Merry Christmas to everyone

Tomorrow is Christmas Day na. So how else should I start this column today but to greet you all with this trite and overused line but still sweet to the ear: Merry Christmas!

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Hagar the Horrible is one of my favorite strips in the Philstar Sunday Comics. They call him Horrible but he often gets outwitted by his wife Helga. In last Sunday's strip the couple talked about the holidays ...

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HELGA (the wife): "It's nice to know that everything is ready for the holidays!"

HAGAR: "Yes, we've done a great job."

HELGA: "What do you mean WE?"

HAGAR: "Okay, you've done a great job."

HAGAR: (Continuing): "The holiday season is the nicest time of the year, Helga. It's time to forgive your enemies ... and a time to forget all petty grievances ... It's time to say 'Peace on earth, good will to men.'"

HELGA: "That saying leaves something to be desired ..."

HAGAR: "What?"

HELGA: "It doesn't say anything about good will to women."

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Helga is in league with the outspoken members of the militant Gabriela.

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One of the most meaningful and relevant Christmas card messages I received this year came from Quir and Josie de Gracia of the City of Naga, Cebu. It's a veneration to The Blessed Virgin of Guadalupe, the patroness of Cebu. I would like to share with you the text of this Christmas message:

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"In our lives, no day holds more meaning and devotion than when we celebrate the birth of Baby Jesus.

"Today, as we give thanks, we also send a prayer to the Blessed Virgin of Guadalupe. It's not a request for riches or a life free of worry.

"It's a prayer asking Her to guide and bless us with Her divine love."

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This is the first time in many Christmases that I saw the image or icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the cover of a Christmas card. Thanks Quir and Josie for sending me this card.

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Thanks to all those wonderful people of God who shared their blessings with me this Christmas season. Thanks also to those who sent me Christmas messages through e-mail.

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