All of us spend the holidays in different ways. Some of us have family traditions involving meals, gift giving or religious ceremonies. For others, the holiday break means traveling to be with family or for a getaway vacation. For others, the holidays fall short of “what they’re supposed to be”

My name is KENT DAVE CALLADO. I lived in BRGY NAGBANGI LEON ILOILO. Im 17 years old. The day I love most – Christmas! — is the day I’m most dreading this year. It was Thursday morning, December 27, and I rolled over and tried to focus a bleary eye on my alarm clock. I was 30 minutes late starting my Christmas vacation. Vacations are suppose to be fun, restful periods, so I had a strong inclination to do that and go back to sleep. But no, that’s not the filipino way. We have to go, go, go in order to get the most out of our vacations. We set schedules, make reservations and become slaves to them. I started wishing that this Christmas is will the best vacation ever but actually my vacation is only in my house. I could say that I am very  happy and enjoy even im only in my home because there were many activities to do to make me enjoy and happy like watching movies or movie marathon, feeding our pet animals likes chicken, goat and dogs. I played usually when I have no work to do or have leisure time. I enjoy also to play my games in  my cellphones and playing games in my computer but most of all I liked to sleep and sleep and sleep.. Im also thankful that this year we are blessed that we have no illness or sickness in my family even I did not go to enjoy in different places I am very happy and enjoy in my home. That's all thank you.....and HAPPY NEW YEAR.....

-KENT DAVE CALLADO

             Christmas Vacations are the best time to relax and enjoy and I eagerly wait for my summer vacations every year. It is the time for as to avoid from the projects and exams in school as a student. It is also our time to give thanks to the birth of our savior Jesus Christ. The time for us to forgive to our enemies and also to help others without thinking of what will be the in return. It's Christmas time again, the time of hopes, joys, and forgiveness. It's the time that I always have the good feeling inside me. Every year at this moment, I like to be alone by myself to think. I think about many things that considered  important to me. They're including my past, my presence, and my future.

I still remember the times when I was young about six or seven year old in Barosong. When it came to Christmas, I always felt really exciting. My family used to decorate our home with ornaments to welcome the holiday. Almost every where I went, I saw the signs of Christmas. On Christmas Eve, I went to church with my family. At this time of the year, the church always filled with people. There were many merchants came to sell souvenirs, foods, or games inside the church yard. In Barosong, we don't give Christmas presence like in other Baryo. Instead, most of the religious families would have a small but warm dinner on Christmas Eve after church. It was always a beautiful impression every time I think about it.

            Last Christmas was a happy and joyful Christmas. I spend my Christmas vacation with my Family at home.  The first thing I am going to do is to buy gift for people that are special to me. I hope my gift would bring them happiness for the vacation. The second thing I plan to do is going to church with my friends and hangout at some parties after the mass over. Finally, the last thing I want to do is to go to go the place where my cousins is. I haven't seen them for more than a month. I hope this last Christmas vacation is an enjoyable vacation to everyone.

THANK YOU…GOD BLESS…!!!!!!

-MICHAEL TRIVELES

 

 

       A vacation or holiday is a specific trip or journey, usually for the purpose of recreation or tourism. People often take a vacation during specific holiday observances, or for specific festivals or celebrations. Vacations are often spent with friends or family. A person may take a longer break from work, such as a sabbatical, gap year, or career break.

        The concept of taking a vacation is a recent invention, and has developed through the last two centuries. Historically, the idea of travel for recreation was a luxury that only wealthy people could afford. In the Puritan culture of early America, taking a break from work for reasons other than weekly observance of the Sabbath was frowned upon. However, the modern concept of vacation was led by a later religious movement encouraging spiritual retreat and recreation. The notion of breaking from work periodically took root among the middle and working class.

         For many people, Christmas is a time of sorrow. They don't have the extra money to buy presents for their children, family, and friends. Many are saddened at Christmastime when they think of their loved ones who will not be able to come home for various reasons.

         Yet, Christmas can be a season of great joy. It is a time of God showing His great love for us. It can be a time of healing and renewed strength. You see, Christmas is when we celebrate the birth of the Christ child. God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to be born. His birth brought great joy to the world. Shepherds, wise men, and angels all shared in the excitement of knowing about this great event. They knew this was no ordinary baby. The prophets had told of His coming hundreds of years before. The star stopped over Bethlehem just to mark the way for those who were looking for this special child.

        My Christmas vacation is quite simple, but still enjoyable. It’s happy celebrating Christmas with my family and friends. Have some foods to share with. Have some story to and chikas to share. Enjoy playing with kids. Working household chores with my mother.

       The countdown of New Year varies from family to family or from region to region. At the strike of 12:00 midnight, the noise becomes deafening, church bells rings, firecrackers rules the sky, kids gaping in awe as they see the different firecrackers, blooming in the sky. The banging and booming rise to a climax which includes clanging of old pots and pans, blowing jeep, car or tricycle horns, ambulance sirens for full one minute as the countdown to New Year.

        It is also a favorite thing to do with children, is to jump twelve times so they will get taller next year the higher you jump the taller you grow. The loud noises and sounds of merrymaking are not only meant to celebrate the coming of the New Year but are also supposed to drive away bad spirits.

         Around 12:15 am, the noise stops and the air is filled with human voice and the family starts to eat a thanksgiving feast called Media Noche, it is believe that we should put as much food on the table so that next year you will have food all year round. Twelve round fruits should be on the table as it is a sign of prosperity for the next twelve months. There is also a midnight mass celebration to welcome the New Year and to thank God for all His blessings.

         With or without firecrackers, media Noche, and 13 fruits.We should be thankful that we’re still breathing.

         Even if this is not interesting for others. But I’m lucky to have my family and friends during special occasion like Christmas and New Year.

           And that was my vacation all about!

 BY:

      Aileen Camilote

 

Christmas is a big Holiday in the Philippines. It’s huge almost every Filipino Really go out of their way and take time to prepare for annual occasion . Christmas eve is often  celebrate by families and friends at home enjoying a Christmas dinner at midnight. This is called  Noche Buena. It is a time for thanksgiving and a time for families to be together.

When the vacation started I was in the house to serve and take care of my family. And have doing so do best of my ability to serve them. And a day before Christmas.I was planning for a little thing to do. And I was celebrate my Christmas with my Family.

                And the other side our barangay  officials and members of barangay  they celebrate a big Christmas party in the barangay Court to see that they are one.When it comes for Christmas day.And  their are games to prepared for children and adults. I seen there happy faces.

For me Christmas is a time for families. It is a time of giftgiving and a time for warm friendship during the Christmas season.

               

-DalynAlmiranes

     Experiences is frequently disconcerting and is often accompanied by sense of reality. What are your experiences during your Christmas vacation?

     I have many experiences during my Christmas vacation. January 5 is my first day back at School. So, I figured it would be a perfect  day to share what I did during my sembreak. Before Christmas, I went to my auntie’s house to visit my sister and my nephew. On my way to my auntie’s house, for the first time I ride to their jeepney and I feel nervous because the road was so difficult to travel. On that time, the day was so hot and I’m thankful that I arrived in my auntie’s house safely but hungry. And that night, there have an exchanged gift and games. I’m very enjoy that night because there are many people joined the games.

-LORAINE FAME

“Instead of being a time of unusual behaviour, Christmas is perhaps the only time in the year when people can obey their natural impulses and express their true sentiments without feeling self-conscious and , perhaps, foolish. Christmas, in short, is about the only chance a man has to be himself.”

Last Christmas I spend my vacation in ILECO-1 to continue my hours in OJT.

Dec 25. 2014

We go to the market to buy our food for our noche Buena and after that time me and my family had a gift giving and eat our food that we serve on the table.

Dec 31 -2 2015

We preparing for our food and we wait for 12 o’clock after that time we saw a fireworks display in our barangay and after that we go inside to spend our happy chatting and eating foods that we serve with my family and friends. In the morning we preparing our self because we go to city to have a first picture and first happiness moments with my cousins and nephew and lastly the barangay have Christmas party and we go there to have fun with others and my responsible there is to be a photographer..,

- Gibbriel Canja

            Filipinos have a long Christmas vacation. We prepared our Christmas decoration as early on the month of September and we ended on January. Filipinos are celebrated their Christmas day with their  family and their relatives. Sometimes our relatives  that far from their family are went  home in their province  in order to be with their family.

            Christmas is the day our Lord Jesus Christ  born. Christmas day and New Years day are one of the holiday that I truly awaited. In this day, I can spent my Christmas eve together with my family that we are complete in our Noche Buena.

             In December 24, I am sad because my mother and my one brother didn’t go home to join us in our Noche Buena. I am so bored in our house, so I decided to ask company of my cousin Janine to hangout on the house of our other relatives. We are so sad because there’s no anyone firing their fire crackers. We just stay in our basketball court to watch some boys playing basketball.

            In my New Years  eve, I am so happy  because finally my family are complete. We prepared many foods. My cousins went our house. I gave lady’s drinks to Jovelyn and Daven. While waiting  for the clock strikes 12, I am reading the book that my Kuya Kris gave to me. When it’s already 12 midnight, I shouted happy new year and Ipull my mother to watch the fireworks of my kuya. After watcjhing the fireworks, I kiss my parents and greeted them happy new year. My new years eve is so happy and wonderfull.

            In January 1, I woke up early because my kuya ask me to go to him for swimming. I am so happy for this vacation.

 

Published:

Yuleyonder Cris Tayhopon