We arrived in Manila late Thursday night, September 7, after several months in the States. The next day, Friday, September 8, I drove to Market-Market Mall to meet Joey B for lunch at Teriyaki Boy (literally “Young Fat Boy” according to Scott D).
As I pulled my dirt-covered white Suzuki into the mall parking lot, I was met by Manila’s ubiquitous car wash boys—those guys in the blue and green uniforms who patrol parking lots armed with squeegees and soap. Despite my jetlag, I knew I was back in Manila when the car wash boy smiled at me and said, “MERRY CHRISTMAS, SIR.” It was September 8! Only in Manila.
For all my non-Filipino readers, you must understand that the Philippines has the longest Christmas season in the world, covering all the “ber” months (SeptemBER, OctoBER, NovemBER, and DecemBER). As soon as September hits, all malls, elevators, and waiting-on-hold-machines begin playing your favorite Christmas tunes. By October fake spray-on snow magically appears. By the end of November, the parties start and continue until early-January when our church starts the year with a week of corporate prayer and fasting.
More Christmas thoughts tomorrow. . .
