Something has Changed
Hello, Hive PH again initiated a blogging contest that will run for the whole month of September. For week 1, we are given a question; What do -Ber months mean to Filipinos like you? And here's my entry. I hope you enjoy :)
11:55 pm
I am currently browsing my Facebook newsfeed watching some silly yet funny videos. I can’t remember how many times I giggled on my bed, stopping myself from laughing out loud and waking my younger brother. I am lowkey grateful to this app for making me feel entertained and giving me a daily dose of internet humor.
12:00 am
I was planning to turn off my phone when one of my mutuals posted a meme of Jose Mari Chan singing one line from his famous song "Christmas in Our Hearts."
Whenever I see boys and girls selling lanterns on the street...
Then, I realized it’s officially Ber-months, which means that the following months will end in the word "ber": September, October, November, and December. It also signals the start of the Christmas season here in the Philippines. Pretty early compared to the rest of the world.
During this timeframe, the ambiance on the streets transitioned to more colorful lights. At the same time, different households are starting to put up some Christmas decorations in their homes. Even the shopping centers turn their establishments into more holiday-ish vibes and shift their retail background music into Christmas jingles.
Growing up in the Philippines, I witnessed all of these things. I even feel excited about it and always force my mom to already have Christmas lights in our windows. I am also starting to think about the gift that I want from Santa, making a request letter about it, and giving it to my parents, knowing that they will send it to the mailbox of that old man. As an innocent child, for me, ber-months are the start of a happy and magical season. A season where everyone is excited and positive and just full of love. A season where children receive toys, hugs, and kisses from their loved ones.
12:30 am
It felt nostalgic watching the video. I am confused as to what reaction I will click, is it a laughing reaction or a heart? My eyes are already tired, so I just decided to turn my phone away and find a good sleeping position to doze off. However, despite my room being completely covered with darkness and silence, the voices in my head are still crystal clear and loud, which prevents me from falling asleep.
It’s already September 1st, and it amazes me how fast the time has flown. It feels like Christmas was just yesterday, and now we’re already entering another holiday season. What did I do in recent months? Did I do something for my future? or did I just waste it as I have in the past years? Until now, I didn’t have money to spend on different Christmas sales. I also don't have enough budget to provide gifts to my friends, family, and three godchildren. I don’t even know what to contribute to the Noche Buena.
As I grow older, the Ber months become stale and ordinary. For me, it's a reminder that the Christmas season has already started, but it also reminds me that there are a lot of expenses ahead, and without money, you will not enjoy this season. Maybe they are right when they say that Christmas is only for children. We, adults, are now exposed to the fact that the season we once adored is now a season of harsh reality, especially since there are a lot of individuals who lost their job and facing difficulty with the current inflation.
Maybe I’m just being pessimistic. But for a Filipino like me, Ber-months is a sign that Christmas is already on the corner which is an event that's slowly turning into a privileged celebration and profit-making endeavor.
1:00 am
My eyes started to feel heavy. At last, I can finally sleep in peace. Once before I lost consciousness, a cold air breeze gently touched my skin. It's indeed the start of the Christmas season. But compared to when I was younger, something has changed — I no longer get the excitement over it.
Fin.
That is just it, kids are always happy about the BER month because of the precious gifts they would obtain from santa on Christmas, but adults are scared because it is a season of great expenses and cross-check of life. Time really flies, and of a truth it flies and leaves us behind sometimes but thank God when there is life, there is hope.
You got it 💯. Thanks for the wonderful input and also thanks for checking this out :))
You are welcome sir
Pasko na sinta ko, hanap hanap kita.... Sino nga yong hinahanap ko 😵 hahaha. But kidding aside, now that we're already adult, yong mga isipin ng mga oldies natin before, naging isipin na rin natin ngayon. Adulting js really hard pala talaga, ang sarap lang bumalik sa pagiging bata. Yong basta sumapit ang September excited na tayong makita ang mga christmas tree and light sa paligid. Mga parol, mga nangangaroling, ahhhhh those memories 🌞. But now, it is normal nalang talaga satin. May excitement paba? Sakin kasi diko na dama ee. I don't know saan nagsimula ang pagbabago, pero di na talaga ganon sa dati ang lahat.
ಠ﹏ಠ
hahahaha may hugot pa aha. Sino nga ba iyan? 😆
Adulting hits really hard talaga lalo na kapag di mayaman. Sa daming responsibilities, di ko na din tlaga dama ang pasko
I think Filipinos are one of the most excited nations for every upcoming xmas season. It is still far from December and yet they are already anticipating it. I can only imagine the festivities that many Filipino families would be preparing and experiencing.
I just hope that they would not spend all of their savings leaving them penniless, and some might be in debt, welcoming 2023.
Thanks for sharing.
!1UP
You get it right hahaha. Filipinos are quite excited about holidays like Christmas. And yeah, I agree with you that we should not spend all of our saving so we wont be penniless when the new year comes :))
Thank you for checking this out ❤️
The pleasure is mine. It is worth the read. 😊
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This is the moment where kids started to sing Christmas song everywhere and anytime. Jingles will be a last song syndrome to almost everyone.
As we grows old, ber months change its meaning and it will depend on the situation.
Yeah, I agree. Now that the restrictions are now lifted, I am expecting more children on the streets singing Christmas Carols.
How I wish I will be young forever do the meaning of Christmas won't change.
Nakakamiss yung caroling hehehe
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Hehe pag mag start ang ber months ang unang naiisip ko dudungaw na sa fb si jose mari chan haha. Totoo din na minsan nakakabawas ng excitement sa adults yung budget sa pasko. Kaya pag start pa lang ng taon dapat talaga iworkout na agad ang pag build ng madaming income streams para hindi ngarag sa gastos at naiistress sa pasko. Buwelo na ng maaga para madaming time makaipon. May ilang months pa naman tayo keri pa yan. Focus muna mag grind at makaipon para masaya ang celebration pag goal met na. Btw, as promised last time, may hinain akong "pandesal". 😁
I second the motion sa part na kailangan na mag grind at early months ng taon para hindi stress pagdating ng Ber-months.
Sige sigee, I'll check later ung pa-pandesal hahaha 👀
I'm impressed with the kind of approach you used to tell the story about ber months.
The time-lapse helped me to understand the sequencing and how you inserted each story in the time.
In addition, I totally agree that ber months needed money because that's how we show our love for our family, friends, and godchildren (I have none).
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hehe thank you! A compliment like this helps me to feel motivated. So far ikaw palang nakapansin ng sequencing ko hahaha.
THank you sa pa-pizza mo mayor!
Small detail matters. Lol!
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I loved the creativity behind the way you delivered the story. Bet ang timeline, it's a nice approach to tell the story, ang realistic din ng pagkadala. Good read. 🙂
Thank you so much po @yzamazing ❤️. Nakakataba po ng puso pag may nakakapansin ng small details, like yung approach ko sa pagsusulat.
Thank you din po for checking this out :))
Ngayon basta christmas post na masaya lagi akong nag shahsare sa facebook. Para kasing tumamlay na ang diwa ng pasko sa pilipinas. Kaya dapat maging makulay na ulit ang christmas lalo na sa mga bata. Para taon taon magkaroon sila ng aabangan na season.
Totoo po sa part na medyo tumamlay ang pasko sa Pinas. Siguro dahil na rin sa hirap ng buhay kaya ganun.
Things change and people too :) The early celebration is now getting push towards December and even so, the atmosphere is a lot different than what it used to be :)
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