Eat Notes
By Claudio M. Ramos II

Prepared?


Ding… Dong…ding…Dong

Few days from now, we Christians will be celebrating Christmas to commemorate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ with our families and loved ones. Our respective homes will be decorated with different lights, lanterns, Christmas trees, and Christmas will not be complete with out Santa Clause, with his magic sleigh, reminding us to be good or else will end up receiving nothing! Also, Christmas for us Filipinos is a season that we all look forward too, the misa de gallo with puto and other native delicacies early in the morning after the mass, the exciting Pinoy Carol, the gifts form our ninongs and ninangs, Noche Buena and a lot more that makes this season very special and indeed closer to one’s Pinoy’s heart.

In Cebu, where the 12th ASEAN Summit is taking place, the Philippine government is putting its best foot forward to impress our Asian brothers, doing all the needed preparations, investing millions of money and efforts just to give a good image to the visitors as they step and be dazzled with the wonders of the Queen City of the South and the Philippine Culture and as a nation as a whole. Surely this event will boost the economic level of our nation and will place Cebu in the tourism world map. As what my high school friend studying in Cebu right now said that Cebu now is indeed having a total makeover from widening of roads, painting of buildings and the different infrastructure, the newly constructed Cebu International Convention Center, and even the training of taxi drivers, police and military men just to give these visitors an experience they will never forget. But are we really that prepared to host such event? Couldn’t we do all these developments and improvements with or with out such event?

Why am I talking about these preparations? Like Christmas, we tend to do all these gift-wrapping, decorating, merry making etc., but setting aside the real meaning of this special event. Have we ever asked ourselves, if we as a Christian are prepared for the coming of the Savior Jesus Christ? You may think that we are just commemorating Jesus Christ’s birth, but let us always remember that Jesus promised that He will be coming back for our eternal salvation.

It is with great happiness that I am considering this year’s Christmas a very merry Christmas, aside from the delicious food, the reunions, and all other gatherings of high school friends and relatives, this Christmas is full of love and joy for I am sharing it with someone special, but talking about Cupid’s arrow hitting on me deserves another article. Happy indeed! Char!!!

As we all experience, Christmas, a season where in we forget all our problems and just cover these with smile and joy, we should also remember those people who considers Christmas as a dream that will never come true. In this country where poverty is considered common to most of its citizens, Christmas remains a fantasy – all these delicious food and gifts will just be limited to poor people’s imagination and sight, making this event an opportunity only for those who can afford.

As I am doing a list of people whom I will be giving gifts these Christmas, I was moved by a text message from the Ayala Young Leaders Alumni (AYLA) Association about the campaign of AYLA to help the people who were affected with the destructive super typhoon Reming. It makes me so sad and lonely for here I am having all these plans to make these holidays special and yet thousands of peoples in Bicol region for now aspire to breathe and to have a new start of their lives. Wishing nothing but safety and shelter for them to continue their existence, compared to most of us, getting all the chances, spending a lot and wasting money just to satisfy our wants. As Kuya Ron, mentor of the SU Kahayag Dance Troupe, who is a native of the affected region narrated that Bicol is still recovering from the destructions of past typhoons and now being attacked by another one, killing people and destroying millions of wealth and properties. Have we ever considered these events as we prepare for this Christmas…. It gives me the feeling of selfishness, because I could not stop myself from having fun, while these people from the street, from the ruins of the typhoon, and all other people who just wish to end up a day with food, and wait for another day of greater opportunity to live life in this cruel world for them.

Look at the big comparison that this nation has these days, down from the victory of Pacquiao to the preparations for the ASEAN Summit, to the destruction brought by Reming. It gives us two different sides of emotions; we should have as a nation. I could not ignore that one part of this country is celebrating its so-called greatness and on the other side mourning for the present condition they are in!

It is the preparation that matters here; we all know that this nation is prone to typhoons and other natural calamities, but still the government and each one of us are not doing anything to be ready with such event and here this summit comes, we are doing all the necessary preparations just to place this nation on a grand status leaving the poverty problem aside. Same with us Christians as we come and celebrate Christmas full of joy and fun, we tend to forget the real essence of this moment that God bestowed to us - the gift of sending His only son for our salvation. God could easily postpone His coming but because of the BIG L-O-V-E, He did suffer and save us His children.

Before we all leave this prestigious Silliman for our Christmas vacation, we should ponder to ourselves the real meaning of this celebration and how this celebration can change our lives and in what way this celebration can lead us in touching lives and making a big difference to others. In simple ways… yet coming from you heart will make this world happy and gay not only during this holidays but all through out the year as well.

Have a blessed Christmas and prepare for another year to rock on life!