We’re almost at the end of 2020, and most of us have had to miss out on many important occasions this year – graduations, birthdays, funerals, weddings, and, in a few days, the much-awaited Noche Buena.

Always a main event for many Filipino families, Noche Buena (which translates to “night of goodness”), reunites a whole clan together at one time of the year – from the grandparents, to the apos, to even extended members of the family – over a spread of classic favorites: ham, lechon, macaroni salad, quezo de bola, you name it.

Some choose to celebrate at home, while some prefer to dine out amid the Metro Manila holiday mall rush.

But when domestic travel restrictions abound and the threat of COVID-19 is still very much present, the comforting anticipation and joy of the yearly occasion has been dampened. Families are no longer complete, with loved ones unable to travel back home and local establishments finding themselves having to adjust to the the not-so-Christmas rush this year, all while trying to still keep the holiday spirit alive.

Noche bue-no more

Twenty-four-year old Pocholo Espina is one of many young professionals skipping a holiday homecoming. The founder and CEO of Sip PH, who is from Butuan City, has been stuck in Manila since the lockdown, also because he needs to keep his e-commerce business alive.

For Pocholo, traveling back home for Christmas has always been an annual tradition, ever since he left Butuan at 12 to study in Davao and later, attend college in Metro Manila. The tradition, to him, is “is nothing too different from the usual families'” – just simple meals with extended family, and never without lechon, spaghetti, and his lola’s dinuguan (something he might have sent over to Manila so he doesn’t miss out).

“Holidays always meant rest and getting people to have free time together since sometimes we all get caught up with the rush of life and forget to slow down. That’s what I really love about Christmas and being home in the province; time just takes a different pace and you feel like the time I spend with my family is longer than if I was just having a normal day in Manila,” Pocholo told Rappler.

“I also get to catch up with friends in Butuan and it feels like work doesn’t exist. As a write this, I realized how much it’s really been a time for rest and catching my breath.”

For other families, the holidays are spent enjoying meals or buffets at their favorite restaurant – but even this experience is gone, much to the dismay of both the consumer and establishments.

Take Max’s Restaurant, for example – this decades-old household name is used to welcoming crowds all year round since 1945, most especially during Christmas, all because of Nanay Ruby’s iconic crispy fried chicken. But 2020 has changed that too, with their barangay-sized family regulars no longer dining in and celebrating milestones at Max’s.

Different ways, same occasion

“One thing we have observed during this season is that rather than ‘one-time big-time’ gatherings, our fans and guests have broken their respective “tribes” into smaller pods that they can trust to dine with safely and securely,” Mark De Joya, Max’s director of operations and marketing told Rappler.

“There are things that cannot be part of the ‘New Normal Noche Buena’ – the gatherings of multitudes, mass reunions, grand parties and celebrations,” he added. That was something on his mind since March, which urged the company to pivot their operations ASAP, based on rapidly-changing customer behavior.

They started with their Pledge A Plate program in March, latching on to the public’s clamor to donate by sending hot meals to health workers. Shortly after, they launched Park n’ Dine, where customers could park in Max’s designated slots and be served Max’s dishes to their cars. They also recently launched the “Max’s E-party,” where anyone can organize food deliveries for multiple people simultaneously at home.

“We fully support the guidelines on hygiene and safety, and yet also understand that people cannot ever completely erase the concerns and fears of the pandemic from their minds,” Mark said, who is also thankful that Filipinos have stayed “inventive” on finding virtual ways to gather – he himself has attended multiple weddings and receptions entirely via streaming.

With a personal responsibility to bring “pockets of joy” to troubled Filipino families, Mark made it a point to continue serving customers appropriately as people change how they meet, eat, and dine – just like their e-parties.

Pocholo is also finding ways to adjust, as he decided “with open arms” to miss Christmas at home, even though it’s only been the 3rd time in his life.

“The situation is quite tricky at home since my grandparents are well into their 70s and are vulnerable. It’s mostly the risk. I can’t imagine causing my grandparents to catch COVID without me realizing it and the isolation would just be too long,” Pocholo said, regretfully sharing that video chats are still a “far cry” from seeing each other in person, and that “nothing beats the warmth of a family member.”

Instead, Pocholo may visit his girlfriend’s family for the day, or spend Christmas with his housemates, who have grown to be his second family.

“Most of their family members are also in different places so they would definitely understand the feeling and it would be nice to be with people who get it,” Pocholo said.

It is what it is

Resilience is one of 2020’s buzzwords, and there’s a reason it resonates (and, sometimes, is overused) – those who can adapt to this unfortunate reality in their own ways. Pocholo believes that the holidays should still be celebrated “with the least amount of people possible.”

“I’m having lechon sent over from a friend who owns a small letsonan, and typing this while waiting for food made me want to also ask my lola to send over food!” Pocholo said. Video calls will be the norm for him this year, because to him, it’s still a way to be fully present with loved ones, even if it’s just via chat.  

“Back then we used to only communicate by Magic Jack, so we’ve come a really long way!” he said.

Mark also said that they’ve been encouraging and supporting companies who have chosen not to hold large company-wide parties this Christmas. Instead, Max’s has been sending “virtual gift baskets” of Max’s gift certificates to employees, made possible with Max’s network of stores and increased delivery infrastructure.

“At the end of the day, it’ important to just really take the time and slow down, regardless of where we are and spend time with the people that matter the most,” Pocholo said.

“Some families might have it simpler or harder than us, but I do believe its always nice to take a break from the realities we face and enjoy the time that we have, regardless of the context that we’re in.” – Rappler.com

Grab your noche buena essentials using this MetroMart promo code.