A MONTH BEFORE CHRISTMAS DAY

Whenever I hear this OPM (Original Pilipino Music) song, I'm always reminded of my father, who has been working as an OFW (overseas Filipino worker) for as long as I can remember. We've been celebrating 19 Christmas Days in a row without him, and this year's will likely be the 20th. Well, that's life. Moving on, here are the lyrics of Jimmy Borja's Sana Ngayong Pasko, the first two stanzas of which sum up my "heartache" during this "joyful" season.

SANA NGAYONG PASKO
Pasko na naman
Nguni't wala ka pa
Hanggang kailan kaya
Ako 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
Nguni't wala ka pa
Hanggang kailan kaya
Ako maghihintay sa iyo

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

[Repeat Chorus 2x]

Sana ngayong Pasko…