Christmas Season: December Practices
Maria walked down the street, a soft smile playing on her lips as she watched people pass by. The usually dimly lit streets of the city were now alive with music and laughter, shadows on the ground dancing from the light of dozens of lanterns. One of the houses along the street where she walked had Christmas songs playing; familiar tunes played with a Spanish guitar. "Ber" months were special to her people, but December was always unusually festive, especially from the fifteenth of the month onwards.
Midnight masses start ten days before Christmas Eve. She smiled upon seeing a multitude of people – families, friends, couples, and even people who were alone – emerging from the nearest church, some still singing along to the choir's recession song. One pair quickly caught her eye; a father and his daughter…
"Papa Antonio," little Maria nudged her adoptive 'father', Antonio Carriedo, who was starting to cook dinner, "can we go to all the midnight masses?"
"Ai, mi hija, I am not so sure you, or I for that matter, can stay up that late."
"Sige na, papa?"
Antonio, who had finished adding the last of the ingredients, turned to face Maria, "Why do you even want to go to all of them?"
"Kuya Alejandro says if you can go to all ten midnight masses, you get a wish on Christmas Eve!" Maria beamed. She and Alejandro had become friends quickly since the Manila-Acapulco trade, and the Mexican was terribly protective of his eastern adoptive sister, even to the point of defying Antonio.
"Jandro is such a tall tale teller." The Spaniard sighed to himself. Then, as he looked at the young country (around five or six years in appearance in human ages), he realized that it would be a good way to get Maria to go to church willingly, although of course he would have to follow up on her religious education.
"Very well mi hija. Today is the fifteenth… Shall we start tonight?"
"Sí papa! Salamat po! I shall wear my best dress!" Maria cried, clapping her hands.
Antonio, pleased at his ward's reaction, smiled to himself. He would have to thank Alejandro for his wonderful idea later. He served dinner and as he and Maria started eating, he thought of ways to reward Alejandro.
Maria suddenly broke his chain of thought, "Papa, what are you going to wish for?"
"Me? That I can remain the strongest naval power so I can protect you, Alejandro, and all your other brothers and sisters." Antonio replied after a bit of thinking, "What about you, mi hija? What are you going to wish for?"
"That I become a big, strong, and independent country someday!"
The Spaniard choked on his dinner. He knew he was never letting go of Las Islas Filipinas; it supplied his country too much. But looking at the little Spanish-speaking, Asian girl wearing a small Maria Clara dress (and looking quite cute in it too) smiling up at him, filled with hope, he knew that she wouldn't stay that way long. She would soon realize that only one of them can get their wish. Jandro was already starting to revolt against him. Soon, Maria, or one of his other colonies would seek to overthrow the Spanish reign in their lands.
Antonio smiled a sad smile, patted Maria on the head, and said, "Do not worry, mi hija. I am sure you will become a beautiful country."
"'Que sera, sera', right papa?" the small Filipina gazed up at her adoptive Spanish father.
Troubled as he was, Antonio couldn't help but smile when he saw the food stains around Maria's mouth. It would be a long time before Maria would even attempt to sway his orders, but even so, when the time comes, he would miss his pearl of the orient seas.
"Sì Maria… Que sera sera."