Chapter 1
When Juan woke up, it was a beautiful Sunday morning, the 3rd day of December, birds were naturally singing with their lyrical and relaxing voice. The days were getting happier, as the spirit of christmas closed in. Sparkling and shining christmas lights covered all of the houses in the whole town, as well as big and customized "parols" displayed on each town, or also known as lanterns that are made of recyclable materials. People wake up every 3 o'clock in the morning to go to church and serve God, this is also called the "Simbang Gabi" where Filipino's woke up so early in the morning and go to church. This kind of activity usually starts at the 15th day of December. There are many more cultural activities every Filipino's do every Christmas, like the "Pangangaroling" or "Pamamasko", in which children randomly goes to to your house with little instrument in their hands and sings you a Christmas song while they are playing the instruments they are holding then gracefully begging for money as their reward. Another one is the "Noche Buena", where in people stay up late at night every 24th of December and countdown until it's 12 o'clock in the morning.
Juan was sleeping peacefully when suddenly, Rosanita, the mother of Juan, goes to him and woke him up. She told Juan to get ready to go to church, "Juan anak gumising ka na diyan at tayo ay sisimba pa ngayong unang Simbang gabi", then Juan replied, " Sige po Inay, babangon na po ako at mag hahanda na po ako". Juan got ready as said by his nanay, "Hay nako, pasko na naman! Siguradong mag kakaroon na naman ng masayang alaala ngayong paskong ito!". "Juan nasaan kana ba? Hali ka na at aalis na tayo.", he agreed and they happily go to church.
After a few days, it was already the 19th day of December and only 6 days to go until Christmas. One of Juan's friends, Pepito, invites Juan to come to their "Pangangaroling" later in the town, "Huy pre baka gusto mo sumama sa amin mamayang gabi mangangaroling lang kami". He excitedly agreed and said, "Oo naman pre, masama talaga ako sainyo", they agreed together that they will meet at the court of their town. A few hours passed and it was already night time, "Sige na po Inay pupunta na po ako sa mga kaibigan ko para kami ay makapag simula na sa pangangaroling namin", his nanay replied, "Sige anak, mag ingat ka", then he finally go to the meeting place they talked about earlier.
"Sa wakas, andiyan kana rin Juan kanina ka pa namin hinihintay dito", he replied, "Ay ganon ba sorry natagalan ako Pepito", Pepito answered, " Sige okay lang yun, tara na mag simula na tayo". They go around the neighborhood and looked around thinking which house will they go first, Juan suggested that they will go to his crush's house just to see her. They all agreed and started to go to the direction of Juan's crush house, a few minutes passed and they've arrived. "So? Ano na simula na tayo", said Pepito, " Sandali lang, bago tayo mag simula tingnan muna natin kung may tao o wala", according to Juan, " Sige sige, ikaw ang mag tanong Juan, tutal ikaw naman ang may gusto diyan". Juan nods and said, "Tao po! Tao po! Mangangaroling po!", after a few calls in the house, there was Juan's crush smiling by the window. "Sige na simula na tayo", claimed Juan, and they started to sing their favorite Christmas song while playing their little instruments. After that, Juan was very happy because he sung infront of his crush and her parents, they continued to other houses and they happily made precious memories together.
It was already the 24th day of Christmas, a happy tuesday night before christmas, Juan and his mother was making food to put in the table later 12 o'clock in the morning. While making food, the mother and son talked about Juan's crush, "Juan ano itong nalaman kong mayroon kana daw crush?", said her mother, "Ay wala po iyon Inay, si Emily lang po iyon yung taga doon lang po sa kanto Inay", answered Juan. "Ahh, may nalalaman kanang crush crush diyan ha, ikaw ay batang bata mo pa, bukas ay papuntahin mo dito yaang Emily na yan at ang kaniyang mga magulang para makausap ko sila", proudly said by her mother, "Sige po Inay", excitedly replied Juan. After they were done making the food, they rest for a while and they wait until 12 o'clock in the morning. After a few hours of waiting, it was already 12 o'clock and they celebrate Christmas eve or also known in Filipino culture as "Noche Buena".
The 25th day of December, the day of christmas and the birth of our God. It was a happy christmas for all people in the town, especially for Juan because he will invite his crush to his house for the first time. Juan finally invites his Emily to his house, "Huy Emily, kung pwede daw ay pumunta ka sa bahay namin mamaya para kumain", bravely said by Juan, "Ahh sige, sasabihin ko ito kayna Inay at Itay", replied Emily, Juan was very happy of her response and goes home happily. Emily and her parents arrived to Juan's house and they gracefully welcomed them to their home, they invited them to eat after welcoming them. Juan was feeling confident and asked Emily's parents, "Nais ko po sana na ligawan ko po ang anak nyo na si Emily, pwede po ba?", "Sige iho, kung ano ang desisyon ng aming anak ay yun na rin ang desisyon namin, papayag ka ba Emily?". "Opo! Payag po ako Inay, Itay!", Juan was surprised by Emily's energy after hearing what he had said of him courting her, he was very happy because the girl he had liked since his childhood, became the girl he is courting now.
