Think of others

Christmas season is now felt as streets and buildings are covered with dancing lights and colorful decors, not to mention all those shopping activities and dance rehearsals for Christmas parties we have to attend. The celebration of this season, which marks the birth of Jesus, has already become part of our rich Filipino culture.

Filipinos are really a race fond of celebrations and festivities. And being Pinay, I must admit that this season is my most favorite time of the year, because this is also the time for reunion with friends and family.

I hope that as we come closer to Dec. 25, we would also come to think of others and put some effort to help those who are in need. We must allot even just a small amount of our 13th month pay and Christmas bonus to at least come up with something for our less fortunate kababayans. Maybe we can cook a simple meal and distribute them to the homeless. That’s possible, right? After all, that is the real essence of Christmas, giving.

And of course, this is also a time for peace and forgiveness. All those people who made us feel bad at some point in 2018 have to be forgiven. By this, I mean genuine forgiveness within our hearts, for then and only then can we attain peace with ourselves. We don’t have to approach each and everyone who has hurt us, we just have to feel it inside that we have already forgiven them. Once peace is within us, we would be able to live day by day with a lighter life without all those emotional burden in the past.

Humanity requires peace for all, even the bad and the broken. I just hope everyone, even those politicians who continue to destroy one another while using our taxes in their personal attacks through “hearings”, would realize this. I have this feeling that it is nearly impossible to happen, but I still want all of them to agree once and for all for the betterment of this country. Same goes with my hope for all the government critics and belligerent communist insurgents and terrorists. I think it is time for local peace talks, really.

Lastly, I hope that prior to celebrating Christmas and ending this adventurous year, we will be able to accept everything, the good and – more significantly – the bad. For it is only after acceptance that we can move on and face 2019 braver and stronger.  – Chissan Rae Balderas