A gift for someone who has everything

The first Christmas message (text) I got on the day Misa de Gallo began came from a good friend from Mabolo. It came at cock’s crow. It was brief but it was what everyone likes to hear every Christmastime: “Merry Christmas.”

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It came from a long-time friend (I never say “an old friend”) Ben Ypil. He who always tickles me pink with an unsolicited praise like “my coffee doesn’t feel good without your column”(hehehe).

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Did you know that “Merry Christmas” is the most uttered two-word greeting in the Christian world? It is, according to the booklet “All About Christmas.” It is estimated that one person would greet a friend or friends five times on the averageeach day.

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Marginalized people like me, who want to give something for Christmas to those who’ve done them good, are often left wondering what to give to benefactors who have everything.

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Last night I found something worth giving benefactors who have everything like Sir Dodong and Ma’am Nena Gullas.It’s not an object. It’s more than an object. It’s a prayer. And it says:

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“I said a prayer for you today and know God must have heard – I felt the answer in my heart although He spoke no word. I didn’t ask for wealth or fame (I knew you wouldn’t mind) – I asked Him to send treasures of a far more lasting kind!”

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“I asked that He’d be near you at the start of each new day to grant you health and blessings and friends to share your way! I asked for happiness for you in all things great and small – but it was His loving care I prayed the most of all.”

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San Sebastian Golden Stags beat the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 73-67, to win the Philippine College Champions League (PCCL) 2011 crown. This is the same Stags the University of Cebu (UC) beat by 21 points in the quarter finals. “Manilans should not forget,” reminds my friend Daido Angel.

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The University of the Visayas Chorale won this year’s MBC choir championship by besting other choirs from other parts of the country. It brought back to Cebu the crown it lost last year when they finished only second. I heard someone say: “The UV Choir has been upstaging the UV Green Lancers in recent times.”

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Phone talk: A reader called up to inform me that while shopping in the Colon night market on opening day, there was a very young mother who tried to “market” a six-month baby in her arms. He said he tried to report the matter to the DSWD or the police but his girlfriend was in a hurry to get home. “Home kaha?” I said. “Home, Sir, oy,” he answered.