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We know this has been long overdue but we would like to thank all Hive PH members actively participating in our Weekly Blogging Contest. September's Week 1  theme was **"What does -Ber months mean to Filipinos like you?"** and we had 15 entries for that week alone! It was a lot but a joy to read our fellow Filipino' thoughts about what the -BER months mean to them - from family reunions to gift giving to a season of typhoons (*of which we are already experiencing*). We hope the -Ber months this year will bring you more joy despite the challenges. 


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<h5>Here are the Top 5 entries that we have selected for our week 1 blogging challenge:</h5>

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<a href=https://peakd.com/hive-188409/@khairro/bound-to-exert-more-efforts-and-refill-our-pockets><i>1. Bound to Exert more efforts and Refill our pockets</i></a> By: @khairro

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>Preparing and celebrating Christmas as early as September is already a part of Filipino culture. You will see that a lot of Filipino families will start putting different Christmas decorations on their houses as early as September first. You will see them preparing the Christmas tree, hanging the colorful Christmas lights, and even listening to songs related to Christmas even though the holiday is still four months away before the actual celebration.

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<a href=https://peakd.com/hive-188409/@dennnmarc/what-a-family-reunion-has-taught-me><i>2. What a family reunion has taught me</i></a> By: @dennnmarc

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>Only two things come to mind during the ber months: gatherings and family reunions. Our family clan's breadth and complexity were widely dispersed across the provinces, so it's no surprise that whenever we had a family gathering, I saw new faces. New faces that represent the birth of a new sprout of seeds implanted in our last name. For a variety of reasons, the gathering was not held frequently, but when it was, it was within the scope of ber months.

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<a href=https://peakd.com/hive-188409/@rks.wuhdrelis/the-dread-for-year-end-specials><i>3. The Dread For Year-end Specials</i></a> By: @rks.wuhdrelis

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>How valuable a Christmas season should be to an eighteen-year-old like me? Maybe if I was still the same young Arques who would've sported fancy black and pink striped clothes, I would say it meant the world. I think at least in those blissful years, I have experienced what it felt like to run free and watch the fireworks as if they ignited for me. Now the only thing I can do is wish that I would wake up early on December 25th and the only regret I feel is ditching Christmas eve to sleep.

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<a href=https://peakd.com/hive-188409/@macjulez/resiliency-amidst-difficulties-ber-months-in-the-philippines-never-gets-dull><i>4. Resiliency amidst Difficulties: Ber-months in the Philippines never gets dull</i></a> By: @macjulez 

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>In the face of poverty, poor families do not consider such a thing a hindrance in celebrating this particular season. As resourceful as we can be, we make use of used bottles, old newspapers, straps, and the like to make decorations. Because in the Philippines, you don't have to be rich just to feel the spirit of the Christmas season. Yes, it has some advantages, but believe me, the most important thing is celebrating it with our family and being thankful for whatever we can share with each other on noche buena. Been there, done that.

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<a href=https://peakd.com/hive-188409/@jane1289/a-perfect-christmas-no-more-ber-months-to-an-ofw><i>5. A Perfect Christmas No More (Ber Months To An OFW)</i></a> By: @jane1289

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>Reminiscing those memories, BER months in our country is all about anticipation, preparation, gift-giving, reunion, celebrations, wishes, and happiness. This somehow changed though as I entered adulthood, the anticipation and excitement. There is lesser excitement as we tend to focus on our careers rather than planning for celebrations, especially for breadwinners like me. Albeit, regardless of the busyness, the presence and celebrations of Christmas are always there. And we always find ways to be reunited on this special day.

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<h3><center><b1>Congratulations to...</b1></center></h3>
 
<center><b>Entry #3: <a href=https://peakd.com/hive-188409/@rks.wuhdrelis/the-dread-for-year-end-specials><i>The Dread For Year-end Specials</i></a> By @rks.wuhdrelis</center>


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Once again, thank you to all who joined our weekly blogging challenge! We appreciate you for actively engaging in our community here on Hive.

- Announcement of Week 3 winner and distribution of rewards for Week 1, 2, & 3 winners will be tomorrow so stay tuned!

- Tomorrow will also be the last day of entry for our Week 4 Blogging Challenge with the theme "What does wake me up when September ends mean to you?" so send in your entries now!

- Excited for our **Blogging Contests for the Month of October**? Read all about it [here](https://peakd.com/hive-188409/@hiveph/a-rundown-of-updates-for-hiveph-rii2rb). 

- **Want to support our community? You can delegate to @hivephilippines!** 
  
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Written by @indayclara 💃