Every year I am looking forward for this BER month..
I am always so excited about this month of the year , WHy not? Chrsitmas is just around the corner.

You can even hear christmas songs on the radio eventhough BER month it just starting.

At home, normally we started to put up our christmas tree,and I even make my christmas list and christmas wish list.

All the streets will soon be all deceorated with coloful lights and different garland, with different shapes and sizes.

As always ,there would always be a a huge celebration ,loads of gifts,not to mention the 13th month pay or bonuses will given to all employees.

Not to forget the “simbang gabi tradition” where as one of the longest and most popular among the Filipino traditions . It is when Catholic churches across the nation start to open their doors shortly before the break of dawn to welcome the faithful to the Simbang Gabi mass or Mass at Dawn is a nine-day novena to the Blessed Mother, where the novena begins December 16 as early as 4 in the morning and culminates with the “Misa de Gallo” on Christmas Eve to welcome the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. In some churches, the panuluyan is reenacted showing the effort of Joseph and Mary to find a suitable birthplace.There’s also a saying that after completing that 9 days, and if you have wish, it will be granted.

And after that “simbang gabi”,all will be buzzing around buying outside our favorite bibingka and puto bumbong(a popular rice cakes).

On Christmas Eve, before midnight, the whole family will go together to hear the mass and after will have our small feast for our “Noche buena” ,thanking our Dear Lord for all the blessings he shed upon us, and after, my most favorite part , opening gifts. And after that i will be so much busy trying to call or send sms to all my friends.

Usually on Christmas day, we are so busy,preparing food,other relatives will come by to see us , others I rarely see but during this season ,ironically, they pop out . Not even the people i knew will come by but also others just drop by to say hello and also waiting for their “aguinaldos'’ (like a token or a gift give by the god parents or any other relatives),.

Sigh....Oh well,.literally, this is just the scene i can remember back home. Now, it just a memory of a happy BER days .Where I am now, practically having my work for 3yrs, it is completely different.

Christmas day it turns out like just an ordinary day.. !
No christmas tree, no christmas carols,no holiday,no bonuses,and even thirteen month pay, and the sad thing,you had to work on christmas day.

However, some other company, they were allowing their employees to celebrate,even going back home before christmas eve with their own expense, for not for me. I can say i am not one of the privelage ones.

It is totally different.I am so sad whenever I walk around and couldnt’ see any sign,though some is trying, but still I cannot feel the spirit.It’s not like “Paskong Pinas”.

The fact that I am million miles away from my family, i don’t have somebody to celebrate with it.(dah! spounds so pathethic),though i have friends and other relatives here, i am sure they have their own way of celebrating and i don’t want to bother them or be a burden.

Tthis BER month wouldn’t be marry. Disaster is happening everywhere, Not just that, all over the world experiencing a financial crisis.Many lose their jobs, company’s are shutting down.

But somehow, i am thinking positvely and still hopeful that this crisis will be over soon and everyone will be be happy again .Well for now what can i do know is wait and keep my fingers cross and hopefor another joyful Ber month...