Merry Christmas from Your Friends in Southeast Asia!

Image © Bingbing / Creative Commons.

Not to overly generalize, but I believe that we in Southeast Asia are mostly a jolly, celebrating sort. Even if not all of us are Christian (only the Philippines and East Timor are majority-Catholic countries), many communities in the region will celebrate Christmas along with the rest of the world; cheer and togetherness is something deeply woven into our DNA, after all (and the shopping and feasting serves as a handy bonus).

I'm sitting in my childhood home in Davao City, Philippines, thinking kindly of all of you who've traveled the region and taken some great memories back with you, wherever you go home to. Have a wonderful Christmas and may your 2013 be bright!