ESSENCE OF CHRISTMAS

                                 True Essence of Christmas

         “Let us remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart, a wide open heart that thinks of others first. The birth of the baby Jesus stands as the most significant event in all history, because it has meant the pouring into a sick world of the healing medicine of love which has transformed all manner of hearts for almost two thousand years... Underneath all the bulging bundles is this beating Christmas heart.” - George Matthew Adams

Everyday is Christmas. But can we really feel its true essence? Christmas is always defined as a celebration of the birth of Christ among the Christians. Christmas season starts when the month of December enters. We started to put up our Christmas decorations such as lanterns, Christmas lights, Christmas trees and the “Belen”. We spent a lot of money just for our houses to be decorated. Christmas season is also the start of children’s door to door carolling at night. They ask for what they call an “Aguinaldo”. These are just some signs that Christmas season has started.

Christmas is about love. Caring one another, spending the time to do the little things to make the holiday special for our loved ones. Christmas is also about togetherness. Being with the people you love, laughing, sharing a meal, sharing happy memories. Christmas is also about giving. Doing things for others - collecting food for the needy, helping with toy distributions to needy children. Remembering those less fortunate.

Christmas isn’t only about the gifts we receive from our parents, relatives and friends but most of all it is about preparing ourselves to be prepared for this very special occasion. We are easily occupied by the evils of this world and we forget the true essence of this occasion. We are easily blinded by the worldly happiness that why we do not appreciate God’s promise of unending life. We should remember that the true essence of Christmas is sharing and giving and this should be done everyday and that is love that must be shared by one and all.

“Until one feels the spirit of Christmas, there is no Christmas. All else is outward display - so much tinsel and decorations. For it isn't the holly, it isn't the snow. It isn't the tree, nor the firelight's glow. It's the warmth that comes to the hearts of men when the Christmas spirit returns again.” - Author Unknown

EQUAL RIGHTS, EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES PROGRESS FOR ALL

EQUALITY FOR PROGRESS

“We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors… but they all have to learn to live in the same box.”-Unknown. This quotation tells us that we have equal rights, equal opportunities. And for this year, the theme for International Women’s Day is “Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for All”.

Honest equality between women and men, girls and boys can only be apprehended in the process of a just, fair and civilized transformation of our society as a whole. There’s need for us to unite and enable women to take their rightful place in production and political activity to improve their economic and political status. We are in a democratic country and we have the right to do whatever we want to do as long as we are not hurting anybody. Women are known as “weaker than men.” But, this must change. We dare for a change!

Women must not be treated as ordinary inactive participants in national development. They must enjoy important rights and freedoms suitable all human beings, both in democratic and public life. Women need to be treated fairly in families, workplaces, public life and the church. Women are backbone of our families and play major roles in our economy, especially in rural areas. The life and health of women are of central importance to the future development of our nation. Women bring special gifts to the progress of our country. They also have the right and duty to take part in the political and administrative work of our nation. Politically, women have contributed a lot in all our struggles.

We must get off the discrimination between men and women. Equal rights and equal opportunities should be given to all of us for the progress.