“A Philippine Christmas is incomparable,” declared Lady Vismanos, who has been working in Germany as a nurse for six years now.

In Tübingen, where she lives, Christmas isn’t as special, she said. “It just passes like a typical day. It’s far from how we give importance to Christmas there in the Philippines.” In fact, there were Christmases when she would just be at work.

“Sometimes, I would celebrate with friends I consider family here—we’re all far away from our own families, anyway. We would cook and eat together. We would go sound-tripping and dancing, or organize videoke parties,” Vismanos said.

She and her friends make sure to carry on with the Pinoy Christmas tradition of gift-giving as well as sharing noche buena. “These are what I miss the most about spending Christmas there, aside from the family reunions, hearing Christmas carols, seeing all those Christmas lights and lanterns, and receiving red envelopes or ampao from relatives and godparents,” she added.

Vismanos said that she also misses seeing the bright and colorful Christmas trees and decor in malls or in the neighborhood where she grew up in Manila.

“I also miss the company Christmas parties, where we would have group presentations and raffles. I like attending the Simbang Gabi, too,” she said.

Prior to relocating to Germany, Vismanos worked in Japan for four years, also in the medical field.

This year, she expects to have a simple celebration with friends in Germany, but she will be on video call with family in the Philippines, to make sure that Christmas will still be worthwhile. INQ