And so it is Christmas

It’s barely a week to Christmas and in many ways, it isn’t even beginning to look or feel like Christmas.

The nation is still reeling from the devastation of four strong typhoons, the rescue and relief operations just giving way–slowly and arduously–to rehabilitation work, even as landslides and mudslides continue to threaten outlying towns. Families are still mourning loved ones lost in the disasters; survivors continue to fight for their lives. Terror activity hasn’t taken a holiday break either, as a bomb attack in a public market in General Santos City sparked fears of more bomb attacks during the year-end holidays. There seems to be no respite from violence and death in the south.

Is it hopeless? If we look only at circumstances in the world around us, hope is indeed dim. But such is the essence of Christmas: that into a hopeless, dark and terrifying world came a Savior, a Light, Immanuel–God came to be with us. The more hopeless, the bleaker it seems–and we are indeed facing bleak times, presidential proclamations notwithstanding–the brighter shines the Hope of Christmas. We must have faith–in the One who is the Hope of mankind, the Christ of Christmas.

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The nation was shocked by news of the massive stroke and death two days later of movie star and presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. Whichever side of the political divide one is on, there is no arguing that FPJ was a kind and generous man, who truly felt for the common man and did what he could to help, even–or especially, as stories surfaced after his death–away from the cameras. He was a pillar–nonpareil–of the Philippine movie industry, respected and loved by Filipinos across age groups and social and economic classes. STARweek joins his family, friends and fans in paying tribute to FPJ.

We also want to pay tribute to a personal friend, an amazing artist and a remarkable human being, Pacita Abad, who succumbed to cancer last December 7. The exuberance of her art was matched by–or perhaps stemmed from–the exuberance of her life. Everything and everyone she encountered energized her, just as she embraced and energized everyone she met. The world is privileged to have over 3,500 of Pacita’s artworks–including her signature trapunto pieces as well as an entire bridge–that continue to captivate and mesmerize. Those of us who knew her are even more privileged to have been touched by Pacita, to have shared in the rich colors of her remarkable, wonderful life.