Enjoying Christmas Day Spent all by Yourself

The Christmas Day is often associated to the day of spending your best time with your family, relatives and friends. In fact, for most cultures that have Christian backgrounds, Christmas is best spent when they’re united with their families and loved ones. There will be times, however when it’s really impossible to be with loved ones during the celebration of important holidays like Christmas.

For different reasons, there are people who will be celebrating the holidays alone. Do you believe that you CAN still have the best Christmas ever, even away from home? Well, this article aims to prepare you what to do to best enjoy the Christmas Day even when you’re alone.

There may be many reasons such as work, study, company projects or events why you need to go in a distant place far from home during Christmas (or just in any other occasions); but being away from your family is not a reason to frown and live an unhappy disposition during Christmas. Don’t dwell too much on the fact that you’re away from the people very dear to you on this important occasion. Instead, take it as a challenge to work hard and move forward. As the famous cliché once tell us: “THINK POSITIVE!”

Situations like this (when you really can’t go home for Christmas) may even result to be a blessing in disguise because sometimes, being away may strengthen your relationships with your families back home. In my case, ever since I graduated college, I have to spend my Christmas away from my family because I work many miles away from our province. Yep, I haven’t celebrated Christmas with my family for three years now. And yes, being away from home even during Christmas somehow help to build a strong relationship with our family.

It’s during my rest days from work when I had the opportunity to talk to my family back home through the use of today’s modern technology—the mobile phone. To be honest, I’m not the type of person who talks about how valuable my family is, but with our constant conversations on the phone, I’ve conveyed how they mean to my life especially during Christmas. Yes, we may have been separated many miles apart, but our strong family ties are even made stronger; and that’s why I consider being away from them as a blessing in disguise.
So, based on experience and others’ common experiences, here’s how you can best enjoy Christmas although away from home:

1. Make sure to communicate with your loved ones.Communication is really important as it connects you to your loved ones back home. However, constant communication is a different story. Bear in mind that Christmas only takes place once a year. It is important to spend even a short span of time conversing with your families.If you’re away, make use of today’s technology—you can call them via phone, or even exchange messages through text, or e-mail if possible. Video calling is another notable option; Skype may be best if your families back home have computer and internet access. (Tip: Even tablets and android phones have mobile applications for Skype which you can use!)

2. Buy yourself some gifts. Why not? We buy gifts for others at one point, so you should also treat yourself at Christmas. The great thing about buying gifts for yourself is that you get exactly what you want in the color, shape and size you want. Wrap them up on great Christmas paper and put them under the tree to open on Christmas morning.Even though you know what they are, it’s exciting to have new special things on Christmas.

3. Plan a great Christmas meal. Yes,Christmas may be incomplete if meals aren’t served. Having sumptuous meals on your table during Christmas? That’s just so awesome. If you happen to visit fellow Filipinos on Christmas, rest assured you will be delighted to see the variety of meals prepared on their table such as spaghetti, cakes, salads and others.On the other hand, when you’re in a Japanese household, one thing that will catch your attention is the presence of the Japanese Christmas cake. In Japan, it is tradition to eat cake on Christmas. So, don’t be surprised whenever you are offered the cake on Christmas! (Tip: DO you have the passion in cooking? Baking a cake for Christmas might be a good idea to consider.)

4. Take decorations! It'll make your time merry to decorate on Christmas. Try it, the feeling is awesome! (For real!)

5. Go to church, this will mean you can spend Christmas with others. I believe going to church is a means that you will think more about the real meaning of Christmas and discover it is just as special whether you have hundreds of people to celebrate with or no one at all.

6. Reach Out to Others. Yes,try to focus on others. Christmas is the best time for volunteering and being with others at church, or any civic activities, or even charity works. The act of giving also helps in reminding you of all of the blessings that you have in your life. Giving your time and effort to people in need feels much more rewarding than receiving a gift. After all, this is the season of giving.

7. Think positive. Be positive. Drive change. The fact that they’re away from home, most people forget that they are to enjoy their own company around Christmas. Why? Because they are too busy feeling sorry for themselves. This can spoil their entire time. Think positive thoughts and remember the true meaning of the season and you can still have a great time. Maybe even better than if you were with family.

In closing, make Christmas truly a one-big event to remember. Not everyone will make it to the next one so we can only make the most of those we have right here, right now. And always remember…Christmas is a wonderful thing,even if you're at home or not.

Happy Holidays!

Note: 

This article was originally published in 2014 by EMMAGAZINE, a magazine I used to write for that was based in Japan and had Filipino and Japanese audiences. Thanks to Mr. Butch Causing, the editor-in-chief for the trust. 

How to Make Someone You Love (Who Doesn't Love You) Love You Back

Falling in love with someone who doesn't love you back is difficult. How can you make him or her love you back? If you tried hard and searched for credible answers to this question, there can never be a cool answer my friend!

In the first place, one cannot simply command someone to love him or her back. That my friend is due to the fact that we are given with hearts that cannot just be dictated who to love and who not to love. True love waits, they say.

If you are really meant for each other, you will have this person for life at the right place and at the right time.

Let us also accept the fact that one cannot simply be persuaded to love you back even if you have exerted countless efforts to win him or her.

Bear in mind that the heart beats, and it beats faster to someone who is meant for it.

Spoken Word Poetry: Kumusta?

Spoken Word Poetry: Kumusta?

Junrey R. Belando

October 14, 2018

Kumusta ka na? Masakit pa ba ang mga sugat sa puso mo 
dulot ng taong dati mong sinisinta?

Salamat naman kung okay ka na at unti-unti nang naghilom ang sugat 
o mga sugat sa puso mong kamakailan lang ay tila durog na durog na.

Pinupuri kita sa angkin mong tapang sa pagkubli ng sakit sa damdamin 
sapagkat sa panlabas na anyo ay waring hindi mo alintana.

Ang iyong taglay na tapang at lakas 
upang patuloy na bumangon ay talagang kahanga-hanga.

Nararapat sayo ay gawin kang isang bayani, 
bayani katulad nina Bonifacio, Jacinto at Mabini

Kasintapang mo sila 
bagama’t damdamin lamang at sarili ang iyong sandata

Tunay na hindi matatawaran
 ang ankin mong tapang sa pagkubli ng iyong pagkabalisa

Sapagkat sa labas at publiko 
waring buhay mo’y napaka perpekto 
'pagkat maligaya ang iyong ipinapakita.

Ngunit ang hindi nila alam habang ikaw ay malayang nakikipag-usap o tumatawa

Habang sa paggawa ng iyong mga takda-- hapon man o sa umaga

Habang sa mundo mong ginagalawan ikaw ay abalang-abala

Ay nananaig pa rin sa puso mo ang hapdi, kirot at buhay na walang-gana.

Ngunit bakit sa madla ay iba naman ang iyong ipinapakita?

Bakit kahit pag-iyak ay hindi mo man lang magagawa

Patunay ba ito na ikaw ay patuloy pa ding nagdurasa

Mula sa sakit at hapdi ng kahapong naglalaro pa din sa iyong alaala?

Nasaan na ang mga ngiting 'yon na tunay na maligaya?

Nasaan na ang buhay mong dati-rati ay kaysigla?

Nasaan na ang dating ikaw na tunay na napakaligaya?

Kapatid, tama na. Bumangon ka na at buksan ang iyong mga mata

Buhay mo ay may saysay kahit wala na ang dati mong sinisinta

Kapatid tama na. 
Pakatandaan na hindi ka nag-iisa, 
sapagkat naririyan naman mga taong sa kanila, ikaw ay mahalaga.

Kaya’t bangon na, alisin ang mga bagay na syang nakapiring sayong mga mata
 at harapin ang panibagong yugto pagkat alalahanin mo,
 habang buhay may pag-asa.

SPOKEN WORD POETRY: BUMABANGON

Katha ni: JUNREY BELANDO

Wala akong pakialam, wala na akong nararamdaman

Wala na akong dapat balikan pa, kaya’t wala na rin dapat pag-usapan

Wala na akong sasabihin sapagkat itong puso’y kumbinsido na

Kumbinsido na itong puso’y babangon muli mula sa pagkalugpok
Babangong muli mula sa kanyang pagkamarupok

Kaya’t kahit na tila walang tigil itong mga dagok

Na pilit sumisira sa dating matibay na kahibangan

Ngayon itong puso ay pilit na lumalaban

Lumalaban tayo, lumalaban itong pusong lugmok na lugmok sa kahibangan.

Ayoko na, ayokong-ayoko nang balikan pa

Mga masasayang araw, gabi at oras

Mga dating kaligayahan na sa ngayo’y nakabaon na lamang 
sa alaala ng kahapon.

Ayoko na, ayoko na!

Iyan ang mga katagang nasa aking isipan

Iyan ang mga katagang bumabalot sa aking katauhan

Iyan ang mga katagang nais kong paniwalaan at aking paninindigan

Dahil sa sakit ng dating pag-ibig na puno ng kahibangan.

Ngunit bakit hanggang ngayon ay tila umaasa pa rin

Bakit hanggang ngayon ay umaasa pa din

Bakit naglalaro sa aking isipan na muli ay siya’y makapiling?

Bakit tila ang puso’y hindi natuto sa dinanas na sugat at kabiguan din…

Haaaay! teka muna at itigil na nga. tandaang lahat ng dati ay pawang kahibangan lamang

Kahibangan na sa aking damdamin ay tila bumubulag nang buong tapang

Kahibangan lamang na nais kong wakasan at iwanan nang tuluyan

Ngunit bakit? Bakit may isang tinig o damdamin pa ring pilit umaasa

Umaasang may mangyaring maganda gayong wala naman talagang pag-asa

Pag-asa? Oo, umaasa. Bakit itong damdaming sawi

Ay hindi pa rin mapakali? Bakit umaasa pa rin na  may maganda pa ngang mangyayari?

Bakit tila hindi natuto ang puso sa gitna ng naranasang pasakit?

Puso, tama na. Bumangon ka’t idilat ang mga mata

Sa katotohanang sa pagitan ninyong dalawa

Ay ikaw lang naman ang umaasa

Tanggapin ang katotohanang ang lahat ng iyon 
Lahat ng mga iyon...ay wala lang naman pala sa kanya.

SPOKEN WORD POETRY: HINDI NA KAILANMAN MAGPAPAKATANGA PA

Katha ni: Junrey R. Belando

ITO ANG AKING BAGONG SIMULA.

Ilang beses ba akong nagbabasakali?

Ilang beses ko nga bang minaliit ang sarili

Para lamang sayo ay maging kapuri-puri?

Hindi isa, hindi rin dalawa, o tatlo, o maging lima!

Ngunit pag-ibig mo ba ay aking nasungkit

Sa gitna ng mga unos at mga tinahak na mga pasakit?

Isa, dalawa, tatlo, apat, lima

Limang mga katotohanan ang pilit kong pinagbubulagan

Pinilit ko ang sarili na ang mga piring sa aking mga mata ay hindi mamulat sa katotohanan

Katotohanang sa pag-ibig ko sayo ako ay nagpapakatanga.

Isa. Isang chat mo lang sa facebook dati ay kung ano nang saya!

Anong saya sa aking puso na sa aking mga pisngi ay nagpapasaya.

Dalawa. Dalawang beses yata tayong kumain sa labas

Bago ko nalamang lahat ng mga yun ay pagkukunwari lang pala at mga palabas.

Tatlo. Tatlong salita lang naman galing sayo ang lagi kong inaasam

Hindi ko mawari kung bakit ang mga katagang "I LOVE YOU" ay labis ang kapangyarihan.

Apat. Apat na segundo akong natulala bago umagos ang hindi ko 

mapigilang pagluha nung narealize ko kung gaano ako katanga.

Lima. Limang mga kataga sa ngayon ay laman ng aking diwa

Limang kataga ang isasabuhay ko sa aking bagong simula:

'HINDI NA KAILANMAN MAGPAPAKATANGA.'

PARA SA MGA NAIINIP

Ang saya ma-inlove. 

Pero mas masaya lalo na kung love ka din ng minamahal mo! At kung love ka nga niya, siguro magiging mas magaan ang pakiramdam mo dahil araw-araw may nagpapasayo, may mangungulit sayo, may kasama ka.

Pero paano kung sa love story ninyong dalawa, ikaw lang pala ang nagmamahal dahil hindi mo pa masabi na MAHALaga s'ya sayo? Natatakot kang sabihin sa kanya dahil baka magagalit. O baka masira ang pagkakaibigan ninyong dalawa. 

Kaya mo bang isugal ang pagkakaibigan ninyo sa nararamdam mo? Kung hindi, eh wag mo na lang ituloy lalo na kung ramdam mong hanggang KAIBIGAN lang naman ang turing n'ya sayo.

Siguro kung mahal ka din niya, hindi ka masasaktan nang palihim. Siguro kung alam din niya kung paano suklian ang pag-ibig na iyong damdamin, ay maaaring masasabi mong totoo nga pala ang sinaabi sa fairy tales na "they lived happily ever after." Kaso lang, sa fairy tales lang naman madalas nagkakaroon ng happy endings.

Napakabitter naman.

Actually, may happy endings naman talaga sa totoong buhay. Yun nga lang, sa ibang tao, hindi sayo. Don't worry, malay mo baka you will end up naman talaga to live happily ever after. Maybe not now, maybe later. :) Tiwala lang, kasi true love waits.

TANDAAN, true love exists. Kailan pa darating ang taong magpaparamdam sayo ng true love? Kung hindi mo pa sya kapiling ngayon, just wait. Keep on waiting and pray. Maybe hindi pa sa ngayon, dahil hinahanda pa ni Lord.

Bakit Hindi ka Crush ng Crush Mo?

Bakit hindi ka crush ng crush mo?

ANG SULATING ITO AY MULA SA PERSPECTIVE NG MGA TAONG NAGMAHAL AT NASAKTAN DAHIL SA ONE-SIDED LOVE.

Bakit hindi ka crush ng crush mo?

Complicated. 'Yan ang tunay na kasagutan.

Eh ang puso naman kasi eh! Ewan ko ba kung bakit 'yang puso na 'yan ay hindi ma-control-control. Ba't kasi kung ma-fall ay dun pa talaga sa taong ang hirap-hirap abutin?

Kung sino pa kasi yung taong ang hirap-hirap mapasayo, ay siya pa madalas ang pinambabalingan ng pansin ng damdamin! Siya pa madalas nagpapatibok ng damdamin. Siya pa madalas nagpapakilig. Hay! Wag nga kasing ma-fall kaagad. Ang hirap sayo, binibigyan ng meaning ang mga bagay na hindi naman big deal sa kanya.

But human as we are, we are vulnerable to love. Tao ka ba? Kung oo, you are vulnerable to love. Oo, love yan--mapa-puppy love, infatuation, o ano pa yan, it's still love. The problem is, you love at the wrong time, at the wrong person.

Coming from a person who have never been loved by the person he or she loves, ang sarap siguro ma-inlove sa taong love ka din ano?

Ang sarap siguro makipag-bonding and spend most of your time to the one whom you care and love who also loves you back the way you want to be loved!

You got to have time with her or him together, send sweet messages expressing how much you care and love each other, and everyday you are just secured because you know for a fact that you have someone in your life you can call your "second half."

Well, back to reality! Wala, wala kang girl or boy friend na matatawag eh. Loved one? Meron nga. Pero that "one" does not love you back! In short, love exists but it's only you who is in love. Ouch.

Back to the question: Bakit hindi ka crush ng crush mo?

Hindi ka crush ng crush mo dahil hindi ka n'ya type. Hindi ka n'ya type kaya kahit anong klaseng effort pa gagawin mo, kahit buhatin mo man ang buong mundo, kahit iaalay mo man ang mga bituin sa langit para sa kanya, kahit lumangoy ka man ng maraming karagatan para lamang sa kanya, yung mga effort mong yun ay sayang lamang sapagka't yun ay walang kwenta para sa kanya. Hindi kasi ikaw ang kumukumpleto sa kanyang buhay. Siya nga ang hinahanap ng iyong puso ngunit ibang tao naman ang hinahabol ng kanyang puso. 

Hindi ka crush ng crush mo dahil hindi s'ya ang nararapat sayo. Sometimes, we have the longing to belong to someone that's why we are vulnerable to fall in love to someone especially if that person shows care and concern for you. But take note, hindi lahat ng mga bagay ay bibigyan mo ng meaning. Yung iba sadyang caring lang talaga, caring for everybody. In short, marami kayo, kaya't wag kang magpapaloko dahil at the end of the day, it is so hard to bear if you already fell for someone who cared for you but they just disappear when you're already fallen. Sorry, you fell, without someone to catch you. 

Ang love kasi ay hindi yan karera na kailangan mong magmadali.

Love is something not to rush for. Wika nga nila, "True love waits."

It is better to be cheerful even if you are single. Happiness naman is a choice. Longing for company? How about calling your friends and spend time with them so that you won't feel alone? Or how about spend more time with your family? You can even increase your time joining your church events or local charities. You can even brace yourself and travel to places or commune with nature. Really, there's so much more you can do than think of being lonely. Malay mo, out of these things and more, dun mo makikilala ang someone na para sayo? Uy, huwag umasa. My point is, there's so many possibilities in life and all we have to do is enjoy what we have right now. ;)

My friend, love can wait. Trust me, darating at darating din ang taong mamahalin ka sa paraang deserve mo. ;)

Ready to Live Alone?

Note: I wrote this article when I was in Bacolod City to work in one of the BPO companies there, really far from my howmetown in Dumaguete City and very far from my family. This article was published when I was still a regular writer for EMME MAGAZINE, a magazine based in Japan.

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Ready to hop in to your new chapter as living independently? Here are some bonus tips to keep in mind before you bid goodbye from your original home.

Someone once told me that a person's character can grow over the test of time when he is far from his family, and thus when he live away from his comfort zone. In a personal note, I can attest to this as a fact.

When I first heard of a job opportunity away from home, I was thrilled and excited. I looked beyond and smiled knowing that it's gonna be an adventure and challenging experience knowing the fact that I'll get to live alone and yes, away from my comfort zone.

Whether you are going to study away from your home, you are destined to work at another state, you're a bachelor and you decide to live alone, or whatever the reason may be, here's some tips you MUST bear in mind before you pack your things and move to your new place.

1. Plan the day ahead.

It is important to lay down your plans before the day you transfer. Have a list of the things you'll need the most. Remember that it's gonna be tough to be away from your comfort one, hence you'll be needing a lot of strength to overcome some hurdles. Having a list of the DO's and DON'Ts is a plus for a successful living.

Make sure everything's ready before you move. Pack your things carefully and seek some help when you transport your stuff. Sometimes too much excitement leads you to oversee what's needed to be done. Just relax, act on your own pace, and free yourself from any anxieties. Remember, this is a new chapter if your life, thus you need to be wise enough to plan the day ahead.

2. Familiarize your new home.

Over a period of years, or maybe your lifetime, you will have to stay at this new place. For this reason, it's important to be familiar with your neighborhood. It's not really a must to meet all your neighbors but having a good relationship with your neighbors or to the residents next to your door is a plus.

Check out the landmarks near your place. Also be familiarize with the numbers and the authorities to call in cases of emergencies.

3. Be thrifty.

As a rookie on living by yourself, be mindful on your finances. Classify what your needs are from your wants. Learn to make your needs a priority. This includes your rent, transportation, and most of all, food.

Ready to make the move?