Christmases past

"Sa Maybahay Ang Aming Bati." Thinking there was a Christmas party at one of the neighbors, I ignored it for a few minutes. But then the singing continued, and seemed quite close to my driveway. Was I hearing caroling? The singers didn't sound like children. Many communities have banned caroling by children amid fears that they might be molested, especially because the kids are usually too young to be left alone in the streets.
Curious, I opened the gate, and was greeted with a vigorous rendition of "Feliz Navidad," complete with dancing by a group of teenage students from a school in the neighborhood.
The teens were clad in red and white, with Santa caps, waving hand-held lights and singing along to a portable karaoke machine. Their dancing was synchronized. They could train to be P-pop performers. It was so entertaining that I and other members of the household clapped and sang along with them.
After saying thank you, engaging in a brief chat and receiving their gift from me, they left.
I'm partial to traditional Christmas songs such as "Carol of the Bells" and "What Child Is This," sang by children's choirs with angelic voices, apart from everyone's favorite, Jose Mari Chan's "Christmas In Our Hearts," which can be challenging for amateur carolers to sing. But I was so happy to experience caroling again, by singers who weren't out of tune.
After the carolers had left, memories of Christmases past came flooding back. In the city of Manila, children's caroling was a nightly event in the Tondo and Sta. Cruz neighborhoods where I grew up.
Denne historien er fra December 25, 2024-utgaven av The Philippine Star.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9500+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra December 25, 2024-utgaven av The Philippine Star.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9500+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Politicizing Wage-Fixing
Happy workers generally lead to better productivity.

Weakening of social and moral fabric
In all cases of annulment or declaration of nullity of marriage, the court shall order the prosecution attorney or the fiscal assigned to it to appear in behalf of the State to prevent collusion between the parties and to take care that evidence is not fabricated or suppressed (Article 48, Family Code (FC)).

If you can't beat them, then join them!
While going for my post-confinement check-up at the Rizal Medical Center, I learned that my former colleague turned senator Raffy Tulfo did an ocular visit of RMC last May 30 in order to personally see the operations, facilities and services of RMC.

Overpromising
In the light of his experience in delivering P20-a-kilo (unsubsidized) rice, you'd think President Marcos would have learned the perils of overpromising.

Zeekr PH launches Zeekr 009 pure-electric luxury van
Zeekr, a global luxury mobility technology brand under the Geely Group and which shares numerous technologies with Volvo, has unveiled the much-awaited Zeekr 009 in the Philippines.
Inflation Eases Further, Hits 5-Year Low in May
Inflation in the country continued to ease in May, slowing to its lowest level in over five years due primarily to the downtrend in utility costs, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.
Cabinet to Tackle Emergency Declaration Over Rising HIV Cases
The Cabinet will tackle the Department of Health (DOH)'s proposal to declare a national public health emergency over the rising number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases in the country.
DepEd eases Kinder cut-off age policy
Children who will turn five years old on or before Oct. 31 may now be qualified to enroll for Kindergarten under the new guidelines of the Department of Education (DepEd), which extended the previous cut-off date of Aug. 31.
BSP Sees More Room for Interest Rate Cuts
As global and domestic headwinds weigh on economic activity, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said the May inflation outturn supports a more accommodative monetary policy stance.
Senate Urged: Proceed Forthwith With Impeach Trial
The University of the Philippines College of Law faculty yesterday asked senators to comply with their constitutional duty to \"forthwith proceed\" with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.