Tag: December 13, 2006

“Freely ye have received, freely give.” —Matthew 10:8

DO YOU believe in Santa Claus?

I used to believe in Santa when I was a kid. My elder brother and I would excitedly look for the largest socks we could find and hang them on the window near the front door so Santa wouldn’t have a hard time looking for them once he arrived with our presents. When the long hand of the clock would strike 12, we would hurry to look for the presents we had asked him on a piece of paper.

WAS CHRIST really born on the 25th of December?

Amid claims by historians that the Christmas date originated from pagan feasts, Fr. Gerardo Tapiador, a professor of Sacred Scriptures at the San Carlos Seminary, believes that the basis of such claims are unfounded if Jewish traditions surrounding the birth of Jesus are to be invoked.

WHEN we think of Christmas, gifts and blessings come to mind. People go shopping for things they can give their loved ones. And since many people give, many people receive as well. Generosity seems to abound during this season.

Sharing is a necessary consequence of love. When we love, we are inclined to share what we have with our loved ones. And the more we love, the more we share. This is why husband and wife who truly love share with each other not only material things but even themselves during their married life.

THE CHRISTMAS season has just began.

As early as September, I began seeing a number of public establishments already adorned with fancy Christmas decorations in anticipation of the season.

But despite the same variety of ornaments hanging on street posts, mall windows and residential doors, what always appear unique are the Christmas trees.

Adorned with metallic balls, wrapped in glittery ribbons, bordered with sparkling colored lights, and topped with an illuminated yellow star, the Christmas tree will always be the definitive Yuletide icon.

NAGING masaya ba ang taong 2006 para sa mga Pilipino?

Hindi maikakaila ang pagkadismaya ng marami sa takbo ng pamumuhay sa bansa kung babanggitin ang ilang mga hindi kanais-nais na mga pangyayaring naganap sa nagdaang 11 na buwan tulad ng dayaan sa board exams ng Narsing noong Hunyo, ang pagkakawatak-watak ng mga Pilipino sa isyu ng Charter Change, ang “Wowowee” stampede na kumitil ng 74 buhay, ang mga nasalanta ng bagyong Milenyo at Reming, at ilan pa.

IT’S 12 days to Christmas, and 18 days to New Year. Everybody is looking forward to the holidays, almost forgetting (save for the politicians) next year’s election.

IT’S NOT Christmas all over the world tonight.

While we Filipinos would find restricting Christmas absurd, in the West, there have been moves to outlaw Christmas traditions. This should ring a bell on Filipinos abroad and those here who follow Western secularists’ initiatives.

BINIGYAN ang bawat nilalang ng pagkakataong magtagumpay sa buhay ngunit iilan lamang ang nakakatupad nito. Kabilang si Gloria Garchitorena-Goloy sa napakaraming nangarap at nagtagumpay. Para kay Goloy, nagsimula ang tagumpay sa pagtukoy sa bokasyon ng isang tao.

“Hindi mahirap ang magtagumpay,” ani Goloy. “Basta’t sigurado ka sa direksyong iyong tatahakin at alam mo kung saan ka papunta.”

KUNG ako ang tatanungin, nagiging pabigat na ang pagbibigay ng regalo tuwing Pasko.

Nagiging obligasyon sa ating mga Pilipino ang paghahandog ng regalo sa ating mga kamag-anak at kaibigan. Ayaw kasi nating mangyari na sa isang pagtitipon, tayo ang bukod-tanging hindi nakapagbigay sa isang kamag-anak, at mangangakong ihahabol na lamang o babawi sa susunod.

MADALING-ARAW.

‘Di mapigil sa pangangatog

Mula sa pagkakatalukbong

Ang katawang naalimpungatan

Sa tawag ng kampana.

Muling nagkamalay

Ang mistulang lantang gulay,

Matapos ang buhos,

Kuskos at hilamos

Sa nagyeyelong balat ng labanos.

Habang humahakbang

Tungo sa pintuan,

Unti-unting nadarama

Ang amihang

May dalang magandang balita

Sa nalalapit na pagsasaya.

Habang naglalakad