The Yuletide season is upon us whether we are ready or not.

The cool winds, the “brrr” temperature (especially in the mountaintop retreats), the slowly emerging Christmas lights and lanterns in the Ortigas Avenue despite the financial crisis and the national belt-tightening. It’s in the air and everywhere, for instance, my favorite “Collect & Cherish” store at the Shangri-La mall on EDSA has been aglow with traditional Christmas decor since the start of this month.

Benny and Tony, the creative geniuses behind the gift shop, have decreed that this Christmas, the classic, traditional decor is “in.” The golds, reds, greens, glitter and shimmer, velvet, etc. of what we perceive as “Victorian” or early Christmas in America would have been Perfect! Well, of course most of the decor now come from China, eclipsing our once-lucrative Christmas decor exports. But if we try hard enough, we, meaning the local decor exporters can still sell the high end and better made Christmas decor to market like Europe that care for quality.

I love Christmas… and I await this beloved family — focused holiday, even if this will be the second Christmas that my son Junie, his wife and son Monch will be away in their home in Vancouver.

“All I want for Christmas is my son and his family back…” but I must cope with reality and make sure that from halfway around the globe, they will always feel our loving care.

*****

The bazaar season has already started and if I were Scrooge, I would advise Commissioner Guillermo Parayno to send his men to these bazaars, not to shop ‘til they drop of course, by to check the “viajeras” from Bangkok and Shanghai if they ever pay their taxes. Trouble is these “viajeras” are now glorified in media as smart, “much-traveled” shoppers but they buy their wares in these two cities’ night markets, bring them home and pay nary a peso to the government.

They may not owe as much to the government as the bigtime smugglers, but still, they contribute to the losses of government and the local handicraft and small-and-medium enterprises. But in the spirit of Christmas, let Parayno find his own tax cheats, right?

*****

In the meantime, the “ber months” also ushers in the Enchanted Kingdom season my favorite destination south of Manila.

Last December, along with the orphans and nuns in Tagaytay’s Augustinian convent, our show on RPN 9, “Dee’s Day,” was given an “all-ride” passes for the crew, the orphans and the sisters by the management of EK, the country’s best theme park.

I really enjoyed that taping day watching the nuns and their novices’ faces almost glow with excitement as they took their wards on the rides.

*****

This season is really one of sharing so let’s start making a list of what we can share and with whom. This is different from your regular Christmas shopping list. The caring and sharing must be something for a family that needs the “basics” more than just the Christmas baskets we can recycle.

Like sharing with seminarians of Bishop Ramon Arguelles in Lipa, Batangas, the homeless by donating a house to the GK 777, visiting and giving your time to the children in the cancer wards of PGH, “adopting” a charitable institution if you have a company, or a “kariton” family even just for the season. Giving more than the usual to your household staff, for instance. Or dropping by your neighborhood police precinct and finding out their needs — like a computer, bond paper, ink, clean water, etc.

Anyway, you can also send 30 students from the public school nearby to a day-long trip to EK for their novel promo “A Different Kind of Classroom” according to the park’s VP, Dennis Cruz.

This program is an experimental educational module that combines science and other academic themes with the fun and excitement of the park’s different rides and attractions. For example, did you know that the roller coaster does not run on any engine but on gravity once the train is released at the top of the hill?

The roller coaster then runs on the conversion of potential energy to kinetic energy all of which has been computed upon its design, to ascertain how much energy should be provided for that particular ride. To keep the ride smooth, different types of wheels are utilized; running wheels to guide it on track, friction wheels to control lateral motion, and a final set of wheels to keep it on track even if the roller coaster is inverted.

Compressed air brakes stop the trains when the ride ends. Learning can be fun!

An EK science guide will be available for those who call for this kind of tour at 830-2111 or e-mail www.enchantedkingdom.com.ph.

After surviving the vertigo challenges of the rides like Space Shuttle, the big boat, Jungle Log Jam or even the kiddies’ Bumbling Boulders or Up, Up and Away, it’s time to eat at any of the park’s fun food kiosks.

Susan Romero, AVP for retail operations, told us that the food is not at all expensive. People can go to the park and have a complete meal when they avail of the Magic Combo Treat where the admission ticket is tied in with the food already. Then there’s the weekend buffet for R299 per person, the giant Wizard Cookie, fried burritos, crispy tacos, and the really yummy ice cream cakes.
I have tried those ice cream cakes and they really are good! Of course, during the Christmas season there are also other snack food items available from carts around the park.