For Filipinos, reunion is more than just a gathering. It is a sacred occasion, a time when families gather, hearts reconnect, and memories are made. For me, this year’s Christmas was especially significant since it coincided with our family reunion. After 21 years since I last spent the holidays with my parents, I finally reunited with them, (this time without our father) together with my siblings who traveled all the way from Canada and the United States. The joy of being together again was overwhelming, and the date felt as fresh and special as it did in 2004, though now we have all grown older, and our children are no longer kids but adults themselves. This is almost true to many Filipinos working, migrated or naturalized citizens abroad, wherein for one reason or another, would find it hard to arrange an agreeable date for a reunion.
Dodie came with his wife Marissa, and their children Sam and Christina, all the way from Canada. Our eldest sister Stella, with her husband Gary, arrived from the US. Both of them left for America in the 1990s with our parents, Ding and Norma, while John, my second eldest brother, and I stayed behind and built our lives here in the Philippines. This is a normal occurrence for every “Juan” as some family members are left due to visa restrictions. John, who lives in Cadiz, joined us at the farm with his wife Jane and their children LJ, Kat, Marie, David, and Daniel. Seeing everyone together, parents, siblings, nieces, and nephews, was a dream come true. Our mother, Norma, could not hold back her tears of joy, saying how happy our father, Ding, who is now in Abraham’s bosom, would be to see us all gathered for Christmas.
Traveling early in the morning on December 22, we flew from Manila to Bacolod. Our home, located 60 kilometers from the city, took more than an hour to reach, with the last 2 to 4 kilometers of rough, unpaved road leading up to the farm. While the main road to Barangay Mabini has been cemented during the administration of Mayor Escalante, the stretch to our place and other mountain areas remains at the mercy of nature and the elements. There may be some legal complications, as this road traverses private land, but if any government official truly cared for the welfare of residents here, a solution could have been explored. For now, the only options are to walk through the mud or use vehicles suited for rough terrain.
Preparing for Christmas was not without challenges. On the night of December 23, we experienced a brownout. Fortunately, John had anticipated this and had purchased a generator after the long blackout that hit Negros following the typhoon in November. The generator provided us with electricity until the morning of December 25, when NONECO personnel finally restored our power. This is one disadvantage of living in a secluded area, help often comes days later, but it is still better than no help at all.
On Christmas Day, we attended Mass and later visited our father’s grave in Cadiz. While for other nationalities this may seem unusual, paying respect to the departed elders is a custom until now Filipino has preserved as a tradition, with candles and flowers. Afterward, we gathered for a festive lunch at our farm, surrounded by family and friends. I was filled with gratitude, knowing that after 21 years, we were finally together as a family. Such reunions may not happen every year, but when they do, they are truly special. Filipinos often reunite during Christmas, weddings, birthdays, and other milestones, but nothing compares to the joy of celebrating Christmas together after two decades apart. It is a reminder that no matter how far we go, family is always home. ||
