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.