Dear Nanay,
I am sure you get a question like this every year when it is Christmastime, but I decided to write anyway. I do not have much of a budget for Christmas gifts. Is it okay if I just give Christmas cards to my friends instead of gifts? I am a little ashamed because it might seem like I am being too barat, especially when they give me nice gifts.
Charmaine
Dear Charmaine,
Sending a Christmas card in lieu of a gift is perfectly acceptable. Remember that the true spirit of gift giving is in the thought and not the value of the gift itself.
You should never feel pressured to give a gift that you cannot afford. Hindi naman ito contest na ang panalo ay ang magbigay ng pinaka-mahal na regalo. (This is not a contest where the one who gives the most expensive gift wins.) Only give what you can afford. Do not spend beyond your means. I don’t think any of your friends expect anything in return when they give you nice gifts. Then maybe someday, when you can afford something nicer, you can share your blessings with your friends at that future time.
Sincerely,
Nanay
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Grief During The Holidays
Dear Nanay,
My beloved auntie joined our Creator last week. We are all devastated in the family but happy that she is resting in peace and her suffering has ended after a long bout with cancer. But how can we celebrate happiness during the holidays when we are so overcome with sadness?
Mercy
Dear mercy,
Losing a loved one is always painful. However, you said it yourself: she is resting in peace and her suffering has ended. Isn’t that something to be happy about? Hindi ba dapat masaya tayo na hindi na siya nahihirapan? (Shouldn’t we be happy that she’s no longer enduring difficulty?) It is never easy to deal with the death of a family member. But you need to make the best of the situation. It is perfectly normal to grieve. But you must also try to look for the silver lining within the cloud. Try to be optimistic and find something good about the whole situation. Try to see the glass as half-full instead of half-empty.
Ask yourself if your beloved auntie would rather see you spend the holidays in grief or if she would prefer to see the family together, happy and in celebration.
Stay positive. Stay strong.
Sincerely,
Nanay
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If you have a question, e-mail us at asknanay@nationalbookstore.com.ph or just drop your letter at drop boxes in all National Book Store branches nationwide.