How did you celebrate Christmas?

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While others are posting their family photos, wishing everyone a 'Merry Christmas', I was in my room trying to divert my attention so I won't feel bad for not being able to go home. I am off duty but because of the sudden surge in cases, I chose to spare my family from being quarantined in case something comes up again.

Its been couple of days wherein there wasn't any new reported confirmed cases in our town. After two weeks of case investigation, contact tracing and testing of identified close contacts, I could probably say that the storm has passed. Praying we won't be having another surge of local cases again.

By the way, photo above is a classic Filipino food that is usually prepared whenever there is an occasion here in the Philippines. Its called Biko. Its made of glutinous rice, brown sugar and coconut milk. Apologies if I cannot discuss how its made, I don't know how to cook. I'm pretty much useless in the kitchen. LOL.

I took this photograph few weeks ago, when my brother cooked Biko one afternoon, for our snacks. He garnished it using some edible flower he personally planted and grow at the farm.

Decided to post it now because this food is probably present in most houses here in the Philippines during Christmas eve. So, how did you guys celebrate this year's Christmas amidst the pandemic?

Honestly, this one's probably the loneliest. I miss the Manito Manita and the parlor games. I miss the Christmas parties. I miss organizing gift giving with friends. I miss the long lines in stores because of last minute Christmas shopping. I miss being stressed out on deciding what gift to buy. I miss buying toys and candies for my nephew and niece, and seing their excited faces as they open their gift. I miss the whole Christmas vibe wherein people are just busy with food preparation, gift wrapping, then there's videoke session everywhere.

So what did I do on the 24th, I was making calls (work related), I played Mobile Legends, I watched the first season of Grey's Anatomy on Netflix, I downloaded The Sims Freeplay and explored the game, I did everything that could distract me. I needed to survive the day.

This is my first Christmas away from my family. I'm not usually the clingy type, and I'm even used to being away from home. I'm renting a room here in the town proper, and have been living an independent life. But being away from your family on Christmas, its something else.

Can't imagine how hard it must be for those working overseas, for those who are currently admitted in the hospitals or isolations facilities, for those military men who are deployed on a mission, for those who can't be with their families for some reason.

Despite the sadness, fear, pain, or whatever negative emotions that you're feeling right now, I hope you somehow had a meaningful Christmas celebration. The fact that we are still here, and enduring this pandemic without losing our sanity, its something worth celebrating. Let us all pray we'll have a better 2021.

Merry Christmas everyone. 🎄