Pasko ng Kahapon Ko

Sariwa pa sa isip at gunita, ala-ala ng aking pagkabata
Kabayan, samahan akong balikan, kuwentong di ko limot kailanman
Pangako, pag-asa, pagibig na walang kasingganda,
Dala,ng aking napapanahong nobela

Simbang Gabi
"Misa De-Gallo na” noo’y bulong ng Kalembang saking tainga
Bangon na rin Ate't Kuya,tara na sa Misa’t magpugay sa Messiah
At aking kunswelo? - Matamis na puto sa baga ipinuwesto,
maiuuwi ko sa "espesyal" na kapatintero.

Jogging

Ang masaya, sasabit sa barkada na mag-jojogging pa
maya-maya’y paa nami'y tumulin,… multo raw na itim naaninag sa dilim!.
Lamig nga ay napawi, hingal kabayo at pawis nama’y sumukli,
ang nakakatawa pa, sa pundya isang katoto'y nagtubig na pala
Paguwi ng tahanan,asahan, walang katapusang bidahan sa karanasan.
(Pero bukas uli, balik sa dating gawi)

Dekorasyon
Parol na isinampay kasama si Tatay, kumakaway sa buhay na may lumbay.
Itinamin na kendi ni Tia sa xmas tree, ngiti naman sa pisngi ang dala sa aani.
Bukas-sinding ilaw na pang-Disyembre, nagsabog na ng liwanag
- iyon ay hudyat na, umpisahan na namin ang pamaskong harana.

Carolling
Sa munting palad nga inipit, pinitpit na tansang sa alambre'y isinukbit
kasama ang baryang tropa, mga pinto't-bintana'y binulabog ng kanta
At ang panglabang birit? walang kamatayang “Ang Pasko ay Sumapit”!
"Patawad Po" o BeinteSingko - premyo raw ng orkestra naming wala sa tono
Kung “mas papalarin pa”, asong alagad ni Dracula sa iyo’y makikiawit pa
….takbuhan na.!

Noche Buena Reunion

Yahoo! Alas-dose na. Kapuso at Kapamilya, kumpletong nagsama-sama
Handa-man sa tuwina noon, pansit, tinapay at sumang sa dahon kinahon
Sandali’t kumalansing! baryang hinagis sa hangin, sa sahig ay sumiping
Mga batang sabik sa pilak, mula sa mesa rumagasa sa sala
mga matandang miron, tawa’y kay lutong sa katawan naming nagpatong
(Pero Peksman! Walang sinabi si Superman sa tinalo kong mga "kalaban")

Araw ng Pasko
isang bagay na namimiss ko pa, kasuotang pinaghirapan ni Ina
Kase ang totoo, tuwing buwan lang ng Pasko,y may bagong sapatos at polo.
Pasko’y dumating na, kapitbahay at kaanak ay kinulit na,
Pero Ninong at Ninang ko, parang Magic - biglang naglaho sa araw na ito,

Party & Exchange Gifts
Xmas Party sa pasarang Eskuwela, Nagdagdag ng sigla sa mata
Ito namang puso lumulukso, panay kasi sakin tukso kung sinong isasayaw ko
Kantiyawa’y grabe na, saging na saba pala ang regaling bigay ni monita.

Paskong Malayo
Panaho'y lumilipas, kahapo'y kumukupas, Sa banyagang lupang ito?
Kapanganakan ng Hari ko, ginawang araw na ordinaryo.
Mga kaibigan ay abala, sa kumpanya nila tulad ko ay may toka.
Lahat rin ng malapit nong dati pang paslit, humiwalay na sa aking kapit
Kaya panaginip kong aginaldo?,
"O Pasko ng kahapon ko, ibalik ako sa kanlungan Mo”

Christmas That Was

“When Christmas bells are swinging above the fields of snow,We hear sweet voices ringing from lands of long ago,And etched on vacant placesAre half-forgotten facesOf friends we used to cherish, and loves we used to know”.- Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire ….”Josh, pls stop!” my carlift-buddy Cora pleads while my mp3-radio plays the Carpenter’s soulful Song last night. The Mom of two is feelin’ blue so I said “OK”, but an inborn teaser me, I swing rather to a further senti’ I’l be Home for Christmas. Prior to refrain, her already misty eyes threatened to jerk its tears out, so promptly, I swerved to a higher tempo’ Santa Claus’ Coming to Town ( ho!ho!ho!).

“Heap on the wood!-the wind is chill; But let it whistle as it will,We'll keep our Christmas merry still”. - Sir Walter Scott

This breezy December, nostalgic Pinoy Christian Expat like her are a typical scenario anywhere in the world. And the presence of goose-bump giving Yuletide Carols on-air is the absence of joy for many - as they see themselves “alienated” with dear-ones during the so-called Merriest Time of the Year. But what made-up the Song that caused people to cry? To those who’ve been abroad for a number of Christmases like myself, sorry sentiments and yearning could be more. Thanks for the Gift of the Season’s Music, - It does me no harm, but mend, bless, and reconcile my homesick heart back to a marvelous Holiday that was.

“Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!” - Charles Dickens

One Christmastime, I was a poor boy with a tanzan-made tambourine performing a one-man Carolling. I remember braving my town’s shadowy corners with the power of my Jingle Bells and oh yes, light of optimism that something good are in store ahead. Do we as an adult sense the season’s advent and/or sing its melody in a reflective, yet pleasant mode? or we consent such to infect our thoughts with misery? Let the words and music of the Season serenade our longing and the fast rhythm to strike a weary heart in euphoria. Neither divine nor romantic alternative, essence of both are love, honor and thanksgiving to a Child who brought us the Good Tidings Away in a Manger one Holy Night, and for the people too who cares and we cared for. Pasko na Kabayan Ko, tune-in yours and Have yourself a Merry BIG Christmas now!