Tuloy ang Pasko

It’s 22 days before Christmas and I haven’t had my Christmas shopping. In fact, I am not yet done with my Christmas gift list. It might be a simple, even an austere Christmas for all of us, in keeping with the economic downturn. But even when we scrimp we cannot not give presents on Christmas Day as it has been a tradition that we practice. But we also know that gift giving can be creative and meaningful. Gifts don’t have to be expensive. The best present I got last Christmas was a Christmas card from my niece and nephew.

I love Simbang Gabi. As a young boy in Borongan, Eastern Samar, my childhood friends and I would gather in the town plaza before proceeding to the nearby church. Admittedly, it was an excuse for us to promenade, and to meet with friends. Of course we also prayed in celebration of the birth of Christ. Then, the Simbang Gabi was only held in churches, now Simbang Gabi can be held in basketball courts and plazas.

The Cultural Center of the Philippines, for instance according to Irene Rada of the CCP, will hold a Misa de Gallo at the CCP Main Building Ramp from Dec. 16 to 24. Simbang Gabi is a nine-day novena to the Blessed Mother which starts on Dec. 16 early morning and culminates with a 9 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass on Dec. 24. It is said that its roots began in Mexico in 1587, where the Pope granted the petition of Fray Diego de Soria, prior of the convent of San Agustin Acolman, to hold Christmas Mass outdoors since the Church could not accommodate the many people attending the evening Mass.

I have also come up with my own wish list for Christmas. The list is not abusive as God has given me so much beyond my imagination. I am grateful my cup runneth over. Topping the list is the excellent health of my beloved Nanay.

A few months ago, I organized a badminton tournament with friends and celebrities for my scholars. Badminton is my sport and my de-stressing ritual. The tournament gives me a chance to share my blessings with 10 graduating high school students who are all candidates for valedictorian and salutatorian in various public schools in Quezon City.

One of the most gratifying and empowering moments in my life was when after I delivered a talk before students in a university, someone came up to me and said, “Sir ako po si Jon, yong scholar niyo. Nagtuturo na po ako dito.” It was a proud moment for both of us.

Then I remember people and friends who give because they are happy to do so. “When you get, give,” Maya Angelou wrote. Just like my good friend Kat Legarda who is a staunch supporter of children’s rights. And from Kat, here is a story on the Child Protection Network Foundation’s activity Ako Para Sa Bata, a conference on the Emotional Health of the Child currently ongoing at the SMX, Mall of Asia with post-conference workshops tomorrow, Dec. 4.

Lectures on normal emotional development in children, natures of emotional abuse, cycle of violence, emotional abuse and neglect, violence in the home, violence against children in schools, the impact of media on children and violence against children in the community will be held during the conference.

Simultaneous symposia on the challenges of curbing abuse and violence against children and post conference workshops to teach specific skills to address anger, bullying, difficult behaviors and terrible teens will also be held.

The Manila Conference is organized by the Child Protection Network in partnership with the Philippine Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Philippine Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Society of Adolescent Medicine of the Philippines and PsychConsult, and sponsored by UNICEF and Promina, with the help of PhilConstruct, World Vision, SMART, and DZRJ 810 AM.

Invited speakers and resource persons include Grace Poe-Llamanzares (MTRCB chair), Dr. Honey Carandang (the foremost child psychologist in the country), Prof. Alberto Muyot (DepEd Undersecretary), and Tim Gerrish, of the United Kingdom’s Child Exploitation and Online Protection Unit.

Mabuhay ka, Kat and all you out there who do everything and anything for the well-being of children as their primary consideration. “How are the Filipino children” will ultimately define where we are going as a country and as a people.