By Raïssa Robles
Filipinos have not had a Christmas like this for a long, long time – the Season of Joy ushered in by copious tears and a tide of blood.
Over 10,000 funerals resulting from President Rodrigo Duterte’s “war on drugs”.
Fire and rain in Davao City shortly before Christmas. Floods in the central and southern parts of the country.
Twenty people, rushing to celebrate Christmas, dying instantly in a head-on collision of a passenger jeep and a bus in the north.
And yet, and yet, despite all these, we bravely celebrate Christmas, setting up candles to light the enfolding darkness if only briefly.
As a child, I used to equate Christmas with how many presents and how much money I got from elderly relatives who only required a peck on the cheek or a quick hug for a crisp note from the bank.
Today, I do see through the mirror darkly.
Through all that haze and obscurity, I see brave men and women working tirelessly to preserve our freedoms. I see friends who remain friends despite adversity. And I see new friends who insist on being my friend despite the prevailing toxicity. Somehow, they heal the pain of betrayals.
All these are reasons to celebrate Christmas!
I would like to thank members of Cyber Plaza Miranda—who continue to come this site and comment—despite my erratic postings.
My Twitter and Facebook friends.
Those who e-mail me directly with suggestions, words of encouragement, tips for stories, or even to scold me for what I’ve written.
My friends who have been friends since childhood and youth.
You are all precious to me.
Oh, by the way, my hubby Alan rewrote the lyrics of this popular Christmas Carol for you, guys.
Enjoy.
The Death Days of Christmas
by Alan Robles
On the first day of Christmas my true labs gave to me: a psycho in the palace
On the second day of Christmas my true labs gave to me: two fentanyl and a psycho in the palace
On the third day of Christmas my true labs gave to me: three tandems, two fentanyl and a psycho in the palace
On the fourth day of Christmas my true labs gave to me: four nanlaban, three tandems, two fentanyl and a psycho in the palace…
To read the rest, please click on this link.
curveball says
Mapayapang Bagong Taon sa ating lahat!
Pero kung tuloy-tuloy ang takbo ng mga pangyayari,
malamang hindi magiging payapa at lalo pang gumulo.
Nabasa ko dati “War is needed to have Peace.”
Chit Navarro says
Dangerous times in thePhils. but you two – Raïssa n Allan – have kept the fighter’s pen aflame and burning!!! We Pray for your safety and we pray for a better tomorrow for our country!!!
leona says
The killings. A curse. Karma Ah!
Merry Christmas!
So many deaths. Christmas’ deaths!
Merry Christmas!
Horrible deaths. Horrible!
Merry Christmas!
Happy New Year 2018 coming soon. Wish you all happiness.
New Year’s deaths.
Happy New Year!
. . .“I remain just one thing, and one thing only, and that is a clown. It places me on a far higher plane than any politician”
― Charlie Chaplin
-Where are the higher plain clowns. . . maybe next yearrrr!
arc says
avada kedarva! the killing curse, someone uttered the killing curse and brought instant death to trolls! naku, may nanghinayang at umiyak sa dusa. avada kedarva!
upang dili ako madutlan, binaliktad ko kaagad and t-shirt naku. hexes and curses wa epek yan sa akin. meri christmas, meri, meri christmas. ow! I turn heads, like people has not seen anyone with t-shirt inside out at christmas! gulat si santa! and I got a candy cane. I was nice, apparently.
meri christmas! hapi new year! sa lahat.
Vhin AB says
Merry Christmas to all!
kalakala says
A joyful and blessed Christmas to all!
Let’s keep on hoping and loving.
vandr says
Christmas is indeed a day of joy, giving and most of all, love.
Let us all feel the love in the air.
oh, wait, alan…’love that seiko in the palas!’
Ahehehe!
Oh hohooo yes, am d great prdterter…
sam says
Merry Christmas … and lets hope that your wishes may come true!
Pinay710 says
MALIGAYANG PASKO, G. AT GNG. ALAN ROBLES AT INYONG ANAK.
MALIGAYANG PASKO DIN SA INYONG LAHAT NA PALAGIAN DITO SA RAISSAROBLES.COM
Marmee Cruz says
Merry Christmas to all and may we all have a happy and hope-filled New Year!
raissa says
Let’s pretend we will have a happy and hope-filled New Year, but I’m afraid not.
But let’s enjoy this moment of peace. Now.
loreta says
thanks raisaa and Allan for using your guts. May those people see the light to end the killings.
raissa says
Thank you for coming over.
duquemarino says
Season’s greetings to all!!!!!!
raissa says
Yesss.