Before there were karaoke, videoke or Spotify, my dad would fill the house with beautiful, moving music by playing the piano. He’d start his repertoire with “O Holy Night,” followed by “Silent Night,” “White Christmas,” then “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

And, midway through these ditties, my mom would slowly inch her way into my dad’s space and sit (or sometimes stand) beside him and start humming and mouthing a few lines. Then, with her kundiman style of singing, she would sing Christmas carols, and all of us children would start singing along with them.

It was such a warm, loving atmosphere that I would always look forward to every Christmas. It was one tradition that reminds me that small things, like just being with your family and doing things together, could make us truly happy.

Present time, my parents are now both in their 80s. Arthritis, gout, multiple bypass, angioplasty, diabetes and hypertension have tremendously slowed them down. Our piano, like my parents, got old and was forced to retire from service. We just play Christmas carols on the radio and sing together on videoke.

Although, it is not the same heartwarming Christmas Eve feeling as we stand there in our fancy holiday finest and sing carols, but just being together each year already means everything to me.