This is our fourth Christmas in the Philippines and for the first time ever, I think I spent more time reflecting on what I will miss about Christmas here than I did reflecting on what I miss about Christmas in Canada. As a family, we’ve known life in the Philippines more than life in BC and while I still feel homesick this season, it feels I’ve suddenly switched to being sad about the day when we’ll have to say goodbye to this city, these people and this life here. In some ways it has been a very difficult season for us- one where the familiarity of our home culture might have eased many struggles- but in other ways, Manila has never felt more like home than it does this year. In no particular order, here’s a little list of the highlights of our Christmas season:
1. Meeting Tita Sam’s baby, Yashari. What a sweet little teeny-weeny-cutie-pie bundle of joy I got to hold. Teyah was nearly twice as big at birth so she seems SO tiny! We are so happy for our dear helper, Sam, and her family and it was lovely to spend an afternoon in her home snuggling her little one.
2. Cody’s preschool Christmas concert. I was nearly in tears over the sweetness of hearing his little voice recite lines and sing songs and then watching his little dance moves had me in stitches. Filipinos know how to DANCE! and cutesy Christmas carol actions are not enough :) Perhaps you've seen him break it down in the video I posted on Facebook.
3. Christmas Eve service at Union Church of Manila. It is dubbed the Candles and Chaos service, due to the abundance of joyful chaos coming from all the kiddos. So we fit in nicely! The best part was singing the hallelujah chorus (Makai’s all time favourite song since he first heard it 2 years ago) and at that totally silent moment right before the finale Cody sings a passionate HALLELUJAH causing a stream of laughter and stares around us!
4. Christmas baking. The best part of baking this year was an outing with friends to a local bakery where we made gingerbread houses (well, sugar cookie houses) and didn’t have to clean up a thing! While the debate raged on whether to eat the house immediately or keep it as décor, the ant issue was the deciding factor….. if there’s one thing I will never miss about the Philippines, it’s the abundance of ants in our house!
5. PeaceChurch Christmas gathering. Still a highlight, despite nearly everyone cancelling due to the typhoon that swept through the island that night. But Ate Reg and her beau, Mel, came and only Cody and I were in on the surprise :) We decorated Christmas cookies with them and sang Christmas songs- so special! Part 2 of the party happened a few days later where we repeated much of the evening with some of those who had been stuck at home due to the typhoon (sadly I forgot to take photos at either event).
6. Summer! I tend to really miss wool sweaters, cozy blankets and warm coats but when I hear that Vancouver has had endless rain, I do feel quite thankful for the scene below- Christmas Eve day and Cody is enjoying a little game of soccer under the palm trees with our neighbour.
7. Street games. I will miss the joy of watching the kids play with the children in Bryan’s community. They gather weekly to play games and listen to Bible stories…. their Christmas party was a blast!
10. New Years Getaway. For two nights over New Years we took the kids to a church camp- it was like Camp Squeah but with Palm trees. And SO much fun…. Pools, bowling alley, trampoline, bouldering wall, beach volleyball court (AKA awesome sand box), obstacle course, tree house, New Years party for the kids, good food and lots of new friends. The downside was the rain for 2 days straight (felt like Vancouver in June!) and the crazy amount of fireworks that put our kiddos in fearful tears. Poor Teyah woke up at midnight in such a fright- it was like Armageddon out there.
We hope your Christmas season was also filled with family, friends and much joy!
With love,
The Barkmans
1. Meeting Tita Sam’s baby, Yashari. What a sweet little teeny-weeny-cutie-pie bundle of joy I got to hold. Teyah was nearly twice as big at birth so she seems SO tiny! We are so happy for our dear helper, Sam, and her family and it was lovely to spend an afternoon in her home snuggling her little one.
2. Cody’s preschool Christmas concert. I was nearly in tears over the sweetness of hearing his little voice recite lines and sing songs and then watching his little dance moves had me in stitches. Filipinos know how to DANCE! and cutesy Christmas carol actions are not enough :) Perhaps you've seen him break it down in the video I posted on Facebook.
3. Christmas Eve service at Union Church of Manila. It is dubbed the Candles and Chaos service, due to the abundance of joyful chaos coming from all the kiddos. So we fit in nicely! The best part was singing the hallelujah chorus (Makai’s all time favourite song since he first heard it 2 years ago) and at that totally silent moment right before the finale Cody sings a passionate HALLELUJAH causing a stream of laughter and stares around us!
4. Christmas baking. The best part of baking this year was an outing with friends to a local bakery where we made gingerbread houses (well, sugar cookie houses) and didn’t have to clean up a thing! While the debate raged on whether to eat the house immediately or keep it as décor, the ant issue was the deciding factor….. if there’s one thing I will never miss about the Philippines, it’s the abundance of ants in our house!
5. PeaceChurch Christmas gathering. Still a highlight, despite nearly everyone cancelling due to the typhoon that swept through the island that night. But Ate Reg and her beau, Mel, came and only Cody and I were in on the surprise :) We decorated Christmas cookies with them and sang Christmas songs- so special! Part 2 of the party happened a few days later where we repeated much of the evening with some of those who had been stuck at home due to the typhoon (sadly I forgot to take photos at either event).
6. Summer! I tend to really miss wool sweaters, cozy blankets and warm coats but when I hear that Vancouver has had endless rain, I do feel quite thankful for the scene below- Christmas Eve day and Cody is enjoying a little game of soccer under the palm trees with our neighbour.
7. Street games. I will miss the joy of watching the kids play with the children in Bryan’s community. They gather weekly to play games and listen to Bible stories…. their Christmas party was a blast!
8. Getting a Christmas Tree. We had a family outing to a local Garden Centre in search for the perfect house plant/Christmas tree. Our lovely little tree for the last three years was literally a foot tall, so while this may be no noble fir, we are quite pleased with our Filipino version :)
9. Casa Santa Christmas museum. Every single Christmas décor you could think of under one roof! Obviously the room full of Christmas stuffed animals was the hit for our family. When we’re missing out on family gatherings at home, finding fun things to do in Manila is essential!
10. New Years Getaway. For two nights over New Years we took the kids to a church camp- it was like Camp Squeah but with Palm trees. And SO much fun…. Pools, bowling alley, trampoline, bouldering wall, beach volleyball court (AKA awesome sand box), obstacle course, tree house, New Years party for the kids, good food and lots of new friends. The downside was the rain for 2 days straight (felt like Vancouver in June!) and the crazy amount of fireworks that put our kiddos in fearful tears. Poor Teyah woke up at midnight in such a fright- it was like Armageddon out there.
We hope your Christmas season was also filled with family, friends and much joy!
With love,
The Barkmans
