TRUE ESSENCE OF CHRISTMAS 

          When the month of September comes, people would say, “Hey, -ber months have arrived, it’s Christmas!” People start decorating their houses with Christmas trees and Christmas lanterns. They would spend much of their money buying different kinds of Christmas decorations, from Christmas trees to Christmas lanterns to Christmas lights and many other more. Others would start buying new dresses that they would use on Christmas day. Others start buying gifts for their loved ones. Still others would start buying groceries for their “Noche Buena”. Well I guess the true spirit of Christmas could not be felt from those activities mentioned above. Where does the true essence of Christmas lie?

          “People making list, buying special gifts, taking time to be kind to one and all. It’s the time of year when good friends are dear and you wish you could give more than just presents from the store…”  Are you familiar with those lines? Yes, those are the lines from the first verse of the song “Give Love on Christmas Day.”  For me, the song gives the perfect description on the true and real essence of Christmas…give love on Christmas day. But where did this love started and where did it come from?

         

Let us analyze the word Christmas. We see from the word the name of Jesus Christ. Yes, Jesus Christ was born on December 25, Christmas day. Christ was born out of love and because of love. He was born out of love and because of love…”For God so loved the world that He gave His only son…” Yes, God loves humankind, although man was already drowning with sin. He gave us His only son Jesus Christ so that humankind will be saved from sin.

Let us reminisce once more how Jesus Christ was born. Mother Mary gave birth on the desert. Jesus was born in a lowly manger. No comfortable bed, no air-conditioned room. Jesus had nothing when He came out into this world. What does this imply? It shows humility…it shows simplicity. I do not say it’s bad to decorate our house with expensive decorations during Christmas season, but there are more important things that we should think about other than buying those expensive ornaments. Let us be humble and simple, just like JESUS when He was born.

Where does this tradition of gift giving during Christmas started? Remember the visitors of Jesus when He was born…the three kings? They brought their gifts to a newborn whom they believed to be the King of all kings. They have showed the very first example of gift giving on Christmas Day.

What I am trying to say is that the true essence of Christmas does not lie on how extravagant we spend on our clothes, how expensive the ornaments and decorations we buy, how big or small our gifts are…it is on thinking about Jesus and taking Him as our example not only during Christmas Day but also everyday. Just like what the song say, “Give love on Christmas Day.” But please, let us not stop giving love on Christmas. Let us give love everyday of our life so that we may find peace, joy, and happiness in our life.

EQUAL RIGHTS, EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

When I saw the title of this piece, what comes to my mind is equality among and between men and women, among the rich and the poor, among those belonging to the third sex, equality among humanity. Yes, there were times in the past when the men enjoyed more opportunities than women. There was also a time when those who belong to the third sex were not allowed certain opportunities most especially in work.

Men and women, including those belonging to the third sex, were born equal. All of us were born the same, no matter how rich or how poor we are, either boy or girl, we were born the same. Not anyone was born wearing a dress, not anyone was born with a golden spoon in the mouth. Even the gays and the lesbians, they were also born like anyone of us, just like Jesus when He was born in the manger, bare and naked.

I am happy that now a days we no longer experience what people centuries and even decades ago have experienced. Before, women’s right were very limited. Women were not allowed any political position. Before women were only allowed to stay home. They were not allowed to find a job and work. But now, we see women politicians, we even see lady lawyers, lady engineers and architects, lady soldiers and policewomen. This is a clear indication that the societies we live have opened their doors in giving equal rights and opportunities to both men and women, even those belonging to the third sex.

If equal rights are given to both men and women, including the gays and the lesbians, we are assured of equal opportunities in this world. It would be unfair if certain rights were given only to certain people. If a man or a lesbian can do it, there are also women and gays who can do the same. There are even instances wherein a woman can do better than a man is. If all in this world gives equal opportunities to every human being, then equal rights would be given to them. If this is so, then we can be assured of a peaceful world to live in, with no insecurities to destroy the minds of people. 

CLIMATE CHANGE

         

 Have anyone heard the Tagalog song “Kapaligiran’ by the group Asin? The song clearly describes the environment now…the dirty air we breathe, the poisoned rivers and seas. Where are the lush forests, the rich mountains? The song even says that birds no longer have trees where they build their nests. Yes, our environment now is very much different from what our ancestors have centuries ago.

          They say God created the world as a paradise where humankind would live harmoniously and in abundance. God created trees to give us shelter and food. God created the seas to give water to drink and where aquatic animals could live and grow so that they, too, can provide us food to eat. But where are these precious gifts that god gave us? We can see bareheaded mountains, no green and tall trees covering it. We see dark and oily waters rather than clear blue waters from our rivers and seas. We see floating garbage and dead fishes rather than abundant swimming aquatic animals. We can no longer smell the sweet fragrance of the early morning mist, but the polluted air from the factories and smoke-belching vehicles.

          It is true, the world has changed a lot. Man has become wiser. He has invented so many things that give him a more comfortable living. But is it worth it? Despite the comfort that we now feel, what do we notice in our atmosphere? We now experience rainfall and even typhoons even during the months of December, which is very unusual for us since rainy seasons do not reach the month December. Have we not also noticed how scorchingly it goes? So many types of skin diseases have come out because of the climate change.

          Yes, climate change is now occurring because of the thinning of the ozone layer. What is the ozone layer? The ozone layer is the protective layer in the atmosphere that covers the earth from the dangerous air beyond it. The ozone layer is now so thin and that we can now feel the bed effects of it. But how come the ozone layer has thinned so rapidly.

          Because man has become so wise, he has invented almost everything to provide comfortable living to mankind. Yes, comfortable living, but not safe enough to feel comfortable in the end. Man never thought of the ill effects of such progress. Man has only thought of it now that it is felt.

          Let us do our share in protecting the ozone layer. Let us all do our share in protecting the world we live in. Let us save Mother Earth. Let us save humankind.