COVID-19 work, pandemic lockdowns, negative economic realities, typhoon-caused devastations, and New Normal problems are not enough to turn off people from holding traditional celebrations; besides the human spirit is stubborn. It needs to hope and survive. Hence, when people expected UP Manila and PGH to go quiet this Christmas season, it went ahead with honoring the season of Jesus Christ’s birth. 

There was no Lantern Parade of course, or parties, but there were lots and lots of lights and songs. Donations and gift-giving to communities laid low by the pandemic and typhoons went ahead via the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod-Manila, UP Manila Student Council, the colleges’ various student councils, PGH Chaplaincy, and other groups.

Officially, the traditional festivities were started by the hospital on December 1 with the PGH Façade Lighting Ceremony. The area remained lit for the entire month from 5:30pm-1am. 

Then there was the “Tuloy Na Tuloy Pa Rin Ang Pasko Sa PGH: 12 Days of Christmas” held from 3-11 December 2020 via PGH FB Live, People Giving Hope (PGH) FB, and the hospital’s PA System. At 12:45 pm for each of those days, singers, actors, and some health professionals entertained the audience with recorded performances. There was also a PGH Trivia Game with prizes for winning employees of UPM and PGH. 

The guest artists were Jim Paredes; Rachel Alejandro; Martin Nievera; Pinky Marquez; Tim Pavino; Ima Castro; Franco and Ayen Laurel; Joanna Ampil; Baihana (Anna, Krina, Melinda); Jed Madela and Anna Tajanlangit; Ryan Cayabyab, The Company, John Arcilla, Bernadette Sembrano, and Arman Ferrer.

The hospital’s festivities were organized by the PGH Christmas Celebration 2020 Committee headed by the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. 

For UP Manila, its university-wide “Christmas is ON-line” celebration was held on December 17. From 3-5:30 pm, units and colleges gave their best performances to make the audience forget reality for a while. There were also raffles and games with big prizes. 

 Although not part of the season’s scheduled events, but on-theme with it, is the turnover on Dec. 21 of the three electronic books of The PGH Human Spirit Project to Chancellor Carmencita Padilla through a virtual ceremony. (please see separate article). The books chronicle the extraordinary human experiences of frontliners, volunteers, and other people during the pandemic. 

Of course, Christmas wouldn’t be what it is without the Simbang Gabi held every 5 am, from Dec. 16-24, at the Immaculate Conception Chapel (better known as the PGH Chapel). The Simbang Gabi culminated in the Christmas Eve Mass on Dec. 24. COVID-19 safety protocols were observed at all times. The masses were streamed live via the UP-PGH Chapel and The Chaplaincy Facebook page.

Fedelynn Jemena | Published in Healthscape Special COVID-19 Issue No. 21 (December 2020)