“Worse was another idiotic post-prattle from the Malacanang spokesperson afterwards, which made every family wonder what planet these government functionaries inhabit”
THIS year has probably been the most “exciting” in a generation for those of us who find politics worth watching.
That may not be so to most Filipinos for whom politics is either boring or entertaining, but do not quite relate to its significance in everyday lives.
Which is why that idiotic and insensitive P500 Noche Buena claim by the trade secretary struck a raw nerve. To the middle class, it was an insult. To the poorest of the poor, the so-called E-income levels, they who live day-by-day on marginal incomes, there’s hardly much to differentiate Noche Buena or the coming Media Noche, from every other day in their wretched lives.
Worse was another idiotic post-prattle from the Malacanang spokesperson afterwards, which made every family wonder what planet these government functionaries inhabit.
Still and all, the season of joy, accompanied by cooler nights, is always respite from all the toxicity of politics and the economy which our people suffer in this “annus horribilis.”
For me and my family, Christmas Day coincides with my birthday. A son-in-law has his birthday on Christmas Eve. A grand-daughter’s birthday coincides with the Feast of the Three Kings.
For the longest time, I found myself content with just one gift for Christmas and my birthday, except of course from closest kin.
As if such “deprivation” is not enough, I have hardly been able to celebrate with friends on the day itself, and in previous years, it’s always been a week or two earlier or even in January of the next year.
I just console myself by the thought that everyone else was celebrating my birthday on the 24th or the 25th.
For many years, I was the self-appointed cook for the annual Christmas Eve repast. No lechon this year in keeping with the hard times.
A few years back, when times were somewhat better, a daughter pre-ordered a leg of jamon bellota which my eldest grandson carved rather well, como un cortador. Paired with juicy melons I brought from Taipei, the appetizer was ambrosial.
But this year is different. The kids didn’t feel like innovating on the Christmas decors. They just recycled some of the previous year’s trimmings and kept most of it stored.
Neither in my house nor in theirs did they put up the usual “parols” to be seen from the street. In Manila where I reside, our good mayor sensibly decided to do away with costly street decorations and instead sent Noche Buena packages for every household.
While my kids took turns on which household was to host the Christmas Eve dinner in the past, a bratty daughter just said, “papa, ikaw na bahala kung ano gusto mong lutuin.”
So before writing this article, I prepared the broth of various meats for the cocido (pochero is the similar Filipino dish) and the accompanying eggplant sauce and tomatada.
Last Dec. 23, I prepared my signature galantina the old-fashioned way my mother taught me how.
And as I write this, cans of fruit are being drained of unhealthy syrup and apples are being cut to chunks for the fruit salad that my grandchildren always crave.
Thanks to friends for their gifts, we did not have to prepare desserts, as a senator-friend gave me home-made sans rival and fruit cake, with a son-in-law bringing two different versions of leche flan.
And we need not worry about Media Noche either.
A young and successful businessman sent his annual gift of prime rib-eye steaks; another friend brought “Golden” pomelos from Davao; another his family heirloom recipe of garlicky Baliwag longanizas; even perfectly crispy though cholesterol laden “bagnet” from Laoag.
There were food baskets from our publisher and editor and some other friends which would take us till February to consume.
It’s really the family bonding that matters though. I write about food only because it is an indulgence I have always gifted myself and family, never excessively though.
We have been blessed with the good fortune of not having to want in this season of joy, but knowing how many households have very little, we have been sharing in our own way with the less fortunate.
Yet despite the chaotic state of the nation, and in spite of foreboding over what lies ahead in 2026, just as the economy is expected to be worse than this year’s listlessness, and politics continues to be insane, we wish our readers a blessed Christmas and happy family get-togethers.
May you all have an abundance of grace in this season of joy!
