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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider Global pilgrimage of Christmas: Home is where the heart is

Global pilgrimage of Christmas: Home is where the heart is

Published Dec 21, 2024 10:37 pm

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Today, millions of people around the world are on their way home to join their families for Christmas.


From bustling airports to crowded bus terminals, the desire to reunite with loved ones transcends borders, religions, and cultures, reflecting humanity’s shared yearning for connection, tradition, and celebration. In our culture, this is the time when the extended family comes to life, adding close friends to the clan.


The Department of Transportation (DOTr) expects some seven million passengers to flock to bus terminals, airports and sea ports around the country to spend the Christmas and New Year holidays with their families.


To ensure public safety, nearly 40,000 police personnel have been deployed nationwide to secure bus terminals, ports, places of worship, tourist destinations, and other places of convergence, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.


Christmas, for many, is a time of reflection and joy, symbolizing love, gratitude, and togetherness. These universal values draw people back to their roots.


Globally, billions of people participate in this seasonal migration. In the United States, a record for holiday travel will be made with 120 million people traveling at least 50 miles from home between Saturday and New Year's Day in 2024, the American Automobile Association (AAA) predicted. 


In the Philippines, holiday travelers plus the influx of returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) create a surge in air travel and domestic transport systems.  In response, 956 special permits were granted for public utility vehicles (PUVs), especially passenger buses, in anticipation of the increased number of passengers from this weekend to Jan. 10 next year, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced on Dec. 19.


The holiday season’s dramatic movement of people places immense pressure on transportation systems worldwide. Airports operate at full capacity, airlines add extra flights, and roads become congested.  Although the government responds with measures deploying additional personnel, and enhancing traffic management, private citizens should do their part to ensure safe and efficient travel.  Road courtesy will help make travel safer and smoother.


What awaits these travelers at home are cherished traditions that have been passed down through generations. Among these is the traditional Noche Buena, a grand Christmas Eve dinner where families gather to feast on a traditional menu. This meal is not just about food but about the warmth of togetherness, laughter, and storytelling.


Gift-giving is another strong element of the season, symbolizing thoughtfulness and love. Filipino children do not only wait for gifts from Santa Claus and their parents, but also from their ninongs, ninangs (godparents), and relatives.


Beyond material traditions, the deeper reason for the journey home lies in shared experiences and making memories. For Christians, the center of the Christmas celebration is the birth of Jesus Christ, a time to reflect on faith and gratitude. Many memories will be made in churches where traditions of Christmas celebration are performed – like the Simbang Gabi and the Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.


From the Philippines to other parts of the world, the annual pilgrimage home shows humanity’s shared values of love, gratitude, and togetherness. Whether it’s for a grand feast, or simple meal, exchanging gifts, or simply sitting around the table laughing, Christmas reminds us all of one thing: Home is where the heart is, and family – which also includes friends as adopted members – is what makes it a whole family.


Invite a friend to join your family for Christmas Eve. Be extra courteous to a motorist and pedestrian. Reach out to a stranger with a kind act. 


We wish you safe travel home for Christmas!

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