Growing up in a big family and an even bigger clan from both sides of my parents, Christmas is—or should I say was—always a huge event, filled with long conversations over good food, games and laughs. It’s that one time of the year when everyone can be together and live in the present. Setting up the Christmas tree, Simbang Gabi and Noche Buena are all the traditions I cherish deeply and look forward to in order to end the year on a good note. This year silence has taken hold of the night. With the pandemic ongoing and safety precautions remain a top priority, celebrations are small, with many still anxious and fearful.
When I woke up one day and headed downstairs to our kitchen, a sense of sadness washed over me as I looked around and saw that my mom had put up the Christmas tree and decorated the living room with red stockings and nutcracker statues. Normally I would feel giddy over the mere fact that our white plates have been replaced with the decorated ones, but now it just reminds me that I have to tell my loved ones that we have to spend the holidays apart this year. The best gesture of love and care we can give to another right now is to keep our distance. Realizing this gave me my first experience of holiday blues, wherein our Christmas lights now seem so small against a still and somber world.
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Denne historien er fra December 2020 - January 2021-utgaven av MEGA.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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queen's BUSINESS
Under Filipino artist Eva Le Queen's The PlayHouse, the art of drag is turning into a professional career. It's time to talk-and mean-drag business
THE HEART OF AN ORIGINAL
Take the local fashion route with designer Louis Claparols and makeup artist Bobby Carlos to find out what truly makes them proud as Filipino creatives
CARTIER UNVEILS THE TRINITY CENTENARY CAMPAIGN
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SEA SECRETS
Take a deep dive into Ken Samudio's ocean of artistry
HEARTHROB AT LAW
A noontime show is the last place you'd expect to find a lawyer making waves, but in the curious case of Oliver Moeller, norms are made to be shattered-discover how this lawyer became a bona fide heartthrob
VESTOR'S Dator
This is what survivors are made of grit, power, and passion. Here's how Iloilo-based Filipino designer Cyrix Muyco found healing and strength through fashion
THE INHERITANCE
It must be in the blood-Angia Laurel is born to be a force in the creative scene. Watch as she makes her own name through her art, music, and fashion
of becoming us
All eyes are on the emerging director-photographer duo Alithea Castillo and Kim Tin as they bring the beauty of heritage, queerness, and creative vision to the global scene
POSTCARDS FROM THE PHILIPPINES
Mabuhay! Meet these genius innovations that proudly showcase how vibrant and creative our beauty landscape truly is
POSITIVE-AGING
A healthy and balanced approach to aging entails listening to your body for what it needs. We swear by these products which slowly yet steadily heal and invigorate one from within