The Christmas season is now officially at a close. We can now start the drudgery we will call 2004. Hmmmm.... I wonder if there'll be anything good to look forward to this year.

There's the presidential elections for starters, but I doubt it'll bring any good to us. The actor will probably win, and we'll be right where we started 4 years ago. His running mate is hoping to do another Gloria -- meaning, she's running for VP in the hopes of ascending to the presidency.

Then there're friends. I recently renewed ties with a long-lost friend. It saddened me to discover she's now abroad and I didn't even get to see her before she went. I haven't seen her in 12 years, but at least were emailing each other now. Another friend is coming home mid-2004 and I will get to see her youngest daughter for the first time. Then there's my son's birthday 2nd birthday. That'll be something good to look forward to as well.

Then there's Christmas. Yes, this early people are already thinking about the next Christmas. It simply the happiest season of the whole year. The rest of the year is just a bunch of ho-hum days sprinkled with a few significant dates like birthdays, anniversaries and such. The Christmas season in the Philippines starts around September and usually means there'll be money to spend (bonuses, actually) and money to be made (selling to people with bonuses). Christmas also means simbang gabi, family reunions, balikbayan boxes and aguinaldo for the kids. Christmas (in this country at least) has become a symbol of prosperity at the end of a year of turmoil. That's why I think of the next Christmas when they wish me a "Prosperous New Year" during New Year's Eve. Ironically, it's the only prosperous time of the year.