The wise men.

When my mother was alive, she'd hang the family Christmas tree and light the Christmas lights on the day the "simbang gabi," started. Then, she'd bring them down on January 6th, the feast of the Three Kings, or the Wise Men, as we knew it then.









Last New Year's Day, our clan had the traditional New Year's Day celebration at the old house in Fairview; this time, mother was not around to spearhead the traditional family exchange gift or "kris kringle."


But the family grew even larger; there was a new kid on the block - Abeng and Rhoda's Amiel Matheo, and of course, the two year -olds Tyrus and Bojoe, courtesy of nephew Allan and Kristin, and bro Jomel, respectively.









Then there were the rest of the children - the three cute grandnieces Christa, Christle, Juliana, grandnephew Tayshawn, nephew Beniah, and the older ones, Jyro, Sidney and Adam.

Nanay was not around anymore, and last January 1st, 2012 was the first time we celebrated New Year in her home turf without her.

There was no Christmas lantern, nor Christmas tree, nor Christmas light to remind us of her traditional Holiday season. But we were all there, or at least the five of us, her children, who are residents of Manila still.



Ate, from Seattle, made it a point to call in the middle of the celebration to greet us.








Mommy Lydia was there and represented the old, guiding spirit to reminds us - the second, third and fourth generations - of the importance of family, blood, ties, and kinship.