.png)
Christmas has been one of the momentous holidays that many people look most forward to. Colors fill each corner of the streets with houses screaming dominantly of red and green, some with other bright pigments. The shaking of tambourines and strumming of guitar accompanied with caroling voices always slay the Christmas season. However, the lanterns that speak of celebration barely lit this year all due to an enemy invisible to man's visual capability.
The pandemic has taken a toll on what’s supposed to be the most exciting holiday of the year. There’s no denying that the awaited event we call as the "season of joy" is bleaker than what was planned. Throughout the lockdown it has been tough for everybody, no exception.
As for students, they are now struggling to manage and maintain the school life they were aiming for. A break filled with school works and projects is slowly holding them down from the flickering hope of having a merry Christmas.
Putting forth the idea of a disturbed break, below are students from different universities and their honest responses to questions concerning this year’s Christmas season. Unsteady may the Christmas spirit be but this maybe time to hang the mistletoe and appreciate what’s there.
Nevertheless, one of the few things holding together that small string of silver lining is the relationships that have stayed strong within partners, friends, relatives, and families; holding down the fort against arrows of this pandemic.
Be it on their own or with the people they love, they continue to light the candles of hope, love, joy, and peace despite the stinted Christmas spirit.
Nicole Angelo Cloma is a third year BS Industrial Engineering student at the University of San Carlos- Talamban Campus. Despite missing the chance to follow through their Christmas family tradition of gathering with her grandparents, cousins, nieces, and nephews, she’s grateful for her parents because they are still making Christmas a worthwhile holiday.
Words by Alekka Cabalhug
Photo from Nicole Angelo Cloma
John Ray Fernandez, who is in his third year of studying BA Literature at Cebu Normal University, still feels the Christmas spirit even without fireworks and family gatherings. For him, Christmas is the best time to bond and to be grateful to the Almighty God for the chance to spend it with his family.
Words by Alekka Cabalhug
Photo from John Ray S. Fernandez
Erica Marie Alvarez, in her 2nd year of studying BS Medical Technology at Southwestern University, admitted that she do not feel the spirit of this year’s Christmas season because of the recent struggles she had to go through. Nevertheless, she reminds herself to be strong and to love herself because someday, she will succeed on her own.
Words by Alekka Cabalhug
Photo from Erica Marie Alvarez
Nelverson Lagutin is a 2nd year student taking up BS Marine Transportation at the University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue. He does not feel any festivity towards this year’s Christmas season because of the unchanging events in his everyday life brought by the pandemic. For him, education is best learned through face-to-face learning, unlike online classes where schools are giving students too many homework for them to enjoy the supposed ‘Christmas break’ because classes are now “home-based”.
Words by Alekka Cabalhug
Photo from Nelverson Lagutin
John Maverick Cervantes, a second-year student of the University of Visayas studying BS in Marine Transportation, understands that, unlike in the past, this year’s Christmas season is spent on social distancing and avoiding big gatherings. However, for him, Christmas is still Christmas because we spend it with our loved ones.
Words by Alekka Cabalhug
Photo from John Maverick Cervantes
Louise Marie Tumabang is on her second year of studying BS Radiologic Technology at Cebu Doctors’ University. With the unexpected turn of events, the year seems to have flown by so fast for her and in the blink of an eye, it’s already the Christmas season. The greatest Christmas gift she could ever receive is the gift of good health for her loved ones.
Words by Alekka Cabalhug
Photo from Louise Marie Tumabang
Arnel Arconila is a second-year student who studies BS Aircraft Maintenance and Technology at Indiana Aerospace University. Arnel said that he cannot find himself to be optimistic about this year’s Christmas season because of what has been happening since the pandemic, but he hopes for a better year on 2021.
Words by Alekka Cabalhug
Photo from Arnel Arconila
Larah Bagsican is a second-year student from the University of the Philippines – Cebu Campus studying BS Biology. According to Larah, the stress makes it hard to have a merry Christmas, but she learned that as students attending classes online, it’s important that we work together with our schoolmates and help each other especially those who are struggling with the new curriculum – competing is NOT an option.
Words by Alekka Cabalhug
Lynn Gumboc is on her second year studying at Cebu Technological University with the course of BS Electronics and Communications Engineering. According to her, Christmas spirit is more on being thankful for the blessings each and everyone has received despite the struggles of this year. Being appreciative of even the smallest things is what helps in creating that Christmas spirit we are looking for this year.
Words by Alekka Cabalhug
San Marata is a second year BS Architecture student at the Cebu Institute of Technology. “Sometimes” is how frequent she can feel the Christmas spirit this year, but she’d like to remind that what makes Christmas a great holiday is the chance to spend it with the people you love. She believes that we all deserve to be happy because of our own achievements and blessings that we receive despite our current situation.
Words by Alekka Cabalhug
Comments