A ride with Santa

When I was five, I was told by my late grandpa, Lolo Angel that I should be expecting a lot of gifts from Santa Claus on December 24, the night before Christmas Day because I had been a very good kid. Then I asked him, "Lo, why do I have to expect for gifts from Santa? You told me one time that we should never expect something in return for every good thing we do". He smiled to me and replied, "Apo, you're very mature for your age." Lolo Anghel was the first one to say that I am very mature for my age. That description had always been tagged to me since I was a kid but I never believed nor thought of it.

It made me think back then that in a lot of ways you're probably more mature than the people around you, and possibly even more intelligent. But if you have to tell people you're mature, you're probably not. It is not gained by being intellectually advanced but experience will make you one without you knowing or even noticing it.

Since I was a kid, it had always been my wish every Christmas to see and meet Santa. But unlike other children of my age, I wanted to meet Santa not to receive plenty of gifts but I always wanted to ride on his reindeer sleigh. Together with those children expecting for gifts, I know that like them it isn't happening after two to three years of wishing and waiting. However, I believed that it may not happen the way we expected it to be but it will come true in a different way. A more special way.

"Is there really a Santa Claus, papa?", I can still vividly remember my cousin Lovely (who's just a month older than me) when we were still eight asking her papa that question after years of waiting for Santa and failed to receive any present, even one. Late Tito Nestor (who died last 2011 due to a liver disease) was not able to answer back immediately. He was trying to figure out what excuse he will make for the nth time since he already instilled her daughter's mind the thought about Santa Claus and the receiving of gifts every Christmas. Just because he wanted her daughter to be good every year.

After minutes of puzzling out the right answer, Tito Nestor laughed and never say a thing, when I heard it, I then went near my cousin and sat beside her. "Kabalo ka cuz (we call each other "cuz" short for "cousin" when we were little until today), naa ma'y Santa Claus ug tinood man na naa siya gift nimo every year samot na kay ga binut-an ka." (You know what cuz, there is really Santa Claus and it's true that he is giving you gifts every year especially that you had been very good.") My cousin frowned then replied, "Apan wala ko'y nadawat cuz bisan ika-usa?" ("But I did not receive anything even just once.").

"Kita ka ana'ng daghan nimo'ng dolls ug toys? Kana'ng mga nindot nimo na sanina ug sapatos? Ug tanan na gihatag sa imo mama ug papa nimo. Sa tinood lang, gikan man na ni Santa Claus. Si papa ug mama ra nimo ang iya gipahatag nimo. Si Tito Nestor sad naa gift from Santa kay gihatagan siya ug trabaho para mapalit nila imo mga ganahan. Ang pagkaon nato kada-adlaw, gikan sad na niya. Ug tanan na naa ta, kana tanan gikan niya. Kabalo ka kinsa jud ang tinood na Santa? Si Papa Jesus. Siya ang tinood na Santa." (Do you see those dolls and all the toys you have? The beautiful clothes and shoes you wear everyday. Everything that your parents gave you. The truth is, it came from Santa. He just asked your mama and papa to give it to you. Even Tito Nestor has a gift from Him. He gave Tito a good job to provide you with all your needs and wants. The food the we eat every day, it came from him. And everything that we have, it all came from Him. You know who the real Santa is? He is Papa Jesus. He is the real Santa.")

My cousin seemed confused about what I said giving me another sad face but I knew that time that she still can't figure out what I meant. Tito Nestor then interrupted us, tapped my shoulder and said, "Angelo, you're very mature for your age. Eventually, Lovely will understand everything. Thank you."

At a young age, I learned to appreciate every little thing I have because I know how it feels to have nothing. I grew up with the mindset my mama keep on reminding us that you can't eat three times a day and you will never get what you need and want if you will not work hard hard for it. It isn't easy to live but we don't have any choice since we're unfortunately born poor.

My mama is a supermom! She worked alone very hard to provide us what we need. My father got imprisoned when I was still three while we are still staying in Manila then mama eventually decided that we move to my grandparents place in the province because she can't work while nobody's there to look after us because we're too young.

I never asked mama the reason why papa got imprisoned, I just found it by myself although it took me some time to understand the law term like those of my father's case coded in Republic Act 8294 of the Philippine Constitution  "Illegal and unlawful possession, manufacture, dealing in, acquisition or disposition of firearm". Until now that I knew a lot already but I still don't know the reason and the real story behind what happened. I also chose not to find out. Papa was dismissed from his case when I was 11 and followed us in the province. It was a painful memory but that painful memory will always remind me that you should never love your parents less just because they did something wrong in the past. Why? Because our parents love for us will never be subtracted from each mistake we make but instead multiplied . Honestly, we're not that close with my father but I know that he loves me and I love him so much more than any man in the world.

Growing up in an imperfect and a "not well-off" family taught me at a very young age the importance of being contented and thankful for every little thing that God provides. While I was still in my elementary years, I used to go with my mom every weekend to help her do the laundry of a number of people. Aside from being a vendor of ready-made food or viand, mama is also a "labandera". But never did I get ashamed of it because mama had instilled in our minds that as long as you are doing what is right and good, there's no single reason for you to be ashamed of what you do.

I excelled greatly at school. My determination to succeed for my family had been undaunted. My burning desire to help my family made me so eager to finish school in an instant. I felt that I'm so useless when I'm at school because I can't help my parents earn money. So when the opportunity knocked hard on my doorstep, grabbed it as fast as the lightning. During my fourth grade, I found out that there are some competitions for elementary pupils that I can join that entails cash prices if you win. One sunny morning at school, right after the flag ceremony, my teacher announced that there is an environmental story writing contest sponsored by Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) entitled "Kwentong Kabataan, Katha ng Kabataaan" open for everyone in the elementary level. I immediately spent a sleepless night writing a piece that I can submit. I made a story entitled "Because of the Banana Peeling" and it highlighted the dangers brought by throwing garbage anywhere. I submitted it the next day and my teacher was surprised on how fast I was able to make it. "Ma'am, I spent one sleepless night for this story because I wanted help mama and papa. If I will win, they don't have to worry about our electric bill this month and our food for the days to come", I shared. My amazed fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Miraflor smiled to me and said, "Angelo, I admire you because at a very young age, you already think of helping your family. You're so mature for your age."

I won in the regional level competition for the story I made "Because of the Banana Peeling" and I received a cash prize worth Php 3, 000.00. I never thought of the prestige that comes with it, all I knew was I can give a little help for my family with the cash prize I got and I can make them happy. Their happiness is my happiness. My piece competed in the national level after winning in the region with thousands of participants, unfortunately it did not win. Despite that, I was still thankful because although I'm at school, I can still help mama and papa with the expenses at home. I continued joining competitions until high school like quiz bowl, extemporaneous speaking contests, oratorical contests, story/essay writing contests, press conferences, name it because I joined almost all of it for my family. I went to a lot of places in the country without spending a penny to compete. It was not a victory all the time but I always know how to accept defeat. That was my life when I was still a student.

"A wonder boy", that's what they call me back then. High expectations from people on me being successful in an instant. I was perfect for everyone who knew me including my family. Probably the reason why all of them keep on telling me that I am mature for my age mainly because of the way I think, my intelligence, my ability to do things extraordinarily and my actions. But they have not thought that maturity is more than that. They have not thought that there's no easy way to success. There are no shortcuts. So when my first failure and mistake came, everyone, in just a blink of an eye, forgot all good things I did. They have forgotten the many times I won and succeeded, the numerous times I went up the stage to receive numerous awards and medals, those times that I helped them and was able to put smiles on their faces. Everything good and positive about me was diminished in their memory like that of someone who has amnesia just because of a single mistake and never did they realize that I am not my mistake.

It made me think and go back my childhood where all I wish every Christmas was not to receive gifts from Santa Claus but to have a ride with him. They keep on telling that I'm very mature for my age although I know that I'm not. They had never asked me even once every Christmas why riding on Santa's reindeer sleigh was all that I desire. Since the day I knew Christmas and learned about Santa Claus, it had always been my heart’s desire to have a ride with Santa because I believed back then and until at the present time that He is Jesus Christ hiding in the image of Santa. I want to have a ride with Him and talk to Him. I have lists of questions to Him since I was kid until today that I always wanted to ask because I know that Google, Wikipedia, my professors and my brain can't answer. I wanted to talk to Him to say “thank you” for everything that I see and touch.

It’s Christmas again a month from now and I’m still holding tight to my ultimate wish in the past 18 years will one day come true. As what I told my cousin, Lovely when we were still little kids that our wishes may not happen the way we expected it to be but it will sure come true in a very special way.

I have high hopes. And when that special day comes, I will surely make it a memorable ride with Santa.

Angelo Bart V. Nabalse had stopped writing articles, poems, stories, write ups for the past 3 years and “A ride with Santa” is his first write up after 3 years. He is currently a member of GABAA-AN YOUTH LEAD, a “Youth Facilitating Team” who’s mission is to uplift young people from all forms of suffering and want, equipping them with necessary skills and knowledge to face boldly the future. Visit https://www.facebook.com/gabaanyouthlead for more info about GABA-AN YOUTH LEAD.


Email:
bartchewingpoetry@gmail.com  / nabalse_angelo@yahoo.com 
Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/angelloisenabalse 
Twitter:

https://www.twitter.com/ImAngeloNabalse