Filipinos prep virtual cheers

Not being able to physically spend time with family and friends can be a shock to our value system this year

Three weeks to go before Christmas, planning getaways and gatherings with loved ones has been a part of the Filipinos’ way of commemorating the season. However, with the current situation due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), people would have to defer seeing most of their loved ones physically as authorities discouraged the holding of reunions for the holidays.

For some, being prohibited to hold Christmas and New Year’s Day reunions due to the pandemic means being deprived of holiday cheer as Filipinos are known to bond more with their closest of kin and friends during the season.

Trisha Alcantara, a 30-year-old marketing executive from Sampaloc, Manila, said the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has certainly affected the way Filipinos traditionally interact during the holidays.

“Human connection (during the Yuletide Season) is important to all of us, which is why not being able to physically spend time with family and friends can be a shock to our value system this year,” she said.

While technological advances in communications can help fill in the gap, Trisha admitted that seeing loved ones in the flesh is irreplaceable.

“It’s so sad that instead of spending time together during the Yuletide season, you would just talk to each other via online calls or online chat. It’s sad right? This is not the tradition we have been used to but we need to comply for everyone’s own good, even if it is difficult. Even if you really miss your family a lot,” added Alcantara, who has family members in Mangatarem, Pangasinan.

She is also seriously thinking of whether she will risk it to go home for Christmas or just settle for video chats or calls with her loved ones.

“I’m thinking if I would go home or would just settle with chat or video calls just to see them, Staying connected to loved ones right now is more important now so let’s make sure that even if you are not together, you would still have a happy celebration with simple online conversation or calls,” she added.

Be on time

Alcantara added that she is planning to suggest to her family that a “virtual reunion” be held so that at least they will be together without being physically present.

To do this, Alcantara suggested that Facebook or online “invites” be created to ensure everyone is on time for the virtual reunion and has food and drinks ready for the event.

While technological advances in communications can help fill in the gap, Trisha admitted that seeing loved ones in the flesh is irreplaceable

“Get one person to organize music for everyone to enjoy, create a fun, vibey atmosphere even if you are just talking with each other online. Though I missed chilling with them in person, at least everyone is safe,” she added.

Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez said the Christmas holidays will be different amid the global health crisis.

“It would be a subdued Christmas; less of the big reunions, more of intimate reunions,” Lopez said. He said mass gatherings will still be prohibited due to risk of spreading COVID-19. There will be more virtual reunions than physical get- together during Christmas season, he added.

Meanwhile, for Third Anne Malonzo, 30, a reporter residing in Taytay, Rizal, connecting with loved ones and friends online is not a bad idea considering that the pandemic lingers.

Family is family

“I don’t see any problem with this. Whether we see each other in person or not. Families will remain as families and it’s still better to be safe than sorry. Besides, there are many other occasions that we can spend time together after this pandemic in which we no longer have to worry about being infected by the virus,” she added.