Christmas in my home city
By Sunrise Fan
@sunrisefan (28524)
Philippines
December 26, 2016 2:14am CST
After having Christmas lunch at my mother-in-law's house with the siblings of my wife, we (my wife and I) went on a road trip to my home city to have dinner with my sisters, aunt, cousins, nephews and nieces. We arrived there early evening and checked in a hotel to spend the night there. Luckily, typhoon Nina bypassed us so we a a great time.
After dinner we passed by the city plaza which is famous for its Christmas decors, especially the rotating giant Christmas tree (shown on the attached photo). Many folks from the nearby towns and cities come over to my home city at night to witness the glitter of the decorations.
We just made a pass at the plaza as it was difficult to find any parking slot. We proceeded to our hotel to spend the night there.
I woke up early, took a shower and made a nostalgic stroll to my school where I spent 10 years for my elementary and high school years. I also made a visit to our parish church to say some prayers of thanksgiving.
When I went back to the hotel, my wife was still asleep so I woke here up and she had a shower after which we had breakfast at the coffee shop of the hotel. After breakfast, we checked out and drove around nearby places in the city. I was impressed by the courtesy and helpfulness of the barrio folk whom we asked for directions. They readily assisted us with a smile.
We arrived back here in the city at almost noontime. My wife and I enjoyed the comfortable ride on the new Isuzu MU-X our daughter bought for us 3 months ago.
5 people like this
5 responses
@silvermist (19702)
• India
26 Dec 16
@sunrisefan So you spent a nice Christmas.The decorations in the photo looks special.
2 people like this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
26 Dec 16
Yes, I had a nice Christmas with family and relatives. Usually, when I come and visit my sisters on Christmas, my cousins also come over with their families and we have a nice dinner together. Some years ago, we would play some games after dinner and the children would always look forward to that aside from the gifts.
2 people like this
@cacay1 (83220)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
26 Dec 16
@silvermist ,that is right, very symbolic view of the picture, so glorious.
1 person likes this
@cacay1 (83220)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
26 Dec 16
@sunrisefan The feeling is so nice meeting with our relatives. December 30 is our Grand Reunion.
2 people like this
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
29 Dec 16
The rotating Christmas tree looks nice, what material is the tree made out of?
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
29 Dec 16
@sunrisefan Oh I see, it looks beautiful :)
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
29 Dec 16
I think they use G.I. strings/cables, plastic and some other materials. I've not really gone nearer as the sun was already biting-hot when we went to the plaza.
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
29 Dec 16
@infatuatedbby Yes and it's more beautiful at night with the lights and motion. People fill up the grounds bringing mats to sit on and have picnis wwith their families/friends. It's difficult to find parking so we just made a pass the night before on our way to the hotel.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
28 Dec 16
That's what is nice when you have your own car . You can always readily go anywhere to enjoy . 
I am happy that you get to enjoy your Christmas holidays with your wife's family and then with your family . That's what is nice when there's only the two of you ,
I am happy that you get to enjoy your Christmas holidays with your wife's family and then with your family . That's what is nice when there's only the two of you ,1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
28 Dec 16
@sunrisefan the would be a sight to behold ..
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
29 Dec 16
@sunrisefan I would love to spend christmas there in the Philippines again...
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
28 Dec 16
@epiffanie Yes and many town and cities are trying to outdo each other in putting up attractive Christmas decorations in their plazas. I think the LGUs (local government units) already includes an item for this in their annual budget.
1 person likes this
@cacay1 (83220)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
26 Dec 16
@sunrisefan , You should have spent you vacation in Auckland.It is summer there this time so no worry of the weather,
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
26 Dec 16
@cacay1 We can't leave for NZ because it's my wife who checks on her mother everyday and does all the errands, paying the bills and doing her marketing and supervision the cook and the caregiver. When we went to NZ the other year, my wife had to ask her sister to come home from Manila for 2 weeks and be with there Mom. This time the sister can't come home because she and her husband are also the home companion of her mother-in-law who is also very old. So, no more NZ for us hehehe! I'm wishing it's you who could go back to NZ :)
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
26 Dec 16
Yes, Ms. Erly, and my cousins are also excited in the get-together when I come home with my family. Only this time, it's only me and my wife because our daughters are in NZ.
1 person likes this
