Manila is my hometown. And so is, Halloweentown. If you’ve seen The Nightmare Before Christmas, you’ll note that Halloweentown is the land where skeletons, zombies, witches, vampires, ghouls, freaks, misfits, outcasts, mutants and monsters all live happily together in a gothic landscape of pumpkins, graveyards and haunted houses.

On another side of that world is Christmastown, a land of presents, pretty lights, frolicking children, vibrant color and the most beloved fellow in that land is Santa Claus or as the folks in Halloweentown refer to him, “Sandy Claws.”

As December progresses, the world bit by bit takes my black booted feet into Christmastown. And I am in complete awe . . . with the frenzy, the non-stop food and eating and flitting about from house to house, the presents, the wrapping paper, the décor, the Santas and the trees and the snowmen (even if these are slightly alien to a tropical country they are embraced wholeheartedly).

I see reunions and families coming together and children (bless them) who just marvel at the opening of presents and appreciate whatever comes their way. As a traveler to this land, I try to dig deeper into what the season really means, underneath all its bright trappings (and there are many), it’s a time to be together with loved ones, to share things and open your hearts a bit more.

When in Rome one does as the Romans so when in Christmastown, one adapts to the traditions and becomes part of the swirl. Giving and receiving. Opening doors and walking through others’ open doors.

Yet a part of me will always wander off and think—does everyone have to buy into what Christmastown sells? Can everyone? Surely there are those among us who must work through Christmas, who might be far away from home, who might be unable to prepare that spread, or buy the gifts, who for one reason or another do not have family to be with?

So here’s my little shout out and salute to those who we may not be able to see because the lights might be flickering ever so bright, because the music is so loud or because there’s this veil of gift wrap covering the world. I am sure some of you are out there. And you are not alone.

I hope for better and brighter days ahead and new, meaningful connections to be made with souls around the world. With that, I’d like to end with two quotes, the first one is one from Gandalf: “The world is indeed full of peril and in it there are many dark places. But still there is much that is fair. And though in all lands, love is now mingled with grief, it still grows, perhaps, the greater.”

And the other one, from Chad Sugg “If you’re reading this . . . Congratulations, you’re alive.If that’s not something to smile about, then I don’t know what is.”