Christmas, with or without the pandemic, is still the most wonderful time of the year. It’s the season of hope. It’s the time kindness is spread like confetti. It sparks happiness.
I felt Christmas last Friday when I attended the Christmas tree lighting of Hotel 101 in Pasay City. There were uniformed men playing Joy to the World in the lobby. The mood all the more became festive when they played Ang Pasko ay Sumapit. There was so much energy in a small crowd of less than 30. All covered in face masks. But hope and joy were illuminated in their eyes. They sparkled with glee.
The usual beso-beso was absent in the gathering. As expected. Gel Gomez, group general manager of Hotel 101, was simply ecstatic to see guests. What a heartwarming scene to see her fist bumping or elbow bumping with the small crowd while donning a Filipiniana gown. Elbow bump or fist bump has become the new greeting, even for an event that only lasted two hours — including dinner. Yes, the event had an expiration time. But the joy was endless. It was, indeed, a happy occasion.
Alcohol, the kind that disinfects, was ready in little bottles in every corner, at every table. Despite the social distancing, those who attended were warm and cordial. The feeling of happiness while in a social gathering was palpable.
“Thank God we are able to do this now,” said Gel. “Thank God that after almost two years, we were able to see friends here,” she added, growing a bit nostalgic.
That night was profuse with “Thank-yous.” I heard it several times, too, from Brian Ong, PR manager of the hotel group, as he also welcomed the guests.
That night was a blessing. It was a blessing to see friends. It was a blessing to be alive in the time of the silent enemy.
That there were uniformed men at the gathering would have one think that, really, there was a war. I hardly saw them in any social gathering pre-pandemic. But there was a reason they were there at the hotel. The night was for them, too.
“Since the start of the pandemic, the Hotel 101 Group has been accommodating OFWs, returning Filipinos, uniformed service personnel and other government frontliners. We thank them for their hard work and sacrifice for the Filipino people,” said Gel.
The Hotel 101 Group ushered in the holiday season with simultaneous Christmas tree-lighting events across its properties at Hotel 101–Manila, Jinjiang Inn in Ortigas, Makati and Boracay and Injap Tower Hotel in Iloilo.
The intimate gathering was all about gratitude, which is the essence, too, of Christmas. The trees in the lobby of the hotel were lighted by the hotel executives with Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto Rubiano, Tourism Assistant Secretary Woodrow Maquiling Jr., PNP Medical Reserve Force PltCol. Jesus Ostrea, Task Force Commander of Bayanihan Returning OFWs CG Rear Admiral Rolando Lizor Punzalan Jr., among others.
The gathering was aimed at honoring and thanking key partners that the hotel worked hand-in-hand with these past years in fighting the pandemic.
“The lighting of the Christmas tree also symbolizes hope, which we all need as we go through the sacrifices we have made these past two years. Now that many of us are vaccinated, we can go out and share time with others during the Yuletide season,” said Rubiano.
“Merry Christmas!” Gel told me. Her eyes glistened. I saw joy. I saw hope. The gathering was brief. But it had a lasting effect of happiness.
That night of Christmas tree lighting was a cause for joy, a cause to hope anew, a cause to still believe that Christmas is still the most wonderful time of the year.