The gift of giving

It was glaringly hot, as we endured the heavy traffic along Quezon Ave. towards the intersection of Araneta Ave. due to the ongoing construction in the area.

I chickened out and took the nearest U-turn slot towards EDSA. I just had to find the containers that I needed for our Christmas presents elsewhere.

Normally, I would stress over my Christmas to-do list. Last year was the worst that I simply gave up on buying presents. My little car was no flying reindeer and it took eternity to deliver gifts. I was still driving along the metropolis to deliver presents a day before Christmas!

This year, I promised to do everything early.

Last October, my Papa Nick joined me in going to Divisoria to buy ribbons and materials for the gift-wrapping. I also placed orders for personalized wrapping paper stamped with the Aguinaldo Shrine, Kawit, Cavite.

So far, so good, and still on schedule with our Christmas shopping. This year, we planned to buy presents from worthy causes. I scouted for fair trade items in the web, and went to bazaars. When I found an item I liked, the next question was,  “Who made this product?” I wanted something from Mindanao, a place so beautiful but so poor.

My husband Orange found the perfect present for our inaanak — proudly Philippine made and non-toxic art kit.

My sister-in-law Ate Ginny and I found a religious item made in Tahanang Walang Hagdan, so we got that, too. Nice. What can we give non-Catholics?

The first time I heard about the good benefits of coconut sugar is from Nadine Tengco, the nutrition expert of The Biggest Loser: Pinoy Edition. According to Nadine, it’s better to take muscovado or coconut sugar than brown sugar. Brown sugar is still high in calories. The best is coconut sugar because of its low glycemic index. Best for diabetics, or non-diabetics like me, who just want to have a healthier alternative.

I called the office of the Philippine Coconut Authority Administrator Euclides Forbes on where to possibly get coconut sugar. Coconut sugar is commercially available, but I wanted to buy them from farmers themselves. Administrator Forbes informed me that they sourced theirs from Zamboanga and also from a cooperative of Manobo women from North Cotabato, wives of coconut farmers. I thought I hit the jackpot.

Coconut sugar tastes like muscovado. I conducted my own “taste test” with a cup of coffee at the office of the PCA. Yummy!!! But more importantly, the produce of the Manobo women passed US standards, according to Mr. Forbes.

Their packaging needs improvement. But that was not a problem because I planned to re-pack the coconut sugar anyway. Give it the packaging that it deserves. I’m doing all the repacking myself. It’s a labor of love, but I’m very excited because I can picture the wives of coconut farmers making the coconut sugar themselves, and earning a living from a life-giving, world-class product. It’s something worth sharing this Christmas season.

It’s 41 days to go before Christmas. I’m looking forward to a more meaningful Christmas. I can’t wait to send out our presents. And so I have to wrap this up, as there’s more gift-wrapping to do.

(E-mail me at [email protected]. Follow me on Twitter @bernadette_ABS.)