Spread gratitude this Christmas
Gratitude is the true measure of progress and contentment. When Filipinos fall asleep counting their blessings (instead of sheep) because the list is long, I am sure that means our GDP has risen. I hope that happens sooner than later.
Yesterday was Thanksgiving Day for Americans. Since the day also falls within the extended Christmas Season in the Philippines, many Filipinos hold thanksgiving celebrations in November.
The Christmas tree-lighting ceremony at Malacañang Palace was held last Nov. 23, a week earlier than last year’s tree lighting — perhaps to lift people from the murky floodwaters of the corruption scandal that is drowning them in debt and disappointment.
The glow from Christmas lights triggers happy memories, especially of childhood. Scientifically, they spark an inner sense of wonder and magic.
President Bongbong Marcos said at the annual tree-lighting ceremony at Malacañang that Christmas “is a time to maybe put down what we are carrying and spend more time with (family) — because those of us, especially those of us who are very busy, we sometimes neglect our family. We sometimes neglect those we love. This is the time for us to take that time. It’s perfectly alright.”
“Christmas is for children, children of all ages because whatever age you are, you can still enjoy Christmas as well as any child. That is what we should be doing so that we come back refreshed. We come back with new ideas, we come back with new blood, we come back with something that will contribute to what we are doing. That will come from just spending more time with our loved ones. And remember that this is the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Once again, dedicate ourselves and our lives to that service,” he added.
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SM Supermalls president Steven Tan hosted a thanksgiving lunch at the China Blue of the Conrad Manila, graced by SM Investments Corp. president Tessie Sy-Coson, “Management Man of the Year” and SM Prime chairman Hans Sy and his children Chico and Carina. Also present were publishers and editors from various top media organizations.
“This is a celebration of friendship, a celebration of being able to work together, that’s destiny,” Steven said. SM Supermalls currently operates 89 malls in the Philippines and nine in China.
“When we opened SM North EDSA in 1985, many thought it was too ambitious, even risky. Built in the middle of a political and economic crisis, it seemed impossible. But Mr. Henry Sy, or Tatang as we fondly call him, had a vision: to bring world-class mall experiences closer to every Filipino,” Steven said during SM Supermalls’ recent 40th anniversary celebration.
“And what happened? People came. Families made memories. Communities found a new heart. And the word ‘malling’ was born,” he continued.
Asked by Tessa Prieto what he filtered out of his life in 2025, Steven said simply, “Drama.”
“I’m still learning. I’m still growing. So if you have put drama in your life, that slows down everything. ?So I just filter that out so that I could even grow further.”
One top newspaper executive said he filtered out “excess stress,” and another said he filtered out his propensity for “giving a damn.”
I guess, at the end of the day most of us just want to rid ourselves of drama, stress and the burden of worrying about what other people might think.
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At the City of Dreams thanksgiving party at the Haliya in Nuwa Hotel, property president Geoff Andres said being in the Philippines is a dream come true for him — and he’s grateful for that.
“I arrived here 10 years ago this month. When I arrived in the Philippines, I had three suitcases, two guitars, and one set of golf clubs. That’s all I had. I was in my minimalist phase of life and my boss said, ‘Be careful, Geoff, you’re going to marry a Filipino girl and end up supporting an entire village.’ I said, ‘No, that’s not going to happen to me.’ Ten years later, my friends, I support a village. I adopted a foundling here. I married a Filipino girl. I got a stepdaughter. I think I put half a dozen of my nieces through college. I have a farm in Dinagat,” Geoff said.
“I’m thankful for all my friends in the Philippines and the ability and joy to be able to get to live here and experience this life. This has been a challenging year. As my wish, I want to change the narrative. Too much negativity. The Philippines is magic. Talk about the beauty of the Philippines, the smiles, the islands, the beaches. The Philippines is magic. Let’s change the narrative. Let’s talk more about positivity. Let’s talk more about magic. Let’s talk more about joy. Let’s talk more about how incredible this place is, and less about this negative stuff.”
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We might have to talk about the corruption scandal in the Philippines until it hurts, but I do agree with Geoff that the Philippines is magic (I wish there were more Geoffs posted in the Philippines who see its magic and make it their home). I wish that magic is felt by as many of the countrymen as possible.
We need to spread gratitude this Christmas by giving others reasons to be grateful. Let me not count the ways…there are too many. Not all of us can generate jobs…perhaps, generous tips to deserving waiters and delivery riders as a start?
When more of our 116.8 million countrymen are grateful because they, too, feel and see the magic of living in the Philippines and feel the joy of living here…that’s national progress in my book.
Happy Thanksgiving! *
(You may e-mail me at [email protected].
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