Unique gift ideas

 SM Updates

Josie Lin Galario

 

Love is in the air! Last Valentine’s Day, SM City Baguio presented a selection of heartfelt gifts, showcasing handcrafted treasures from local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to support homegrown talent while gifting something special, with ideas sure to make their hearts smile.

Stones and charms

On any day, surprise your special someone with a thoughtful gift that captures their love for stones and charms. Whether it’s a beautifully crafted piece of jewelry, a personalized charm bracelet, or a stunning stone that symbolizes a meaningful connection, this unique gesture is sure to make them feel truly cherished. Let the timeless beauty of these treasures express your love in a way that speaks directly to their heart.

Crafted flowers

Surprise your partner with flowers that are as timeless as your love. Instead of the usual bouquet, give the gift of crafted flowers that last forever, such as intricately crocheted blooms, preserved flowers that maintain their natural beauty for years, or a stunning flower encapsulated inside a balloon, creating a whimsical, lasting display. These unique floral creations are available exclusively at Flowers and Favors Sweet Blooms and Florose Garden.                       

Personalized souvenirs

Make a memorable day extra special with a gift that’s both heartfelt and one-of-a-kind. Choose from custom stickers to add a personal touch, or give the gift of warmth and creativity with beautifully handcrafted crochet items. Mezeve offers the perfect personalized gift to show your love and thoughtfulness in a truly memorable way.

Decadent treats

If your date has a sweet tooth, head over to Sugar Shack and treat them to their signature Ice Cream Cake and Strawberry Pudding. It's the perfect indulgence to make the day even sweeter!  

Celebrating love comes in all forms.

To know more about SM Supermalls’ events, visit SM City Baguio (official) on Facebook.

 

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SWS: 96 percent Filipinos enter New Year with hope

 EDITORIAL

Instead of fear, around 96 percent of adult Filipinos are entering the New Year with hope, the highest recorded since the pre-pandemic in 2019, according to a survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) released on Thursday.
    Results of the Dec. 8-11 survey found that hope for the coming new year is one point higher than the 95 percent recorded in 2022 and the highest since the pre-pandemic 96 percent in 2019.
    Meanwhile, 3 percent answered they are entering 2024 with fear, down by 2 points from 5 percent in 2022.
    Entering the New Year with hope was the highest among respondents in Metro Manila and Balance Luzon at 97 percent, followed by Mindanao at 96 percent, and Visayas at 93 percent.
    The pollster said New Year hope at the end of 2023 rose slightly across educational levels compared to the end of 2022: from 92 percent to 93 percent among non-elementary graduates, from 95 percent to 97 percent among elementary graduates, from 95 percent to 96 percent among junior high school graduates, and from 96 percent to 98 percent among college graduates.
    The survey was conducted using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults aged 18 years old and above nationwide: 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon (or Luzon outside Metro Manila), the Visayas, and Mindanao.
    The sampling error margins are ±2.8 percent for national percentages, and ±5.7 percent each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

 

EDITORIAL 

Transport crisis looming with PUV modernization 

More than 100 Sangguniang Kabataan officials have signed a unity statement opposing the government’s franchise consolidation plan for public utility vehicles (PUV), warning that the franchise consolidation requirement would lead to a mass transport crisis among millions of commuters.
    According to a statement shared by the Kabataan Partylist, the SK officials said they oppose the franchise consolidation deadline set on Dec. 31 as it threatens to strip off the livelihood and income of more than 60,0000 jeepney operators by forcing them to submit to the management of transport cooperatives or corporations.
    Kabataan Partylist told reporters in a message on Sunday that 111 officials have signed the statement. 
    “The repercussions of drastically reducing the number of PUVs in January 2024 extend beyond economic implications. Aside from creating dents in commuter’s budgets, especially those working or studying, it threatens to plunge millions of Filipino commuters into a dire transport crisis, profoundly impacting crucial sectors of our economy,” the statement read.
    The youth leaders also urged Marcos to review the PUV modernization program and “either set aside or completely revoke” the deadline for franchise consolidation to "avert an impending transport crisis."
    “Though government information insists on progress in terms of franchise consolidation, ground reports paint a different picture — one that ensures that existing policies will neglect the conditions of the transport industry,” the statement added.
    The SK officials also hit the government’s franchise consolidation requirement, saying that this essentially violates the rights of jeepney drivers and operators to form their own associations by “compelling them to dissolve their existing associations to comply or risk losing their means of livelihood.”
    A memorandum circular issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board last Dec. 22 allows jeepney drivers and operators who have not yet consolidated to still ply the roads after the Dec. 31 deadline. However, they will no longer be allowed to join cooperatives or corporations. 

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Time to rethink New Year’s resolutions

 BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

Here’s some pieces of advice about New Year’s resolutions. But how much of it actually works? Is it even a good idea to set resolutions at the beginning of the year?
    In an article, three Ascend editors, Kelsey Alpaio, Christine Liu, and Elainy Mata, break down five tactics — backed by research — for making New Year’s resolutions work for you: Do resolutions right. Create “fresh starts.” Reframe to make it fun. Break goals into micro habits. Evaluate your resolutions. Consider the negative risks.
Tip 1: Create “fresh starts”
ALPAIO: This is actually something I tried in both 2019 and 2020. These are the journals I used to keep track of it, actual journals that I used to do this with. So instead of setting a goal for the whole year, I set monthly resolutions for myself. Here’s why this works. When we typically set resolutions at the beginning of the year, there’s really no end in sight.
    When you set monthly goals instead, you’re creating these sort of fresh start moments for yourself at the beginning of every month, instead of just the beginning of the year. And that keeps you motivated for a longer period of time.
Tip 2: Reframe to make it fun!
LIU: If you just want to, like, adopt better habits or make a change, whatever, there’s one thing that you can do to substantially increase the chance of it sticking. You actually want to have fun. So that means you actually enjoy the thing in the moment, not just waiting for that magical day months later that you’re going to be like, oh yeah, I feel better about myself.
    Let’s say I want to resolve to eat more vegetables. The worst thing I could do is be like, “I’m going to eat more vegetables because of health benefits.” Because, you know, that’s pretty boring, and I’m not going to, like, choke down this salad just because I know it’s good for me. I mean, most salads out there are boring.
    Instead of boring salads, I’ll be like, oh, I really love the act of researching what ingredients are in season. Even if something is important or meaningful, I want this goal to be fun.
Tip 3: Break goals into micro habits
ALPAIO: As somebody who’s set some pretty lofty goals for themselves over the years, I absolutely love this tip. Basically, it’s all about taking those big, intimidating, lofty goals and slashing them into micro habits.
    When a resolution is too big or too vague, it makes it easier for you to make up excuses why you’re not going to do it. For example, say your resolution is to read more. That’s a very scary, intimidating, and vague goal. To break it down into a micro habit, maybe you would say, OK, I’ll read for 45 minutes a day. That’s still too big. All right, I’ll read a chapter every night. That’s still too big.
Your goal should be something like, I’m going to read a paragraph before bed every single night. Now, that is a micro habit. I know that sounds really small, but it’s called a micro habit for a reason. It’s supposed to be something that’s so small that it almost feels ridiculous to do. But that’s the point. It’s supposed to feel achievable. It’s supposed to feel like something that you aren’t intimidated to do on a daily basis.
Tip 4: Evaluate your resolutions
MATA: I actually don’t like New Year’s resolutions because I feel like they add more pressure to my already pressure-filled life. But I thought about it, and I realized that the reason why I don’t like New Year’s resolutions is because I do too many of them at the same time.
    Evaluate your goal list. Ask yourself a few questions. Does this goal align with my values? Should I put this goal off for another time, or should I just get rid of it all together? If you’re in your office or a group of friends and you’re hearing all of them talk about their New Year’s resolutions, don’t panic. You don’t have to have a New Year’s resolution. It’s actually OK.
Tip 5: Consider the negative risks
LIU: No one really talks about maybe the risks or the side effects of having goals. Harvard Business School published this research paper that has the title — I’m dying here — it’s called “Goals Gone Wild.” What’s really interesting here is that setting goals, especially around work, can wreak havoc if not applied appropriately. So unreasonable goals, or ones that are too narrow or too ambitious can cause damage. There are psychological costs. You get into tunnel vision. And in the effort to hit those “capital G” goals, a lot of things may cost you in the long run.
    ALPAIO: These are the tactics that we found useful. We hope that you found them useful, as well. Let us know how you feel about New Year’s resolutions, how you feel about this advice, and any resolutions that you have in the works. Happy new year!

 
BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred Dizon 

OPAPRU: 2023 peace process with armed groups ‘fulfilling’

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. described 2023, a “banner year for comprehensive Philippine process,” amid the         Marcos administration’s commitment to realizing its peace agenda for the nation.
    In a statement e-mailed to the Northern Philippine Times, Galvez said a “significant peace milestone” was achieved by the Philippine government and Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP).
    He said the series of back-channeling and exploratory talks between the government and the NDFP resulted in the signing of the Oslo Joint Communique last Nov. 23 in Oslo, Norway.
    “The intention of the parties is very clear. This is to end the armed conflict, to end armed struggle, and transformation of the CPP-NPA-NDFP,” Galvez said, who announced the peace breakthrough in Malacañang on Nov. 28.
    “We want to resolve all the socioeconomic drivers of conflict, and at the same time, end armed struggle through peaceful resolution of conflict. We’ve been divided as a people by this conflict for more than 50 years,” he added.
    Galvez said the government is making headway with the Localized Peace Engagement (LPE) initiative. The LPE cluster of the National Task Force to Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), which is co-chaired by OPAPRU and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, continues to roll out the Transformation Program for former rebels, their families and communities.
    “We have been conducting Transformation Program workshops together with provincial local government units and partner agencies nationwide to help former rebels fully reintegrate into mainstream society and rebuild their lives,” Galvez said.
    Meanwhile, Galvez said the government’s peace processes with the Cordillera Bodong Administration-Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CBA-CPLA) and Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas-Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB), now called KAPATIRAN, are moving forward as well.
    “The government continues to implement a Normalization Program for both groups that enable its members and their families to improve their socioeconomic well-being,” he said, adding he “is confident they will serve as examples for others to give up armed struggle and embrace a peaceful and productive life.”
    “Once people start enjoying the dividends of peace and their lives start to improve, there is no longer reason for them to engage in armed struggle. They themselves will volunteer to become instruments of peace and development as what our CBA-CPLA and KAPATIRAN have shown," he noted.
    He cited "major milestones" in the government's peace efforts with various groups, including the Bangsamoro, Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Moro National Liberation Front, National Democratic Front, and those in the Cordilleras.
    “Major milestones have been achieved in the comprehensive Philippine peace process under the Marcos administration’s Five-Point Peace, Reconciliation and Unity agenda,” Galvez said in a statement Thursday.
    “We would like to assure you that the Marcos administration is determined to push forward, build upon and sustain the gains of the comprehensive peace process,” he added.
    Galvez said amid two major wars in different parts of the world, the Philippines is looked upon by the international community as a beacon of hope and inspiration for its successful peacebuilding efforts. “Our country has shown that good things come to those who choose and walk the path of peace. Let us continue doing so and become a beacon of hope, mutual understanding and solidarity.”
    Galvez cited significant progress under the Bangsamoro peace process, as the Bangsamoro Parliament has passed five of its seven priority codes, which aims to improve the socioeconomic conditions of its people and boost the region’s economy. These codes include the Administrative Code, Civil Service Code, Electoral Code, Local Government Code, and Education Code.
    “The crafting of these codes is an indication that the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) has really gotten stronger, especially in terms of passing key legislation that will unlock the full economic potential of the region and bring economic progress to the people,” Galvez said.
    All seven mechanisms of the National Government – Bangsamoro Government Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB) have been established and are now functioning, he added.
    These IGRB mechanisms include the Philippine Congress-Bangsamoro Parliament Forum (PCBPF); Intergovernmental Fiscal Policy Board (IFPB); Joint Body for the Zones of Joint Cooperation (JBZJC); Intergovernmental Infrastructure Development Board (IFPB); Intergovernmental Energy Board (IEB); and Bangsamoro Sustainable Development Board (BSDB); and the Council of Leaders.
    “With the accomplishments of the IGRB this year, we have no doubt that the body will be able to sustain its momentum in 2024, as it effectively addresses pressing issues brought to its attention, and help uplift the lives of the Bangsamoro people,” he said.
    “The BARMM is a very good example that once you create a peaceful and secure environment for the people, economic development will follow as trading, investments, and tourism will thrive,” he said.
    In 2023, Galvez said 26,145 former MILF combatants have also been decommissioned and “are now living as peaceful and productive civilians in their communities.”
    A key component of the Normalization Program under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), decommissioning is the process wherein the former combatants lay down their arms and return to mainstream society.
    “These former MILF combatants are now fighting a different battle and that is, a battle to improve their socioeconomic well-being and create a better future for themselves and their families,” Galvez said.
    He added that the Transformation Program for MNLF combatants, which was launched in October this year, is expected to uplift the lives of the group’s members and empower them as agents of peace and development.
    “Our MNLF brothers and sisters are demonstrating their determination to help move forward the national government’s peace agenda and walk the path of peace,” Galvez said.
    “More importantly, the national government is showing the MNLF that it is focused, more than ever, to fulfill all the commitments it had made under the 1996 Final Peace Agreement,” he added.
    The OPAPRU's Social Healing and Peacebuilding Program (SHAPE) is also helping to mend the torn social fabric of society caused by armed conflict through peace conversations and other peacebuilding initiatives.
    “We are committed to conduct trauma healing sessions for the victims especially in light of the recent bomb attack in Marawi City. Through this intervention, we hope to help the victims recover emotionally from the harrowing incident and move forward,” Galvez said.
    He said they continue to work closely with international and local partners, to directly address the roots of violence that is used by terrorists and extremists to bring in recruits into their fold.
    “We believe that the best way to effectively and permanently address the threat of violent extremism is to involve everyone in the healing and peacebuilding process, especially the most vulnerable sectors of society,” Galvez said.
    The OPAPRU together with the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), as well as civil society organizations and the international development community, launched the fourth generation of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security (NAPWPS) 2023-2033 in early December.
    The NAPWPS is the Philippine government’s commitment to the United Nations Security Country Resolution (UNSCR) No. 1325, which calls for women’s participation in conflict prevention and resolution, peace negotiations, peacebuilding, peacekeeping, humanitarian response, and post-conflict reconstruction.
    Meanwhile, the OPAPRU's Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan or PAMANA Program is also building much-needed infrastructure projects that are helping to bring social cohesion and create more livelihood opportunities for residents in focus areas nationwide.
    “The bulk of OPAPRU’s nearly P7 billion budget for 2024 will be used to fund the PAMANA Program, which seeks to bring essential government services closer to the people, especially in remote, undeveloped communities in focus areas,” Galvez said.
    He said he is optimistic that with the upcoming roll-out of the national government’s amnesty program for former rebels, “more will be encouraged to turn away from armed struggle, lay down their arms, and return to the fold of the law.”
    He said the granting of amnesty is an integral part of the comprehensive peace process that will foster genuine healing, reconciliation and deepen the trust and confidence in the government which is needed for the economy to grow while building on the gains of peace.
    “It is a path towards normalization that would allow former rebels not only to fully reintegrate themselves into mainstream society as peaceful, productive and law-abiding citizens, but more importantly, enable them to rebuild their lives and ensure a better future for themselves and their families,” Galvez said. 
 

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Wishful New Year

  LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

March Fianza

The first month of the year was named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings or in other words, the god of openings, by Julius Caesar (July 100 BC - March 15, 44 BC). Janus was also called the god of doors and gates.
    Julius Caesar, the emperor of Rome declared January 1st a national holiday in honor of Janus, the god with two faces, one looking forward and one looking back. Medieval Christians then attempted to replace January 1 with more religiously significant dates but Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 revised a calendar that officially established January 1 as New Year's Day.
    Early medieval Christian thinkers were really thinking. To have a continuous celebration of the season, they conveniently placed New Year’s Day a week after Christmas Day and a week into the first month comes the Three Kings bearing gifts for the King of Kings.
    If not for the official declaration of January 1 as New Year’s Day a week after Christmas Day by Pope Gregory XIII, the world today could awkwardly be celebrating Christmas Day and New Year’s Day in two separate seasons.     
    Life truly is full of conflicts. Whatever, we all wish for the best every time the New Year comes, and may those wishes come true. Once I was told that to attain a good percentage of that, the best move is to choose the opposite in order to come up with a positive result.
    Quite similar to the Law of Interaction which says “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” You have a list of wishes but it is not easy to choose the best. Sometimes, there are wishes that need opposite actions that need to be done.
    I do wish that the act of forgiving someone comes easy even to one who does not deserve to be forgiven. I wish people have enough patience when things seem to be unreachable, and for people to be calm in times of anguish.
    When one wants to shout at the top of his voice, I wish that he chooses the opposite and be quiet instead. I wish that people learn to love those who hate them, to include the excluded, to forgive without apology, and to be strong to accept mistakes.
    I wish that we get disappointed too in order to realize the importance of doing favors for others, never to refuse their simple requests in order to remember the little kindness that we received in the past.
    I do wish that our failures make us realize humility. I wish that our losses make us value the little that we have left, and may our spirits be broken so that God may save our souls. I do wish that when one feels he needs to be comforted, he comforts someone instead; to suffer the pain of a broken heart in order to make others happy, and smile when he feels like crying.
    I wish that we all be part of other peoples’ lives even while we do not know where to fit. I do hope that pieces of us fill the empty spaces in other people’s lives who will feel that they may never be complete without others.
May you be blessed with the best in 2024 and may your wishes all come true! 
 

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Ilocos Region records 11 ‘cracker-related incidents

Victims suffer burns, eye injuries 

By Hilda Austria

MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – Authorities have reiterated their call to avoid unauthorized storage and use of firecrackers in welcoming the New Year as the Ilocos Region has recorded 11 firecracker-related incidents from Dec. 21 to 26 this year.
    The latest incident occurred on the night of Christmas Day in barangay Malued in Dagupan City where unauthorized storage of firecrackers led to an explosion, injuring five individuals and causing damage to 21 houses in the area, according to Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPPO) public relations officer Capt. Renante dela Cruz.
    “Kahit personal use hindi pupwede dahil according to Executive Order (EO) 28 signed in 2017 na authorized lamang na tao at kung saang lugar lamang pwede mag-imbak (Even if it is just for personal use, it is not allowed to store firecrackers because according to EO 28 signed in 2017, only authorized persons and areas would be allowed for storage),” he said in an interview on Wednesday.
    The firecrackers stored at a house under construction in Barangay Malued exploded when one of the victims lit a cigarette during a drinking session, he said.
    Based on the initial investigation of the police and the Bureau of Fire Protection Dagupan City, the impact of the explosion has affected 21 houses with their window glasses and other parts of their houses broken.
    They are now investigating who was responsible for illegally storing those firecrackers.
    Meanwhile, Department of Health Center for Health Development Ilocos Region medical officer Dr. Rheuel Bobis, in a separate interview, said seven more firecracker-related incidents were reported in Pangasinan, three from La Union and one from Ilocos Sur.
    The 11 victims suffered burns and eye injuries, said Bobis.
    Bobis and Dela Cruz have called on parents and guardians to look after their children amid the busyness of the holiday revelry.
    “Dapat hindi binibigyan anumang uri ng paputok ang mga kabataan or mga matatanda. Ang nirerecommend nga po natin ay yong mga alternatibong pampaingay or pagsama sa community fireworks display (We should not be giving any kind of firecrackers to the young people or children or even the elderly. What we recommend are the alternative noisemakers or joining community fireworks, instead),” Bobis said. -- PNA
 

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Season's Greetings

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Christmas stories

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

Here are Christmas stories to inspire us despite these jaded times.  The season celebrating the Holy Child’s birth has been reduced to commercial events, compulsory gift-giving, stressful parties or prefabricated greetings.
    Here are some Christmas stories forwarded on the Internet that bring back the touching, endearing and inspiring qualities of Christmases.
The Portrait
 Years ago, there was a very wealthy man who, with his devoted young son, shared a passion for art collecting. Together they traveled around the world, adding only the finest art treasures to their collection. Priceless works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and many others adorned the walls of the family estate.
    The widowed elder man looked on with satisfaction as his only child became an experienced art collector. The son’s trained eye and sharp business mind caused his father to beam with pride as they dealt with art collectors around the world.
    As winter approached, war engulfed the nation and the young man left to serve his country. After only a few short weeks, his father received a telegram. His beloved son was missing in action. The art collector anxiously awaited more news, fearing he would never see his son again.
    Within days, his fears were confirmed. The young man had died while rushing a fellow soldier to a medic. Distraught and lonely, the old man faced the upcoming Christmas holidays with anguish and sadness. The joy of the season – a season that he and his son had so looked forward to – would visit his house no longer.
    On Christmas morning, a knock on the door awakened the depressed old man. As he walked to the door, the masterpieces of art on the walls only reminded him that his son was not coming home. As he opened the door, he was greeted by a soldier with a large package in his hand.
    He introduced himself by saying, "I was a friend of your son. I was the one he was rescuing when he died. May I come in for a few moments? I have something to show you."
    As the two began to talk, the soldier told of how the man’s son had told everyone of his father’s love of fine art.
    "I’m an artist," said the soldier, "and I want to give you this."
    As the old man unwrapped the package, the paper gave way to reveal a portrait of the man’s son. Though the world would never consider it the work of a genius, the painting featured the young man’s face in striking detail.
    Overcome with emotion, the man thanked the soldier, promising to hang the picture above the fireplace.
    A few hours after the soldier had departed, the old man set about his task. True to his word, the painting went above the fireplace, pushing aside thousands of dollars of paintings. And then the man sat in his chair and spent Christmas gazing at the gift he had been given.
    During the days and weeks that followed, the man realized that even though his son was no longer with him, the boy’s life would live on because of those he had touched. He would soon learn that his son had rescued dozens of wounded soldiers before a bullet stilled his caring heart.
    As the stories of his son’s gallantry continued to reach him, fatherly pride and satisfaction began to ease the grief. The painting of his son soon became his most prized possession, far eclipsing any interest in the pieces for which museums around the world clamored. He told his neighbors it was the greatest gift he had ever received.
    The following spring, the old man became ill and passed away. The art world was in anticipation. With the collector’s passing, and his only son dead, those paintings would be sold at an auction.     According to the will of the old man, all of the art works would be auctioned on Christmas day, the day he had received his greatest gift.
    The day soon arrived and art collectors from around the world gathered to bid on some of the world’s most spectacular paintings. The auction began with a painting that was not on any museum’s list. It was the painting of the man’s son. The auctioneer asked for an opening bid. The room was silent.
"Who will open the bidding with $100?" he asked. Minutes passed. No one spoke.
    From the back of the room came, "Who cares about that painting? It’s just a picture of his son. Let’s forget it and go on to the good stuff." More voices echoed in agreement.
    "No, we have to sell this one first," replied the auctioneer. "Now, who will take the son?"
    Finally, a friend of the old man spoke. "Will you take $10 for the painting? That’s all I have. I knew the boy, so I’d like to have it."
    "I have $10. Will anyone go higher?" called the auctioneer. After more silence, the auctioneer said,     "Going once, going twice. Gone."
    The gavel fell. Cheers filled the room and someone exclaimed, "Now we can get on and bid on these treasures!"
    The auctioneer looked at the audience and announced the auction was over. Stunned disbelief quieted the room.
    Someone spoke up and asked, "What do you mean it’s over? We didn’t come here for a picture of some old guy’s son. What about all of these paintings? There are millions of dollars of art here! I demand that you explain what’s going on here!"
    The auctioneer replied, "It’s very simple. According to the will of the father, whoever takes the son gets it all."
    This Christmas, will you take the Son? – Author unknown

Two babes in a manger
In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach in Russia. They were invited to teach at many places including a large orphanage. About 100 boys and girls who had been abandoned, abused, and left in the care of a government-run program were in the orphanage. The two Americans relate the following story in their own words:
    It was nearing the holiday season, 1994, time for our orphans to hear, for the first time, the traditional story of Christmas. We told them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem, that finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable where the Baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger.
    Throughout the story, the children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened. Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word.
    Completing the story, we gave the children three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger. Each child was given a small paper square, cut from yellow napkins I had brought with me. No colored paper was available in the city.
    Following instructions, the children tore the paper and carefully laid strips in the manger for straw. Small squares of flannel, cut from a worn-out nightgown an American lady threw away as she left Russia, were used for the baby’s blanket. A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt we had brought from the United States.
    The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to see if they needed any help. All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat. He looked to be about six years old and had finished his project.
    As I looked at the little boy’s manger, I was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger. Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two babies in the manger.
    Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at this completed manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously. For such a young boy who had only heard the Christmas story once, he related the happenings accurately – until he came to the part where Mary put the Baby Jesus in the manger.
    Then Misha started to ad lib. He made up his own ending to the story as he said, "And when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay. I told him I have no mama and I have no papa, so I don’t have any place to stay.
    "Then Jesus told me I could stay with Him. But I told Him I couldn’t, because I didn’t have a gift to give Him like everybody else did. But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I kept Him warm, that would be a good gift.
"So I asked Jesus, ‘If I keep You warm, will that be a good enough gift?’ And Jesus told me, ‘If you keep Me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave me.’
    "So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and He told me I could stay with Him – for always."
    As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed with tears that splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed.
    The little orphan had found Someone who would never abandon nor abuse him, Someone who would stay with him – for always.
    I’ve learned that it’s not what you have in your life, but who you have in your life that counts. – Author unknown
    Merry Christmas and a Happy New  Year to All!
 

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The Experiences of Christmas

CULTURAL NOTES

Richard Kinnud

It was one fine late afternoon and I was heading home.  The sky is mostly cottony and the western horizon was pinkish due to the glimmers of the setting sun.  My body was getting warm from more than a quarter of an hour trekking up the mountainside and with some load, goods I got from a Christmas program I just attended.  Some sweat springing from my head, a flat terrain padded by finely growing grasses, and a lingering breeze serenading the mountainside were too much a temptation for rest.   I sat but eventually found myself lying on my back and my load beside me.  A while ago in the village Christmas program, I got some bundles of backyard-grown vegetables, some ganta of legumes, some bottle of locally brewed fruit wine and a rooster.  I also brought a wrap from what is left of the boiled sweet potato served during the occasion.  And then my ‘present’ from the ‘exchange-gift’ portion of the party which I suppose was some item bought from the city and wrapped with a paper with pictures of Santa Claus all over it.
    The city was overlooking from where I laid down. There was crowd of houses which looked like pile of Christmas gifts where at plain view.  And as the pinkish horizon started turning greyish, houses started to be invisible, replaced by flickers of light. Soon they were like a cluster of stars that has descended on the dark mountain.  I was trying to spot where were the lights of a giant mall and the lights of the Christmas Villages but I could not find them.  When seen from afar, the lights do not say anything about Christmas.
    When I left the city for this furlough to the mountain vilage, I saw that every corner seems to speak of Christmas.  The streets, the parks, public buildings, business establishments and residences are full of decors - lanterns of different shapes and colors, the star, the Belen, and texts saying Merry Christmas/Happy New Year.  At night, these are complemented by lights.  The malls and major department stores are offering Christmas sale and other Christmas packages and the people seem to be ready to spend.  Institutions, organizations, neighborhood, and fraternities were having their Christmas parties featuring gifts pegged at expensive peso terms and elaborate food preparations although some claim they have toned it down in deference to recent calamities that struck the nation.  The air and radio frequencies are filled with Christmas music. 
    And at nine days before Christmas, the church bells will start to ring every evening or morning inviting lovers, families, friends, and other church goers to the so-called Misa de Gallo (literally meaning rooster’s masses) and at the same time enjoy native delicacies like arozcaldo, pansit, puto, guinataan and tupig sold outside the churches after the mass.  It is safe to assume that the city folk is internalizing the significance of every decoration,symbol, or routine to their lives although it was Christmas slogan of a most patronized giant establishment says "Everything here is like Christmas" which implies a possible vagueness of the festivities.
    There in the village, the new leaves and flowers springing from trees, shrubs, and grasses, and the seedbeds greening at the rice fields served as the Christmas decorations of the thoroughfares.  Only the public school, the churches, and a few houses had Christmas lanterns.  There were parties too held to celebrate Christmas but homegrown vegetables, fruits, and fowls are the very much sought Christmas gifts.  A few though thinks that items bought from the city are a much better kind.  Food at those parties would usually feature rice cakes, boiled potatoes, boiled rice, meat from poultry boiled with vegetables from the garden and often mixed with sun-dried pork, and fried fish from the pond fields.  These approximates the elaborate food preparation of the city folk although many of them wished they had the food from the city.  There is no church bell ringing for the Misa de Gallo and people willing for a sacrifice got to walk to the next village where the central mission station is for them to attend a mass.      The decors, symbols, and routines here seem to be closer to what has been created for humanity although many wish they can do or at least have semblance to the adornments in the city that human creativity can have.
    I tried to look for fireflies around but there was none.  In my childhood, there was abundance of it such that when they fly around a tree at night, that tree would look like a Christmas tree.  I hope it was because of the coldness of the season that none of them are flying for they love the warm weather but many would say it was because of changes in the environment particularly pollution that made them disappear.  I surveyed the mountainside wishing I could see one.  Then I saw some lights flying although they were not fireflies.  The lights were soaring above the city.  The giant malls must have staged some fireworks to attract more customers to profit from in the guise of celebrating the season of Christmas.
    Then the rain fell so hard. I sat up, gathered my loads and tried to run.  But my feet refused to straighten up.  Then I woke up and the furlough at the mountainside was simply a hallucination. 
Suddenly, I yearned for my hometown which is ten hours away by bus from this town center where I am.  The reality was that I was at I slept while attending a Christmas program.  An intermission was just finished and the next part of the program is a Christmas message from one of the institution’s VIPs.  There was a lull between the two parts as it seemed something went wrong with the sound system.  This allowed me to catch up with the conversation of two guys in front of me..
    Guy 1 was telling Guy 2 that he does not actually believe in Christmas.  His church preacher told him that Christmas is a deception.  The 25th nor any date in December is impossibly the date of the birth of Christ.  He went on to cite the bible verse which states that Jesus, Saviour of man, was born at a time when His parents were going for a civil registration as ordained by a ruler.  It snows in December in the place the Bible tells where Jesus was born.  It would have been impossible for the ruler to ordain something that inconveniences his people, Guy 1 asserted.  Guy 2 appreciated the logic but simply asked Guy 1 if he also believes in climate change.
    The speaker on stage, after the sound-system glitch was fixed, started his message with the line, “Jesus is the reason for Christmas.”  Then went on to elaborate on this but I got more interested with the discussions of Guy 1 and Guy 2.  Guy 1, using the statements of the speaker, raised a point that if indeed Jesus the Saviour is at the center of our lives, why should people venerate Him with a deceptive season.  He further raised the issue on Christmas being of pagan origin including the symbols such as the Christmas tree, and the mistletoe.  Guy 1 was even precise on pagan sources of these things.  Guy 2 agreed that indeed believers of Jesus Christ should not participate in pagan practices.  Guy 2 however asserted that it does not mean people should stop celebrating Christmas for people should instead conquer the season for His glory.  Christians of the past did just that, Guy 2 concluded.
    The speaker went on to say the challenge of seeing Jesus amidst the vagueness of things, and amongst the work of our human hands whether it be coming closer to creation or daring human creativity.  And if the ‘seeing of Jesus’ is experienced, then that is the truth about Christmas. 
    Christmas therefore is not because one religion or some sects support it even if others do not.  It is a human experience, part of living, loving, and even dying.  And as there are various human experiences, there are certainly then many ways of celebrating Christmas.
 
 

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