The different meaning of BER months

September 07, 2022

Ber months means SeptemBER, OctoBER, NovemBER and DecemBER.

What does BER months mean to me? Well, BER months have different meaning to me and it varies from different stages of life.

BER months for a child

_{Photo from Unsplash by Nguyen Dang Hoang Nhu}

BER months to a child means a lot of food, a lot of money, have a lot of gifts to receive and a reunion for some relatives.

When I was a child, BER months is so exciting because it is a holiday season. Me as a child would be excited having no classes on November 1 and 2 because it is all saints and all souls day. My father will usually cook vegetable from a taro leaves or cassava leaves, it is one of the Aklanon specialty. He would cook that specially for his relatives who will visit our place. In our Barangay there is a cemetery where most of our realtives who died was burried there. So, every November 1 or 2, many of them will visit us. As a child I would be excited for this day because our Aunt and Uncle will give us money after we will bless, kiss or hug them. They will always leave money to our mother saying that it will be for us. Plus, they will bring a lot of bread for us and thats another thing that make us happy.

Bread is something so special to kids in the country side that time and even now. Having it as pasalubong is so great.

When December comes, it becomes more exciting. I and my siblings will collect tansan or a bottle cap and we will flatten it, sew it together using wire and then we will have something like tamburin to be used for Christmas caroling.

Singing jingles, caroling recieving 1.00 will make us happy but when we received 0.25 it will make us sing "Thank you, thank you ang kuripot ninyo, thank you." and we will run as fast as we can.

It is a time that we hope to have a good gift, a time to eat special food and a time for vacation or a visit to grandparents and relatives.

BER months for a student

_{Photo from Unsplash by Eugene Zhyvchik}

BER months to a student means christmas party and new clothes.

This is the moment where students will make a parol as a christmas project. It is also a time for christmas party where students are expecting new clothes to wear on that special day, the last day of the class for that year. They will be excited to open the exchanged gift.

BER months for a worker

_{Photo from Unsplash by Mari Gimenez}

BER months to a worker means Christmas bonus or 13th month pay plus a time to pay some debt.

This is something exciting and sometimes a sad time for workers. Exciting because they could receive an extra income from their 13th month pay. Some could buy a specific thing as their bonus project, some could buy new phone, new clothes, new shoes, some could have something to spend for a vacation and it is a gift for theirselves for being a harworking all throughout the year.

This is also a sad time because some will just hold their bonus for a second, a minute or just a day because someone is waiing for them to pay for their debt. Most of the time their bonus is not enough to pay for it.

To me, when I was still working, it means big salary. I was working under a security and safety department where we need to monitor something for 24/7. We only have one rest day per week but we still have to report on duty even during holidays. Holiday means 30% increase on the salary or you will receive a double pay on regular holidays. So the last quarter of the year is the biggest salary I have all throughout the year.

BER months for a parent

_{Photo from Unsplash by Kelly Sikkema}

BER months to a parent means budgetting.

This is a long holiday season where most kids enjoy but parents are having a hard time budgetting and trying to fit up all the budget.

Parents need to think about to buy gift, buy new clothes, buy food for holidays like all souls day, christtmas and new year. Parents also need to alocate money for family's recreation or vacation like going to a beach plus there have some different christmas party and exchanged gift that sometimes you don't want to join but it seems you are so obliged to join and participate and you cannot say no.

Honestly to me, it also means we could buy new clothes and above all new underwears, lol. It may sound funny but that's a reality. All throughout the year, a parents responsibility is to provide the need of their children over their own need. So, when bonus came, I will make sure to alocate an amount to buy an underwears for me and my husband. I will also make sure to buy him at least three pair to six pairs of new socks. I will also let him buy shoes and pants even only from ukay-ukay or preloved clothes because I know he really need it in working.

When I was still young and single, I usually hear parents telling that we need to buy our needs and wants while we are still single because when we are married and become a parent we can hardly buy even an underwear. Now, I can say that they are partly right. So single out there, you now know what to do.

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BER months is a mix emotion. You can be happy or sad but always choose to be happy because it will pass and new year will soon to come.

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This is my participation to @hiveph contest for this week What does -Ber months mean to Filipinos like you?

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Live life accordingly and choose to be happy.