Jingle Bells, Cats, and Cameras: Inside Our College's Yuletide Party

Christmas is just three days away from our homes, and the yuletide spirit has been blooming more lately in our towns. Streets, parks, houses, and boulevards are decorated with vibrant jingle bells, with recurring Christmas music that hits every corner wherever we go. This is what I love about December; it doesn't only give place to Christmas and open a door for the New Year, but it also spreads love and joy to everyone who needs it to end the year positively. It gives us nostalgia, sudden recollections, and the belief in good things to come, making us feel more grounded and able to experience the December spirit thoroughly.

Well, I know for sure that schools and even neighbourhoods these days are doing their jobs for a Christmas party or have already done so. As a cultured person who appreciates Christmas, a yuletide party is always my most awaited part of the month. Gifts to be exchanged with our lovely fellows and dresses that suit this year’s theme (in accordance with one’s life this year) are what make me excited to join. But more than that, the camaraderie and familiar love that bloom like a cherry in this well-planned event give me the greatest feeling of success for having gotten through the year’s last calendar.

Speaking of Christmas parties, well, I say we had one yesterday to mark our attendance for this year. It happened in our college school where, amidst the challenges we are still facing in the recovery of our school, we were still able to hold a party to remind everyone of the spirit that a person in the academe and education holds despite misfortune. I attended the party as a student, but most of all as a student journalist, which gave me very heavy work and a heavy head after the event. This is mainly the reason why I wasn’t able to post a blog last night, and I was so sad to know I had broken my consistency since I want to achieve the monthly badge of posting. Well, luck, I say, next month maybe I can gain that badge.

First of all, there were only cats who attended. Just kidding. These cats were wandering around the venue while people were busy decorating the square we occupied during the party, and they were waiting for some food. Not only humans attended the event, but also these lovely creatures.

What we had for dinner was a boodle fight kind of eating. You have to lay down a big banana leaf or more to cover the whole table and put all the food on it. It depends on the eaters’ creativity if they want to put some innovation into the boodle fight, like what we did when we formed the food into words that said “We LOVE CRMC.” CRMC, by the way, is our college’s name.

Our whole program was so crazy and fun. I started taking photos of the stage, which was simply decorated since this was just an elementary stage; our usual stage in the main building was destroyed by the earthquake. There were gifts on the stage and, of course, a Christmas tree with gifts underneath it. Documenting an event that runs for at least seven hours really is the worst part of being a student journalist. And for the record, I am just a literary writer in the publication forced to be a student photojournalist. Whenever I come to an invitation or request, I always do exercises before the event to make sure I won’t lose my sanity and my back after it.

There were games during the event, raffle prizes, and some performances that made the party even more enthusiastic and vibrant. Alive is how I can define the whole crowd amidst the simplicity of our party. People were laughing, as was I, especially when the master of ceremonies threw good humor to the crowd and I would burst into laughter instead of taking photos. Even if the work is hard, the funny and joyous parts will always be present, and sometimes they make me forget the back pain I was having.

We concluded the event with a feast of food. Everyone prayed and then got into the battle of food. We were so hungry after the event, and it was so memorable. I was with the other student journalists I am close with, especially @anniesty, and having these people beside you in tiring moments is secretly comforting and emotionally supporting.

We had to focus more on eating and didn’t take photos as we ate. But for sure, the uncaptured moments were so good and truly one for the books. And just like December always does, it reminded me that even in exhaustion, joy still finds its way to stay.