Bona fide text
Here comes 2009!
(Note: This article should have come out last Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008.)
Another Christmas gone. After the shopping galore, all the gift wrapping stuffs, the busy preparations especially the cooking bonding with our mothers, all that sumptuous food presented on the table, and finally that eating time together with our whole family here comes the mounds of trash and of course all that food stacked in the refrigerator packed inside a plastic container waiting to be reheated several times over (honestly, right?) - we look forward to yet another celebration – NEW YEAR.
But Christmas is indeed the best chance to be with our nuclear, at the same time our extended family. Christmas is a time to gather together, a time to be with aging aunts and uncles, relatives and brothers and sisters who travel all the way from other countries (or even living in far cities here in our country) just to be with the family. The Philippines with so much credibility to having the longest Christmas in the world. In addition, the celebration of this yuletide season won't be complete if one member of the immediate family is not around.
When my family celebrated our early Christmas in Boracay last two weekends ago, my brother and I traveled for how many hours and shelled out our money for fares just to be with the other members of the family. Every single moment was treasured, not even a single minute was wasted thinking that we'll be together only just for two days. We savored the time of our oneness as a family. Celebrated Christmas in a very simple way - as a complete family. The warmth of a family is all worth coming home to for every Filipino.
And here comes the New Year's celebration to look forward to. Thank God, PGMA declared a long holiday treat for all of us. After the lavish Noche Buena comes another feast having table of hamon and quezo de bola not to mention the sweets and the 13 round fruits. Filipinos believe in so many “pampabwenas” and “pamahiin.” When I was young boy, I used to jump as soon as the long hand of clock set at 12 midnight believing that I will become taller, but it was a mere fallacy as what I've learned in my Science class when I was in Grade 2. We can't do away with stuffs like wearing polka dots clothes, putting coins in our pockets and having firecrackers to celebrate new year. And still, our tradition is to have a list of our own new year's resolution which will motivate us to do good in the upcoming year. After all, it is for our own benefit. And lastly, the undying belief for the word – HOPE. Filipinos would always hope for the good for their own family, for the society and for the nation's condition both in politics and economy. Hope is always the best word to celebrate the new year.
And so here is a toast to the New Year. (Thanks for Francis J. Kong for sharing these lines in his column and allow me to share this to all of you guys.)
May you have:
Enough success to keep you eager,
Enough failure to keep you humble,
Enough joy to share with others,
Enough trials to keep you strong,
Enough hope to keep you happy,
Enough faith to banish depression,
Enough friends to give you comfort,
Enough determination to make each day better than yesterday.
May the coming year be a good year for all of us, having - good health, solid family relationships, and closer personal relationship with God regardless of our religion. Let's welcome year 2009 not only for hope but for luck, and for prosperity! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Congratulations to PHILIP PIOQUINTO and STEPHALYN MAROQUE on your wedding day on January 3, 2009! My best wishes to the both of you!