Christmas Eve 2011

Sta. Maria Family, minus Kuya Jeff.

This year's Christmas Eve was a far cry from the previous Christmas Eves we've had. In the wink of an eye, the most awaited event of the year has come and gone. It seems like the enervating weather and the Mindanao tragedy redirected our spirits to a more somber mood. And to top it off, I haven't received any gifts (Tangible or Monetary) from anybody, in which I think had caused me these depression-like symptoms. But, who am I to whine about this? I should be more discerning and be more appreciative of what I currently have, considering most of our local kababayans in Mindanao have lost a lot of things, and sadly, including their loved ones, when the ravishing floods brought about by tropical Storm Sendong devastated their community. 

Us attending the symbological Christmas Eve mass

On the night of the 24th, we decided to head to the church first to hear the annual Christmas Eve mass before bingeing ourselves with all of the gourmet dishes mom has prepared for the symbological feast. I was so amused in seeing flock of people who were dressed to the nines, and were surprisingly all glammed up. Hopefully everyone was able to grasp the meaning of the homily despite being annoyed by individuals who endlessly parade themselves like headless chickens while the mass was on going. I easily get irritated with those types of people, it is as if they don't have the utmost respect for the Eucharistic celebration.

After the mass (which disappointingly started 45 minutes after the set time), we immediately headed home and started pigging out. We exchanged stories and stupid whatnots while on the dining table, then took some pictures as souvenirs of the eve. 

The majority of the night was all about us singing our hearts out on the videoke machine. I could no longer count how many songs I have sung during that entire evening, but you can vividly tell that I have wildly abused my voice upon hearing my raspy and lusty voice as of the time being. It was indeed a simple, yet meaningful celebration of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. Even though it wasn't as equally glamorous as with the recent years we've had, it is the spirit of togetherness and kinship that still, made the celebration worth reminiscing.