Christmas Lights, christmas tunes, Merry Pasko from Malaybalayan

It is really true that sometimes we take Christmas as an annual happening and we do not deny this but here we are again, we cannot wait for Christmas to be upon us.

This Malaybalayan did by decorating our windows with christmas lights and this early, switch it on so the christmas tunes begin playing too. Christmas is never just a yearly event; it is always a phenomenon!

 So before December 2 becomes 3 and so on and so forth- allow me to be one of the earliest well wishers guys: Merry Christmas! Merry Pasko!! Maayong Pasko!!!Maligayang Pasko!!!! and other versions of the different languages - they all mean the same: we wish each one the blessing that the birth of th e baby Jesus is the birth of Love for all mankind. We are all brothers and sisters because of Jesus who saved us from sins and brought us back to God, the Father.

Having said the aforementioned, we close our eyes in deep concentration - to consider the issues that beset our world: Terrorism everywhere; Gruesome Killings of civilians, especially the journalists; Poverty beyond description whether rural or  urban setting; Domestic violence that defies man's image and likeness of his Maker; Scandals of various kinds no one is spared; Cynicism and indifference that are worse than hatred; Financial crisis that continues to hit the entire world economy.

Do not lose hope just as this blog also does not want to end in a very disheartening manner. For as long as Christmas is here, so then will faith and love.

Series of scenarios enough to make your blood boil and/or cringe with some and relief/hope in some

Maria Ressa of ABS-CBN was already interviewed by CNN yet we from Mindanao are the last ones to know or be worried about the extent of its impact. Imagine 40 people were "beheaded" in Maguindanao. Ang Bandila and Saksi, news programs of ABS-CBN and GMA, respectively, say 40 people were massacred. and 5 of these were media men who were present to cover the event where a politician filed his/her candidacy. The mere mention of this cruelty is so gruesome to even consider at this day and age. Yet to this day, man's thirst for superiority is as strong as ever so with the incoming election on 2010, many more conflicts will beset the entire country. PNP,NBI and AFP form task force to run after the suspects.,

In another situation, we hear of Ebarle Shooting, where Jason Ivler, 26 year old suspect, is still not caught - the reason for the shootout? mere traffic  trouble.

Then pageants like Miss Earth, Mrs. World sort of  catalyzed the raw animalistic tendencies of man. Miss Philippines won as Miss Earth-Air and Daisy Reyes was chosen as one of the 12 finalists  in Mrs. World.

Let us not forget Efren Penaflorida, "CNN Pinoy Bayani of the Year 2009" because of his pushcart (kariton) school in Cavite City. Any filipino can replicate what Efren has begun.: He simply says: everyone is a hero. The Philippine government will bestow on him the Lakandula Award. 

Finally, there is Christmas, barely a month away where the miracle of gift-giving and love-sharing fill each person's heart. So be it.

Christmas is 35plus days more to go so are you ready for it?

Whenever a tv announcer gladly reminds us that Christmas is 35 plus days more to go, Malaybalayan responds with: what? already? Let us dwell on this piece of reality and before it is too late, answer the question: are we ready for it?

As always, people are never ready for Christmas. Maybe it is because we need not be ready for it. After all, the spirit of helping and giving is already alive among Fiipinos. What is usually meant by preparing for it is financial in nature-the gifts which must be bought this early while it is not yet as expensive as when it is bought amidst everybody buying too. Now that it is 2009 and recession is one reality everybody experiences, gifts should go beyond objects and even if it has to be, we can be more creative with it like a "home-made" card or personally-made ribbon or drawing or poem.

Malaybalayan might also go global this Christmas. Now that she has become a blogger, you, my friends and followers in the "bloggerworld" will be included in my Christmas spirit. Wait for it guys! So are we ready for Christmas? Why not?