At long last, because of various unexpected developments, we experienced a different Christmas at the end of 2021. On one hand, the government’s easing of restrictions last November made possible merrymaking during the end-of-the-year holidays across the country. The traditional Filipino Christmas gathering of families with friends and kin was a sight to behold! For most of us, it was a celebration long-overdue, not having been possible during the first year of the pandemic. On the other hand, an unforeseen calamity visited our country in mid-December.