Items you shouldn't give this Christmas (and beyond!)

CEBU, Philippines - While Christmas is about sharing through gift-giving, there are things you should cross out from your list because these do more harm than good and are better off the hands of people you cherish if you would still want to celebrate the holidays with them for a longer time!

 Colorful mugs. Latest report posted by the EcoWaste Coalition read that 35 samples of beautifully painted Christmas mugs test positive of heavy metals, most especially lead. This has something to do with the amount of paint coated on the items to make it appear glossy, bright, attractive, or eye candies. The 35 samples were found to "contain one or more heavy metals above levels of concern after screening them on October 31, 2012 with a handheld X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) chemicals analyzer." Of the 35 samples, 29 were found to contain lead above the 90 parts per million (ppm) US limit for lead in paint. The 29 lead-tainted samples had an average of 12,643 ppm lead or way above the tolerable level.

Option: If you are bent on spending only on mugs, better give away white mugs and lessen the chance of putting your loved ones in a sorry situation.

 Traditional candles. Might be very handy during power outages, but some people find it a turn-off to receive candles no matter how scented. "Mora man sad tag padung na mamatay kay palitag kandila," Faith, 35, said. "I'd be very glad if I'd be given the money intended for purchasing that candle, so I can buy what I best need," she suggested in jest. Truth is candles are really a fiend to the environment. Greenbuildingelements.com has this to say: "Many people don't realize just how unfriendly traditional candles can be to the environment. They are made with paraffin wax, a petroleum by-product, and the soot from these candles contributes to indoor pollution. The scented varieties are especially toxic because the fragrance oils used in production are petroleum-based synthetics.

Option: Sashka, author of the said site, suggested we should give away candles that are made from beeswax, soy wax, or palm oil. These are eco-friendly alternatives to traditional candles. We should also make sure to give a complete gift, not just a candle. Remember that people want to be able to use their candle. If they have nothing to set the candle on, they won't be able to use it.

 Products containing DEET, SLS and SLES. Clinical evidence show that the use of products laden with Diethyl meta toluamide (DEET), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) have negative effects to the central nervous system. Giving these products on Christmas is also wishing the recipients a slow death. DEET is a slightly yellowish oil, a common active ingredient in insect repellents. SLS and SLES are chemical surfactants enabling rich creamy lather in shampoos, body gels, liquid soaps, and conditioners. The most visible negative effect is premature hair loss in men and women. According to naturesparadiseorganics.com, because SLS is such a caustic cleanser, it actually corrodes the hair follicle and impairs its ability to grow hair. SLES causes dramatic decline in the hair growth cycle, and prolongs the hair loss phase (normally three months) by a factor of eight; is also implicated in scalp irritation, eczema, dandruff, and other scalp conditions.

Option: Go organic. It might be a bit expensive, but most organic enterprises come with an advocacy to protect what's left of our natural resources. Supporting organic marts and fair trade products also conserve our precious human resources.

 Plastic goods, toys that promote crime and violence. I had a verbal tussle once with a friend who got obviously hurt when I told him the reason his son is acting violently is because she has showered him with toy guns, swords, and knives. "He would go role-playing: Mama, bang, bang, patay ka!" What does that mean? He thinks it's normal to gun his mama down. It's more of a wonder why the mom is now freaking out, when his son has already grown up to be the bully she directed him to live! (and I hadn't even made a fuss yet on those cold plastic toy manufacturers' chemical romances).

Option: There are very good wooden and bamboo toys now distributed but with a higher price tag because of production costs. However, it is a lot better than buying cheap goods, energizing other country's economy and living behind our children dying because of melamine contamination and exposure to heavy metals: cadmium, arsenic, lead, etc. As for the concern on raising a bully, divert your kids' attention from toys of lesser value formation by indulging them in outdoor activities and board games. Nothing beats a campout or a cookout as bonding avenues. Gift them with an enrolment to an arts and crafts club, a volunteer(ism) program, or in a sports club to develop discipline, focus, persistence, team play, among other strong values.