Celebrate Christmas in Vigan Merrily, but Safely!

 

For the past two years until now, the world has been battling with this certain virus, that lead to the birth of numerous problems to each and every individual on this planet. This pandemic caused a lot of people multiple hardships and difficulties that made them doubt God, causing them to not celebrate Christmas. Here in Vigan, I know a few Biguenos who wasn’t able to celebrate Christmas, some did not even bother even if they have the means to do it. The former was because of the inability to do so even if they want to, because of financial problems. For instance, due to unemployment, a certain family won’t be able to decorate, have fun, or merely have food during this holiday season. The latter was because they lost faith and hope, because of the struggles they have come across during the year.

 

It makes me sad, that only a selective number of individuals can truly bring out the happiness we should all feel during this season. I am grateful to God for giving me and family the ability to celebrate his birthday. For December 24-25, I’ve had a lot of fun interacting with my relatives and neighbors. We had 2 separate Christmas programs which is a very common activity here in Vigan, one from the family, and one from the barangay. I was also able to visit the wondrous Christmas decorations in front of the City Hall, and other tourist attractions here in Vigan. The luminous lights on the trees, the hanging parols, and also the people taking pictures. It is nice to see how some would still manage to be happy even from the simplest reason. Despite the fun we were having, we still observed social distancing, and also followed protocols. The point is, we, Biguenos, can celebrate even during this health crisis. What matters is we prioritize not only our safety, but also the people around us.

 

To sum it all up, whether or not there’s a virus roaming around, we should still try to be happy and celebrate this holiday. After all, it is the season of giving; you may not be able to give your loved one’s material items or gifts, but what matters is how you feel about them. The real jackpot in a person's lifetime, as they say, is the people they will soon find and treasure, just as they will treasure them. Christmas is all about spreading love to the people you care about, so take the time to say something nice to them and let them know how important they are to you. Despite the presence of this deadly virus, we, Biguenos, must continue to spread positivity and enjoy the upcoming holiday season with our loved ones.

References: (Image)

Katrina E. (2017) "How to Celebrate Christmas in the Philippines" Retrived January 26, 2022 https://theculturetrip.com/asia/philippines/articles/how-to-celebrate-christmas-in-the-philippines/