Living the spirit of the original Noche Buena

The recent P500 Noche Buena announcement by the Department of Trade and Industry has caught a lot of attention. There is even a Christmas jingle that makes fun of it.

I think what hurts most was the context of the announcement. Many Filipinos, especially the poor, are feeling the rising cost of food. So Christmas celebrations could amplify the large gap between the rich and the poor. According to the World Bank, the top one percent of earners account for 17 percent of national income, while the bottom 50 percent share only 14 percent. 

In practical terms, what does the P500 Noche Buena challenge mean? For middle-income to high-income earners, P500 is loose change for standard lattes and other drinks in Starbucks. Barya-barya lang. But for the poor, say in Metro Manila, P500 is hard-earned money – almost the daily income of laborers. In some provinces where the minimum wage is lower compared to Metro Manila, P500 is equal if not more than the minimum wage. So while the DTI announcement may indeed be able to buy some festive food, it lacks empathy and the sensitivity to the harsh realities of many families trying to make both ends meet, not only during Christmas season but throughout the year. 

Second, and more important, is that we seem to have forgotten the original meaning of Noche Buena. After all, Noche Buena means the Good Night or Holy Night. In the Catholic tradition, Noche Buena takes place on Christmas Eve, when families celebrate by eating together after the midnight mass or misa de gallo. 

What happened on the first Noche Buena? It was not about food at all. There was not even any lavish celebration. At the time of Jesus’ birth, Bethlehem was under Roman rule. It was a turbulent and dangerous time, characterized by harsh authoritarian control, heavy and unjust taxation and violent suppression of rivals and threats. The people were so desperate that they had hoped for a Messiah who would break the chains of inequality and oppression.

The Bible describes that first night (the Good Night). The shepherds were watching over their flocks. An angel of the Lord said, “Do not be afraid. I bring good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” The shepherds were terrified when the angel appeared and the glory of the Lord shone around them. 

The message of the angel is relevant to us today. Do not be afraid. We have all been  afraid and anxious as a series of disasters – typhoons, floods and earthquakes – impacted us. Then the trillion-peso corruption scandal. The polarization of our country. The rising cost of goods. And recently, the mysterious death of a high-ranking DPWH official.

Amid all these confusions, we remember the good news announced on that good night: Jesus, the Savior, was born. And the sign that was given to the shepherds is that they will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger in Bethlehem. After they had seen the baby Jesus, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

God must have lovingly thought of giving the lowly shepherds an esteemed place in the birth of Jesus by choosing the shepherds as the “Marites” of the birth of the Savior Jesus Christ.

Perhaps, reviewing the lyrics of the popular Christmas song, O Holy Night, may help us imagine what it was like back then.

“O holy night, the stars are brightly shining / It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth. / Long lay the world in sin and error pining / Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.

“Fall on your knees!”

From this Christmas carol, we remember that Jesus came to redeem humanity from sin. Therefore, the call is to worship the newborn Christ.

This is the Noche Buena challenge. Amid our collective fears and anger, how do we appropriate the presence and power of Jesus in our lives and in our nation? God chose the lowly shepherds to testify and tell the story of the birth of the Messiah. The shepherds verified what the angel told them and they testified that the birth of the Messiah was true, just as they had been told. 

God is watching over us and our nation. Our remembrance of the reason for the season should compel us to practice our faith and pray for leaders who fear God and serve with integrity. The Good News reminds us that our faith, though personal, should confront the structural evil in our society and should be felt by the community and the whole nation – beyond the comfort of our church. 

Only then can we say, we had a Good Night or Noche Buena.

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Leonora Aquino-Gonzales is a member of the Christian Writers Fellowship and the Institute for Studies in Asian Church and Culture. She teaches at the UP College of Media and Communication.