For many Christians this month celebrates one of the most holy days—the birth of Jesus Christ. Whether or not he was born on the 25th of December does not matter. It is a marker and a day of celebration for Christians. For other faith traditions it is a secular holiday, no work and more time with loved ones. This holy day is usually celebrated with exchanging of presents (sometimes secretly), gathered together with the family in a large feast consisting of every comfort food, from American to Filipino to some combination of what we call “local food” in Hawaii. Indeed, it is a joyful occasion, something that we ought to observe; after all, it only happens once a year.
Because it only happens once a year, making it all the more important, I want to invite you to reflect on the many meanings of Christmas, especially in the Philippines and the diaspora.
What I failed to mention is this type of Christmas is new to me, and I suspect to many of the Overseas Filipino Worker’s (OFW’s) and their families as well. I was first conscious of the observance of Christmas at the age of five. I was in the Philippines then and I remember being taken by my father to a place called Star City in Manila. It was the closest I got to Disneyland. Still, to this day, I could not figure out what theme this park was meant to convey. Japanese anime mixed with giant ice castles that had long and dangerous slides with haunted houses, roller coasters and my favorite--the bumper cars, of course don’t forget the cotton candy and waffle hotdogs. With the immense roller coasters and video arcades all happening indoors it was impossible to hear oneself even if you screamed your lungs off.
A year earlier my mother had to move to Hawaii to seek employment. Her remittances, all the hard earned 500 dollars, allowed my sister and I to enjoy that unforgettable Christmas night. I don’t ever remember hearing my father say anything except “go try that one, it looks fun, it’s only 30 pesos” or “eat this, it’s good, expensive too!” I realize now that he was trying his best to entertain us, keep us busy, even tire us, just to avoid being asked, “Where’s mom right now? “When does she comeback”? “What is she doing?” He knew well what my mother was doing. Because Hawaii is a day late, my father knew that she was still at work, at Burger King. After her shift, she will carpool with her co-workers for a thirty minute ride to Kailua and clean several condos, owned by a family who just left for a vacation. He knew that he would have to make a phone call a day later when Christmas ends in the Philippines and begins in Hawaii. My father didn’t know but I too was avoiding that conversation.
I want to lift up this layer of alienation for the millions of OFW’s who endure this type of separation. In this time of celebration let us remember that the experiences of Christ are not far from the experiences of the OFW’s. Jesus and his family fled to Egypt because their life was threatened. Likewise, OFW’s flee to countries in the West, China, and the Middle East because of the threat of hunger and poverty in the Philippines. With 70 percent of OFW’s being women, leaving behind their families, with no real legal protection from both home and host country, facing unjust and inhumane conditions, I ask that we celebrate Christmas mindful of the OFW’s who do not have the warmth embrace of their children, husbands, relatives and partners.
In the spirit of Christ’s compassion and solidarity I ask that we say a prayer for the 12 million OFW’s who endure the difficult and traumatic separation from their families. With an average of six cold bodies, mostly women, arriving everyday in the Philippines, let us also send our thoughts and prayers to the families who will receive their loved ones in coffins.
May the grace of god; the blessings of our ancestors, and the wisdom of the anitos make loud those voices that have been silenced. Amen.
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