MERI KRISMAS PO KUYA'T ATE

Parol and Belen at Bellarmine Field, Ateneo De Manila University


IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS

Ahh, it’s that time of the year. We’ve officially entered the “12 days of Christmas” stretch. We’re down to the “LAST TWO MINUTES” of our Christmas shopping, parties and get-together. Ika nga ni Doctor Strange, “We’re in the ENDGAME now”. Indeed, mid-December can be such a beautiful yet chaotic part of the month. Chaotic in a sense that heavy traffic annoys the heck out of impatient millennials as well as grumpy titos and titas coming from the South to head to that grand Christmas party in QC (and vice versa). The long lines at every Ayala or SM Mall I’ve seen thus far surely adds to the chaos. The 2-week period before Christmas is truly one of the busiest and most festive period of the year in my book.


 SO PANO NA PO KAYO TUWING PASKO?

Yet, amidst all that, have you ever ask yourself “Kamusta naman sina kuya guard, manong at manang tuwing Pasko? Paano kaya nila ipinagdidiriwang ito?” For the students out there, has this ever crossed your mind? True enough, this was one of the things that got me thinking while studying for Finals week and finalizing my list of friends and teachers who will be giving gifts. I still went on with giving gifts to these guys by the way (Pati si crush, binagyan ko ng regalo. Charot). However, I decided to add a new list going out to those who deserve the sincerest of thanks. So, my mom and I sat down together to wrap gifts to some security guards, librarians and secretaries who have been very patient and helpful to me this past semester. Last Friday, I got the chance to give all the gifts we wrapped to these guys. Luckily for me, they greeted me back with smiles on their faces after handing out each gift one by one. Halimbawa nalang, si ategirl na madalas masungit kapag nagpapaxerox ako ng mga readings at iba pang mga babasahin sa kanya, binigyan niya ako ng NAPAKATAMIS NA NGITI. That was one of the rare moments I saw her that hyped and ecstatic over the course of this semester. The same could be said for the others. Indeed, it’s the thought, more than the gift, that counts. Cliché, but apt. 

SO IS CHRISTMAS AN EXCLUSIVE HOLIDAY?

I’m sure some of us are well aware how Capitalism has entered the holiday season with all the gifts us consumers buy for ourselves and for the people we love. However, we sometimes tend to forget why we actually celebrate this festive holiday in the first place. If we take a look a Jesus’ Nativity Story, I can basically see His face in the nameless and anonymous guards and librarians who have no one but themselves (and maybe their small support group) to lean on. But hey, wasn’t that Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Not a single housekeeper took them in, which left them no choice but to spend Christmas in a manger of all places. Amidst the difficult circumstances they were in, Mary and Joseph did not complain a single bit, and when they arrived at the birth place, all sorts of animals, angels, and the 3 Kings were there to greet “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” to Jesus. This acceptance of their scenario without any complaint at all is a resemblance of the many smiles and stories our good friends from the staff department share with us. Even if it seems that we may be giving that "exclusive" vibe to them, ni isang beses ko silang nakitang nagrereklamo at insecure sa kanilang mga kinaroroonan.
Faith, Joy, Hope, Love

THE IMPORTANCE OF ADVENT IN MAKING CHRISTMAS INCLUSIVE TO ALL?

This is Advent comes in handy. Diba we hardly think of the word because we hear nothing but Christmas carols, parties and movie specials all over social media? Think of him as that one friend in the barkada na introvert, pero matino at self-aware (Sorry Christmas, Mariah, Buble, Jackson 5 and Santa, I mean you guys no harm). While his other friends are loudly playing “All I Want for Christmas Is You” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” Advent gently reminds his festive friends "'Wag kalimutan si Hesus, ha." Yep, the mountains of gifts at our Christmas trees are cute and all, but as mentioned by our green-wreathed friend, Jesus is more than enough to make the season complete as it can be. Indeed, Advent is challenging us to “Give Love on Christmas Day”, the days leading up to Jesus’ bday, and the days after the holiday season has passed.


I sincerely wish everyone a memorable and enjoyable time this #YultideSZN. Be safe and good to one another over the holidays. J

- Del Ro




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