Homecoming and holiday blues: a glimpse into PalawanSUans’ holiday break
By Adelene Magno and Rhey Flores | posted 8/1/24
How will you characterize Christmas and New Year? Maybe, they are times for merriment and giving gifts. But if we look on the other side of those, there is an aspect in life that some cannot feel the warmth and comfort the celebrations are giving, and that was experienced by some of the Palawan SUans recently. Given the circumstances such as the brief holiday break set in the academic calendar, and others such as financially-related burdens, it led them not to get home in time for holidays, or celebrate them in a way they dreamed of.
“See you sa pasukan, Julie!”
She smiled and waved back to her boardmates, carrying their luggage to their homes. A pang of envy wells up within her, settling like an unwelcome lump in her throat. As the semester drew to a close, Julie, not her real name, found herself at the crossroads of solitude and homesickness, standing amid her fellow Palawan State University (PalawanSU) students bidding farewell for the holiday break.
In the heart of this narrative lies the palpable longing for home, a sentiment that resonates with students like Julie and those who embark on the journey back to the embrace of their families. The holiday break becomes more than just a pause from the rigors of academic life; it transforms into a sanctuary of comfort, a haven where stress dissipates, and the familiar surroundings of a home provide solace.
However, students who remain behind find themselves in a unique situation, unable to make the journey home for the holidays. The atmosphere is tinged with sadness, longing for the warmth of familial embraces and the familiar landscapes of their municipalities. For students like Julie who find themselves in this circumstance, coping became an art form. The yearning and sentiment were not easily dismissed; however, they were lessened by the determination to create a meaningful holiday experience.
Julie’s boarding house echoed with laughter and camaraderie as they celebrated the holiday together with her boardmates who had chosen to stay. Like many others, she discovered that a shared experience of missing home can ignite connection and relatable experiences with fellow students facing the same situation.
In the face of distance, technology becomes a bridge to home. Her holiday greetings were sent through video calls and messages. It did not prevent her from shedding a tear over missing her loved ones, but it also made her feel like she was virtually home.
In the other version of herself, as she would wish, Julie boards the bus heading to her hometown. She reflects on the comforting rhythm of life awaiting her — far removed from the academic deadlines and the hustle of university routines. The familiar landscapes of her municipality unfold outside the window, creating a backdrop of cherished memories and a sense of belonging that washes away the strains of student life.
“Yung ingay ng Pasko, hindi na gaya ng dati…”
For a student like Rico, Christmas and New Year were the times his family and relatives could celebrate the holidays with cheers, but that was before the pandemic came.
As the world reeled with the life-threatening impacts of coronavirus a few years passed, Filipino families had to enjoy the celebrations in a secured, distanced way — relishing the yuletide revelries while wearing face masks and other protectives.
More than that, due to its effects on the living conditions and in the economy, Filipinos, especially middle-to-low-income families, have to tighten their belts during the holiday season. Rico and his family were not spared from that.
Just as before the Christmas celebrations came, they have to face unforeseen circumstances which have affected them as family.
Currently, he is able to get home in San Vicente. However, due to prior commitments to other responsibilities of his parents and relatives, he and his family did not have the chance to relish the Christmas and New Year revelries together. Furthermore, he described his story during last year’s yuletide celebration as small — they just ate holiday dinner and watched community fireworks outside.
It was noisy and colorful outside as the celebration unfolds, but inside Rico’s household, silence and darkness filled the void of their home at that time.
After all, Rico wished that the usual happiness they feel during the holidays would be back again — and celebrate the way they used to be.
“First time na mag-Christmas mag-isa…”
Allen was in Puerto Princesa when the holiday break nears. As it almost coincided with the final examinations, it made her struggle to celebrate the season with joy. The adjusted academic calendar set her and her family apart during that time.
She is from Balabac Island, and has to ride a van for many hours, and then ride a speedboat going to her hometown. That is her usual way to get home.
Due to tightened days to hit home as a result of the adjusted academic calendar, and expensive fare to get there, and at that time, there were no scheduled travel time days before the Christmas takes place, Allen has to celebrate it alone — though she is with her brother in the city, they do not interact closely with each other — they have their own worlds, as she describes.
When having a video chat with her family, Allen says she was envious to see her family celebrate Christmas Day happily, while she has to enjoy noche buena in another household, but afterwards, sleep with sadness inside.
It was her first time to celebrate far from her family. She is able to get home in time for New Year’s Day, but still, as the usual holiday norm dictates, it is exceptional to celebrate the arrival of Christmas Day together with the loved ones.
For those fortunate enough to travel back to their municipalities and celebrate the holiday season without needing to break the bank and tight preparation, the scent of the coastal breeze and the familiar sounds of local festivities become a soothing melody. The reunion with family members, the embrace of long-lost friends, and the taste of home-cooked meals offer a respite for the soul, a medicine to the stresses accumulated over the semester.
On the other hand, for those who are not, and who struggled to get home during the holiday season, has made students like Julie, Rico, and Allen to treat those days like normal. Despite this, they still hope someday that the next yuletide season will be as festive and merrier as they imagined — celebrating with no heavy heart, no constraints, and wearing happiness genuinely.
As Allen continued, she shared what she could wish for in the next holiday seasons — for the University to extend the holiday break, and not put the last day of classes a few days before Christmas takes place, for others to get home in an unhurried way.
“Sana, maging considerate na ang [Palawan SU na] magbigay ng [ample holiday break] schedule kasi hindi lahat ng students nila ay taga-dito sa City [at] ang daming students ang umuuwi pa sa kani-kanilang municipalities [para lang makapiling ang mga pamilya namin tuwing Pasko at Bagong Taon],” she says.
