The Night Before Christmas Philippine Style

[Fräulein]

This has long been in the photo album. It brings back many memories for myself.

Forgot to share it last year. This year I remembered.

It was originally published in the Philippine Flyer, which was the base paper for Clark.

I want to say the date it was published is either in 1975 or 1976.

T'was the Night Before Christmas

Adapted by Barri E. Burrows

T’was the night before Christmas

In my Philippine hut.

Not a creature was stirring,

Not even the mutt.

The medyas were hung from the mesa with care

In hope that St. Nicholas would soon be there.

The children perspired on their open air beds,

While dreams of air conditioning danced in their heads.

And Ma in her bata, and I in my barong

Were sleeping and dreaming of times by gone.

When out in the garden there rose such a clatter

I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

I raced to the window, and then being dumb,

Pried open the shutters, and banged up my thumb.

The moon on the crest of the newly planted rice

Reflected in the water and made me look twice.

You just won’t believe what I’m going to say,

I saw eight carabaos pulling a sleigh.

With a little old driver so lively and quick.

I knew it just had to be Philippine Nick.

More rapid than Rabbit Bus Drivers they came,

And he whistled and shouted and called them by name,

“Now Elena, now Felipe, Now Roberto and Baby,

On Maria, on Jorge, on Ricardo and Lucy.

To the top of the roof, to the top of the wall,

Step lightly on the fronds, and dash away all.”

And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof.

The shuffling and stomping of each heavy hoof.

As I drew in my head and was turning around,

Down the bamboo drain-pipe St. Nick came with a bound.

He was dressed in a barong, and there on his feet,

Were handmade sandals, a holiday treat.

A bag of kakanin he had flung on his back

And a gay-flowered blusa stuck out of his sack.

Saying “Mabuhay” to all, he went to his work.

He filled all te medias, then turned with a jerk.

And laying a finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod up the drain-pipe he rose.

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team he gave a whistle,

And away they all flew, like the down of a thistle.

Then I felt someone shake me, and heard my son say,

“Gising na, gising na, Papa. It is now Christmas Day!!

Maligayang Pasko to all.