am not complaining though, and never will I for being busy. Because that to me, is always, a great blessing! Or a sign that greater blessings are about to follow.

For now, New York has become my fortress for solitude – my chosen place to re-charge and rejuvenate. The irony of it being the city that never sleeps which brings about toxicity in others. To me, its energy is forever invigorating and exhilarating because at the end of the day, any experience becomes what you make of it. I will always take on a trip to this city every chance I get, but coming here for the holidays is an extra treat because of how festive it is. It is a welcome break from the pandemonium a Manila Christmas can sometimes bestow, and I will admit, there is something so refreshing about getting on that plane, second week of December, knowing that gifts have been sent out and work fulfillments have been accomplished. Many days, while it seemed like I was burning the candle from both ends, I always went to sleep with a grateful heart. Knowing that everything I choose to involve myself in, and give my time to has a greater purpose, is already enough reason to continuously count my blessings twice, thrice and infinitely. For it is only with a grateful heart that the holiday spirit can truly shine and live on!