SANTA CLAUS.... REAL OR REAL?

By: Hermae Peach Joven Benebile

 

            Everybody’s yelling and cheering.  Everywhere Christmas decors hanging and neon lights glittering, Hmn. . . The air is filled with Christmas songs and carols. “Tis Christmas time once again. The most  joyous season of the year’.

 

            How I wish I was still a kid like my little brother. I’m sure this Christmas would be far more different from the past Christmases I had.

 

            Since childhood I was filled with beliefs of Santa’s existence. For me Santa Claus is no fairy tale and I dreamed of having a glimpse of him just once.

 

            I remember one moment at grade school when I had an argument with some classmates when everyone else was insisting that Santa Claus was our own father. That same day I went home puzzled over the thought and came to ask Mom about it.  Mom told me to let them be on what they believed. When alone I keep on mumbling over some instances when I myself could have concluded that Santa and Papa are just one person but, gosh!!! I couldn’t recall one instance at all. What had been instilled in me was that every Christmas Eve, we got to received gifts from Santa. If Papa is Santa, then why haven’t I caught him packing a gift for he’s not home for Christmas? Ah!!! I told myself, my classmates ‘been fooled. How could that be when I came to watch various films about Santa? Nope. . . Santa is real.

            Last Christmas Mom was busy hanging Christmas decors at home. We’ve having fun fixing the Christmas tree when Billy Gregor (BG) came over and commented. “Ma siguro may magic si Santa!” Mom burst into laughter and said, “ Okay I’m  gonna reveal a secret to you; think its about time you know who’s the real Santa. He’s no other than your Papa.”

 

            At bed that night, remembering the past Christmases, I concluded to myself: Ahh!!! that must be the reason why Mom has been asking what we wished Santa would send us before every Christmas. And also  the reason why they’d keep on encouraging us to take a nap before Christmas Eve. They feared Santa might pass our place with nothing to drop on our hanged socks. Papa must be very wise. Imagine, he managed to keep it all a secret for twelve long years and to think that he has Mom as his “kakampi”.

 

            This Christmas, I would like to convey a message to him. Santa… your mystery is over for us except for little brother, Cedric. But your gifts for us aren’t over yet. And regardless of all these, we assure of one thing. Whatever reason it maybe, you will always be our dear Santa and our dearest Papa.

 

 

 

                The contributor now is a Registered Nurse, wrote this when she was 13 years of age and was published in the “TAPAT” News Magazine of 7th Infantry Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, Philippine Army.