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DO YOU REMEMBER CHRISTMAS IN THE PHILIPPINES?
by Michael J. Gurfinkel, Esq.
What does Christmas mean to
Filipinos? A child's eyes glowing upon the sight of beautifully
wrapped Christmas gifts under a well-lit Christmas tree; the family
all gathered around the festive table for noche buena; gifts being
exchanged; laughter; togetherness, are what the holidays are all
about. After my Filipina wife brought me to the Philippines a
few years ago, to spend the holidays with her family, I came to
understand how precious the festive holiday season is to Filipinos,
and how being with their family is so very important to Filipinos.
My first Christmas in the Philippines still lingers
in my mind. Experiencing the holidays first hand, I realized why
Filipinos around the world yearn to go back to their home country,
once they are legally able to do so, and why they keep on going
back to the Philippines during Christmas time.
Christmas is not just a one-day affair for the
Filipinos who are very family-oriented, and "family"
ties include even distant relatives. Preparation for the holidays
starts as soon as September comes in, and the cool winds set in.
The Christmas season starts with the traditional celebration of
"simbang gabi" and culminating at midnight of Christmas
Eve with the "noche buena," when every member of the
family gathers at the dinner table, and shares a sumptuous feast.
But it doesn't end there, because members of the extended family
gather for a reunion on Christmas Day itself in their best Christmas
clothes, for the exchange of gifts, the merrymaking, and the picture
taking. And then, the season goes on until the fireworks fun and
"Media Noche" on New Year's Eve, and another huge family
gathering on New Year's Day.
During the Christmas Day family gathering, everyone
is present, from the great grandparents to the youngest child.
It was the same for my wife's family. I got to know everyone,
most of her Lolas, Lolos, Titos and Titas, and cousins. On Christmas
day, it was a never-ending meal. And everyone was jolly, the kids
were wide-eyed with their gifts, and the adults were reminiscing
about the "good old days".
Nine days before Christmas Day, bells ring at dawn
-- signaling the start of the traditional "Simbang Gabi".
After the mass, people buy "bibingkas" and "puto
bumbong" sold in the church premises. You can smell the rice
cakes in the early morning air, and to many Filipinos who have
not gone home for many years, this is enough to make them nostalgic
and misty-eyed. People linger to chat while munching the local
cakes. And for the teary-eyed balikbayan, the "Simbang Gabi"
brings back memories of childhood crushes and sweethearts, loves
long forgotten, and friendships forged on the churchyard.
At nighttime, children would go caroling, singing
Christmas songs accompanied by music from makeshift musical instruments
made from tin cans, bamboo, and coconut husks. They would go from
door to door, sing Christmas carols, and wait for the homeowner
to give them a little money. Now I understand why many of my clients
with U.S.-born and reared kids, want to take their children home
to the Philippines to experience Christmas in the Philippines.
You may ask why I am writing about Christmas in
an immigration column? Because there are so many people in America
who, because of their illegal status, have been denied the joy
and pleasure of being able to visit the Philippines to once again
experience the Christmas they loved when they were young. They
know that if they leave the United States, they may not be able
to return. Christmas, as I have just described, remains to be
a distant memory to these unfortunate people, who wonder if they
will ever have the chance to again experience Christmas first-hand
in the Philippines.
To them, because of their illegal status, Christmas
means packing a balikbayan box of clothes, toys, chocolates and
other goodies for their children. But they will not see their
children's expressions of joy upon opening the balikbayan box.
They will not have a Noche Buena with their family. Instead, they
must settle for a brief telephone call to their family back home,
offering their holiday greetings.
When these parents call home, and ask their child
what the child wants for Christmas, the child usually responds,
"All I want is to be with you again". What was intended
to be a happy episode becomes a painful interaction. For these
people in the U.S., they feel very powerless and helpless to make
that Christmas wish become a reality.
That is why it is truly rewarding to me whenever
I am able to help a client legalize his or her status. Almost
without exception, their first thoughts are that they will now
be able to go home to spend Christmas with their relatives and
friends after many years of absence
As the year comes to a close, I remain committed
to my goal of "Bringing Families Together" and "Helping
Make the American Dream Come True". My wish for all of the
people who, because of their immigration status, are denied the
joy of celebrating Christmas in the Philippines, is that you be
able to experience again Christmas first hand in your home country.
On behalf of my family and staff,
let me wish you "MALIGAYANG PASKO AT MASAGANANG BAGONG TAON
SA INYONG LAHAT. MARAMING SALAMAT PO SA INYONG PATULOY NA PAGTANGKILIK
SA "LAW OFFICES OF MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL".
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