Today is the most beautiful time of the year.

More than a Christian holiday, Christmas is the time when we prep up homes, streets, workplaces, and business establishments with glowing lights and ornaments to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, born in a manger thousands of years ago.

Christmas is particularly alive in the faces of children who gleefully troop to their ninong (godfather) and ninang (godmother) to pay respect and await their gifts. We find it in the hearts and laughter of neighbors who partake of the salo-salo (feast) in the barangay hall or narrow eskinita (alley) and exchange gifts and meals. We feel the goodwill of food chain store owners providing free meals in a box to street children and cranky bosses who smile when giving out bonuses.

Indeed, it's the time when we reflect on what we have done this year, thank the Lord for the blessings, and forgive those who have hurt and harmed us.

I remember my best Christmas experience when I was 8 or 9 years old, in our house in Barangay Busugon in the 3rd class municipality of San Remigio in northern Cebu with my brothers, cousins, uncles, and aunts. We used to climb all the trees and fish for Bugaong (Terapon Jarbua), a type of native fish that thrives on muddy waters and looks like an Oscar fish. It is the favorite of gourmet people when it comes to dried fish. We fished right in our little fishpond. It was such a joy whenever we caught one.

My grandparents had a panata (religious devotion) to hold mass in our barangay every year and cook food for all the residents there. Seeing the people line up, get food, and go to the tables with their chosen food, I felt joy. I feel happy seeing hungry people eat their hearts out.

We used to run all day without care under the scorching heat of the sun or the dust clinging to our bodies. We were just happy running around. Life was so simple then.

But the world is not all sunshine and rainbows. My saddest Christmas happened when my eldest daughter had to leave for the United States, and her flight was on 23 December 2009. We sent her off at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. My little girl looked at her mama and sisters Katrina and Kristina and her brother Yuri; everyone had tears in their eyes, knowing it could be long before we see her again.