Thanks to www.flickr.com/kudaker for the image

 Homesickness really has kicked and bit me in the a$* quite hard this Christmas season as this is my very first OFW (Overseas Filipino Wife) Christmas, a holiday away from my family and friends. But thank God for the gift of visiting friends, I received a taste of home, my very first Kabayan Padala care package. What the heck is a kabayan padala package anyway?!?

A kabayan padala care package is simply goodies from the Philippines, which can include oddities such as soap or other toiletries (even if there are toiletries of all sorts here), instant noodles, canned goods, cured pork (pork is expensive here!) and more sent by family and / or friends through kababayans (fellow countrymen). I was quite ecstatic when I knew friends (former colleagues from my last company) and family were sending some love my way. They actually asked me what I wanted to receive and made some requests. I didn't expect that they would go the extra mile to send me some goodies!

Sweet treats: Uraro cookies, caramelized pili buts, pili nut tarts and a bottle of spicy spanish sardines!

I know these are simple, simple food items, but it is their love in a package. I really felt the warmth of home with a dash of the Christmas spirit of sharing food. On top of sending my favorite brand of Gourmet Tuyo (we aren't allowed to fry smelly dried fish in our apartment! Boo!) and two packs of my favorite pastillas de leche, my family even sent me a small queso de bola for our Christmas dinner

Queso de bola, a bottle of Gourmet Tuyo (my fave!) and pastillas de leche from my family

My friends even sent me some of my porkilicous requests There is pork here, but it is quite expensive so these pork treats are much, much appreciated! I'm just so excited to share these with Dodong!

Chinese chorizo for fried rice!

Bacon! Bacon! Bacon!!!!!!

Thank you to visiting friends, who are truly kind enough to share some baggage space and weight for homesick Filipinos like me. Thank you to my family and friends, who made my Christmas extra special indeed! I love you all!

I can't believe that I am part of the more than 11 Million Filipinos abroad already. This is my very first OFW Christmas: a Christmas thousands of miles away from home, away from the Philippines, away from my family and friends. Oh, this is my first Christmas in a Muslim country too!

I initially thought that being away from the crazy Christmas-on-steroids in the Philippines (Christmas carols already started playing on the radio as early as August! WTH!?!) would be ok…perfectly fine. I would be away from two things I hate about the Christmas season in the Philippines. Thank God! First, I am thousands of miles away from the Christmas rush traffic. Horrible I say! Manila traffic is already horrid and for some reason, its even worse during the Christmas season!?! How is that even possible right? Second, I am away from the consumerism of the holiday. I love the whole idea of giving, but I think its too commercialized already. Call me a scrooge, but I say Christmas got a tad bit consumed by consumerism.

Christmas really isn't about the traffic because of the shopping / parties and the literal gift giving. For me and millions of Filipinos abroad, especially for those who have been away for yearssss, the best Christmas celebration is simply about being and enjoying the company of family and friends. It's Christmas stripped down to the bare essentials. Being together with family and friends is precious and there is no substitute. So being together with family and friends is THE gift. No balikbayan boxes filled to the brim with Christmas gifts can never ever replace feeling the hugs and kisses, hearing the stories and the  laughter and sometimes even wiping away the tears of dear family and friends.

Kakainis ka Coca-cola for making me cry this morning! Did you cry too?

I've only been away for two months but my homesickness has increased exponentially because of this Coca-cola OFW Happiness video. I will surely miss my family and friends even MORE this holiday season. Aside from missing Christmas celebrations, I will also miss birthday celebrations of my mama, my papa and two of my sisters (Yes, we have 4 December celebrants! 4 out of 8!), plus my lola's 1st death anniversary and two weddings of dear friends. So I will be missing a LOT noh?

But in true OFW fashion, I know that I will get to cope and survive this Christmas away from family and friends just like the millions of other OFWs around the world. Thank God there is the Internet, so I think somehow I would be able to join in some celebrations. Hopefully.

Care to share any tips on how I can survive this lonely season?

Stuffing myself silly is not the same without YOU

Last year, due to visa concerns, Dodong was able to spend Christmas here at home. But this year is different. After his 2-week vacation, he had to go back to the desert for work. So unlike most OFWs, most kabayans, who are home for the holidays, Dodong is in the desert, working while trying to recreate the Christmas celebrations with fellow kabayans. Is your honey home or away for the holidays too?

This is Dodong's first Christmas away from home in a foreign non-Christian land. Plus, this is our first Christmas apart…

Although when he's home, we do spend Christmas with our respective families, but then again, the whole getting together of families and friends just adds to the "missing him" mood. Thanks to technology, we would be able to be "together" this Christmas despite the distance between us…

Long distance Christmas phone patch

Once the clock strikes 12mn in Dubai time (approximately 4am Philippine time), I will be giving Dodong a call. Thank God for lower long distance call rates, I'd be able to call him without hurting my pocket as much. For Globe subscribers like myself, just dial 12800 + country code + area code + telephone number. Instead of being charged per minute, your call will be charged per second at Php 0.17 per second. Not bad right?

Live streamed Noche Buena

Hmmm with the time difference (4-hours), I think that our food would be wiped out by then. Hehehe! I'm asking Dodong if he could live stream their Christmas celebration. I could join in their kabayan Christmas celebration too It actually is a blessing that Christmas Eve falls on a Thursday which is the last day of the work week over there.

I just wish I could fly in a Christmas Ham to share the Pinoy love this Christmas day. Would you send a Christmas Ham for him?

Merry Christmas everyone! Don't be blue, technology is there for you Be happy that someone out there (literally) is there wishing you all the best for this Christmas

Love the distance,

Inday I. Nagintay

I do have to apologize to non-Filipino readers but this song is just perfect for those who are spending their Christmases away from each other like Dodong and myself. (NOTE: I chose to post the Lea Salonga version since she is an International star so that non-Pinoys can somehow relate – Can you???) I really do not know what is it about this holiday season that makes me feel extra lonely. I know I should be used to this but it does get lonely. Super.

Maybe because of the weather. It's cold and it is perfect hugging, cuddling temperature. Maybe because of all the get togethers: families, friends, old friends, new friends…HAAAY.

Here are the heart wrenching lyrics of the song…Sigh.

Pasko na naman
Ngunit wala ka pa
Hanggang kailan kaya
Ako’y maghihintay sa iyo

Bakit ba naman
Kailangang lumisan pa
Ang tanging hangad ko lang
Ay makapiling ka

[chorus]
Sana ngayong Pasko
Ay maalala mo pa rin ako
Hinahanap-hanap pag-ibig mo
At kahit wala ka na
Nangangarap at umaasa pa rin ako
Muling makita ka
At makasama ka
Sa araw ng Pasko

Pasko na naman
Ngunit wala ka pa
Hanggang kailan kaya
Ako’y maghihintay sa iyo

Bakit ba naman
Kailangang lumisan pa
Ang tanging hangad ko lang
Ay makapiling ka

[repeat chorus 2x]

Sana ngayong Pasko…

I know I have a whole lot of other wishes for this Christmas. But really, All I want for Christmas is to be with YOU.

Isn't that your biggest Christmas wish too?

Love the distance,

Inday I. Nagintay

P.S. Help from anybody can translate the lyrics in English would be much appreciated Nosebleed kasi e!