Story and photos by Toots Jimenez, Jr.      

Amid the “-ember months,” people are joyful, cheerful, and excited. The yuletide season arrives in vans or from bodegas with entrepreneurs grabbing crates of apples, oranges, grapes, and lemons. Homes are decorated to show the joys of celebrating Christmas at home. Children are excited to receive gifts and imagine what could be inside the neatly-wrapped packages, mothers worry about how to decorate various parts of their homes, and store owners gather decorations from years’ past to make their place of business more festive.

Christmas decorations light up homes, representing the spirit of Christmas. Grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, siblings, other family members all anticipate what is in store for them this season.

Bacolod City is a culinary destination. One would surely be delighted by the wide array of cakes at Calea and Felicia’s; 21 Restaurant’s La Paz batchoy, bulgan-steamed fish, and baby back ribs; chicken inasal at Manokan Country; and siopao, giant bangus fry, and sate babe from Bob’s.

Roaming Negros Occidental, drive thirty kilometers into the mountainous area of Silay City’s Barangay Patag, passing along the sides of Bacolod-Silay Airport, one will find the famous Duyan Café, which offers mountain views.

From Cadiz City, one can reach the Lakawon Beach Resort and Spa; while Talisay City offers The Ruins.

Moving south, there is the Bugana Beach and Dive Resort in Sipalay City and Buenos Aires Mountain Resort in Bago City.

In Bacolod City, businessman Jerry Sy offers a must-see Christmas display located at the rear of Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod, which even has “snow” that drops onto spectators.

Have a delightful Christmas season but also remember the time is for us to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ as He is in our hearts to fill the season with joy, love, forgiveness, sharing, and understanding.

The meaning of Christmas – truly a family affair./WDJ