Filipino Spirit – stand still in chaos

Alicia B. Narciso

Have you heard Christmas carol playing on the radio? Read Christmas greetings over social media? Wrapped your Christmas presents to your loved ones? Decorated your Christmas Tree? The feel of Christmas is all over the place. The bell is ringing, right? Yes! But perhaps the question now is: How did Filipinos welcome and keep alive Paskong Pinoy during COVID-19?

We can move forward and find ways to celebrate Christmas despite this challenging time. As the government places limitation on our movement due to pandemic, several plans like going to one’s hometown or having Christmas parties and reunions have been put on hold. Hence, this means several of us might not be able to spend Christmas with our loved ones. And yet, the Filipino spirit strives to go on and as they commonly say, “TULOY” ang Pasko.

There are still several ways we can celebrate Christmas which most of the Filipinos can do. Like most of the meetings and classes are done – VIRTUAL! We can still feel connected with our loved ones through call, text message, FB messenger either chat or video call. We can even have it in group using Zoom Application, Google Meet and a lot more. For “Aguinaldo”, “Pamasko” etc. we can now send cash gifts to our relatives and “Inaanak” via online banking. There are pools of options from various outlets of “Pera-Padala”, you just have to choose the most convenient one.

This pandemic might have changed the tradition we live but it shall not hinder us Filipinos to celebrate Christmas. May this give us the message of hope and love and shall realize its true essence – being Christ as the center of Christmas Feast.

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The author is Teacher III at San Nicolas Elementary School