As I was going through my files, I saw my 3rd Quarter Project for CLE and so I figured maybe I could share it with you, even if Christmas was 3 months ago already. I am always fond of looking back to Christmas Eve because of course, it is one of the merriest and most love filled moments of the year.
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| Gift giving at the Plaza |
I really enjoyed my whole 2010 Yuletide season experience. It all started my family and I going home to Ajuy to celebrate Christmas there together with other family members. One the eve of December 25, we headed to the Plaza. There were a lot of people, mostly children, gathered there enjoying the lights and music. I volunteered to help my father, some officials, and foreigners give away Christmas gifts. First, we gave out GMA Kapuso Network gift packs to Gawad Kalinga beneficiaries. Next we gathered all the children present and had them line up. We, together with the foreigners who in a way have to been Santa Clauses to a lot of people also, have prepared fruits to give to the children. Though it was tiring, it felt very rewarding giving out those gifts. To see those children so eager to get just an apple or orange made me realize a lot of things. I learned how ungrateful I have been at times and that I took the simple things that can already make other people happy for granted. I realized that God blesses me with so much yet sometimes, I still complain. Although it was just a brief moment, but it was an instance that made me more humble. This year was my second time participating in the gift giving. With the simple things we shared, we were already able to make others feel the true meaning of Christmas and brought out the atmosphere of sharing and loving.
After the presentation we walked to the Church and arrived just in time for the Christmas Eve mass. After hearing mass, we headed back home and had our simple Noche Buena with the people at home.
I spent the few days left before New Year’s Eve with family. We held a yearly Christmas party for the people working for us. It was one of our ways of showing gratitude for their help and loyalty. Part of the games was a dance contest between children. The kids gathered in the middle and danced. My mother and I couldn’t help but notice a boy whose head was unusually large. We were told that the reason for his condition is that he was probably overdosed with medicine. He was 11 years old already but still couldn’t speak well. I forgot exactly what grade he was in, but it was somewhere behind his age group. The thing that pitied me the most was the fact that even though he was already in the condition that he was in, his mother still left him. I don’t know if there is ever a reason sensible enough for a mother to leave a child, especially one in the condition of his. But I know I have no right at all to judge his mother because I’m sure she had an explanation for doing what she did. I just hope that she has a good one. Nevertheless, I am glad that the kid enjoyed the party as well as the other people who were present. At the end of the party, we also gave some of our stuff we didn’t use anymore to our employees. I mostly gave out my shirts and shoes. I found it hard at first, giving those things away but I thought to myself that it is better for those things to go to someone else and make them happy rather than just being stored in my room. We also invited relatives who were home for the holidays to come with us to the beach.
Last year, I honestly didn’t ask for any gift but still I felt very contented. Though my parents still gave me a simple present, I would’ve been happy already even if they didn’t give me anything for Christmas. I found happiness in sharing what I had with others Christmas season is the time of the year where we are given the chance to really show our love to others and be good disciples of Jesus. But let us not wait after 11 months to be good disciples again. Part of my new year’s resolution is to be a better person not only during the Yuletide season, but all throughout the year.
My 2010 Christmas experience was truly enriching. While other people are saying they got fatter because of so much food this holiday season, I can say my heart did.
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