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Few days from now and Christmas would again be sending people to parties and reunions. And being here in Oz, I’ll be missing a lot of Christmas related activities, making it my “loneliest” Christmas so far.

Christmas in Oz seems to be very different compared back home. Though malls, buildings and streets are decorated, the atmosphere seems to be clouded with their culture. That majority don’t care that much. That Christmas is just another holiday.

Going around Geelong and Melbourne has been very weird. It seems that Christmas is having a Holy Week feel. People tend to be pre occupied with work and the cold wind just gives me the sad chill.

Unlike here, people in Davao just can’t wipe the smile off their faces. You can just see the eagerness in celebrating the holidays, the enthusiasm to please their loved ones and the effort of masking the everyday struggle through recycled decorations.

I will also miss when carolers would just sing their hearts out and be greeted with “walay kwarta” and answered with “ang babarat ninyo”. The hit Pinoy songs having their Christmas versions, endlessly played and sang with excitement. I’ll be missing the kids who would just do anything like being asked to sing “boom tarat-tarat” with actions for Php 10.00 and trying to come back with a different shirt for an encore. These naughty kids just never fail to entertain me.

Thinking about these seems to bury a hole within me. I guess, I just have to get used in celebrating Christmas on this side of the planet. I’ll just try to close my eyes and cover my ears.

Maayong Pasko Dabaw! ‘Musta ang “soup kitchen” sa Rizal Park?