Casting wishes to the universe

I played the association game with some friends. It’s supposed to be a fun way to discover what’s really on your mind, in your stream of consciousness. It’s like the pop version of cognitive therapy. The question was, when New Year is mentioned, what is the first thing that comes to mind? The answers covered quite a range: from family traditions like throwing coins, jumping at the stroke of midnight, noche buena, wearing polka dots for prosperity, fireworks, new gadgets, new start, aspiring for a bountiful year, new resolutions, failed resolutions, new relationships, failed relationships, aging, and recession, among others.

If we cluster the responses, they would fall under the headings of family traditions, material and non-material desires, “for me” or “for all,” with hope or fear as the dominant emotion in a half-full or half-empty perspective. And this probably summarizes the real insight of the season. Christmas is bi-polar. It can be the happiest or saddest occasion. You’re either Santa Claus or Ebenezer Scrooge. It’s an occasion for family celebrations, but also the time when aching loneliness is most felt. That explains why December is the busiest wedding and suicide month. It’s about beginnings and endings. It’s one of life’s most significant paradoxes. No matter how over-commercialized the holiday has become, it remains at the top of the list of global celebrations.

I’ve heard it said that the Christmas season is really for children. That to feel it, one must see from a child’s eye. But is that really true? Because even seven-year-olds have episodes of manic-depression when they feel Santa didn’t get his wish list right or his brother got a better gift, or his Ninang didn’t give him a present. As in all enigmas, there’s no simple answer. How does one feel the red and green and beat the blues?

This Christmas, just like last year, we held a party for 60 Campaigns and Grey Smokey Mountain scholars and their families. Rented jeeps brought them to the Parks and Wildlife in Quezon City. Through individual donations and proceeds from fundraising events such as caroling and bake sales, our ad agency has been giving assistance to the Tondo children for the last eight years. It was started as a project by Sister Cecile Villanueva and her classmates from the Philippine Women’s University. She is a Franciscan nun who is currently the dean of Stella Maris in Oroquieta, Mindanao. They saw the plight of the Tondo mothers who couldn’t afford to keep their children in school despite free public education. They still needed food, book and transportation allowance. So that’s where we channel our funds.

This year, we saw our first college graduate become a teacher. She still regularly helps out the Smokey children as their tutor. There are six more high school graduates who will now be going to college. Truly the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The silver lining is within sight.

Our CSR (Campaigns Social Response) team headed by Rocky Tirona, ably supported by Michelle Pascual, Arbee Bagabaldo, and Angelo Estrella, prepared a half-day event that started with T-shirt painting. One of the creative directors, Sammy Pasamba, who trained in theater, then read the Palanca award-winning children’s story of our chief creative officer Ompong Remigio entitled “Papel de Liha.” Rin Bautista, Jev Ramos, Marl Villapando were also there to assist in all the activities. Rocky’s family, Sammy’s kids plus Rin’s dog were all present, to the delight of our guests. The kids happily inspected the sparse zoo denizens of the park as they walked and ran the dog.

The Smokey Mountain kids also prepared their own song and dance number, a Christmas gift to their benefactors whom they have come to consider their friends. We are “Ms. Rocky” to them. A filling lunch and gift bags were later distributed. No family left hungry or empty-handed. Those of us who were there felt very lucky. It was Christmas at its purest. Seeing your contribution make a difference, no matter how small, is one of the best affirmations in life. We wished that more people knew that.

So does the answer to searching for the Christmas spirit rest in acts of charity? To a large extent it does, but again it’s not as simple as that. Humans are complex creatures with an ego that needs stroking, while at the same time, possessing the capacity to do good and empathizing with others — especially the less fortunate. I’m guessing that the answer is in the harmonious balance. Pampering yourself while sharing abundance with others should probably be one interpretation of the holiday’s association game. We can’t just be about acquiring the LV bag we’ve been salivating about. Because we also need to satisfy that nobler self that longs to be our brother’s keeper, especially at this time of year. The code words for New Year are: me, family, new start, hope. We can decide to see the glass half-full. We can work on quieting anxieties and hoping for the best.

So, to end the year and begin a new one, I’m casting my wishes to the universe. New-agers believe that all good aspirations aimed at heaven are heard, provided that their fulfillment doesn’t harm anyone. Here’s my list of wishes, in order of concentric circles, from me to the world:

• May my loved ones, family and friends enjoy boundless health, peace of mind and enough prosperity to share with those who have less;

• May this column continue to speak the truth fearlessly, inspire readers to find their voice and help people communicate better in their lives;

• May our company, the Campaigns and Grey Group, remain successful believing and practicing the triple bottom line that shares wealth with employees and the community. May we always be mindful of and responsible for our power to influence behavior, preference and values;

• May our valued clients thrive with their mission to provide the best products to Filipino consumers at the most affordable price, improving the quality of lives;

• May our industry be tougher and better than the tough year ahead;

• May companies realize the value of CSR, becoming better corporate citizens and transferring the best and most ethical practices to every corner of the world;

• May the Filipino people awaken from the stupor of apathy and resolve to become the masters of their own destiny, self-reliant and liberated from the shackles of poverty and ignorance;

• May the OFWs remember that the quest for better pay is for their children, and should not be at the cost of broken family ties;

• May our Filipino leaders remember that their power comes from the people and a betrayal of the people’s will renders their leadership coercive;

• May our beloved President Cory Aquino recover her vigor and health to remain the beacon of hope for good governance;

• May President Gloria Arroyo find the moral compass she seems to have misplaced in the quest to stay in power;

• May the FG — er…

Let me end here so only positive wishes will travel heavenward, and those that have rancor remain earthbound, preventing more pollution in our skies.

Happy New Year. Despite less prosperity, we can be happy. There’s no direct correlation between the two.

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Share your New Year thoughts with the author. E-mail: yolyo@campaignsandgrey.com or yoly.ong@gmail.com.