Celebrating Christmas

Philippines
December 13, 2012 7:18pm CST
I know that there are many fellow Filipinos devasted by the recent typhoon in Mindanao which kills a lot and leaves most of them with nothing. In conenction to this, I just want to ask how are you going to celebrate Christmas knowing that there are some "kababayans" experiencing the abovementioned. I know some will think to help them instead of preparing huge parties at their homes and donate what amount is intended for the celebrations. Do you think such answer came from their hearts or just being hypocrite? If I will be asked with the same question, I would rather say, I will still celebrate the way we celebrate it and just pray for them. Good day and Merry Christmas mylotters!
2 people like this
8 responses
@choybel (5042)
• Philippines
14 Dec 12
The real essence of Christmas is giving, and in our own ways we can definitely celebrate it by sharing, maybe not anything at all to the victims if we cannot afford to but sharing love to our family and making heart-felt prayers for the victims of the terrible incident. Their Christmas may not be happy but I believe God will not abandon them. I just hope that our government will move faster in helping them. Good day and Merry Christmas to you as well!
1 person likes this
@choybel (5042)
• Philippines
14 Dec 12
After seeing the news for several days now, the recovery is anything but fast. I feel that the government is moving too slow on this and lacks the initiative. They could at least build temporary shelters for the people to stay and it has been days since the typhoon left so I don't see why it seems so difficult for them to do that. All I heard they ever do is survey the area and plan, plan, plan, while the people there need action, action, action. I wonder if our government will be moving this slow if this was in the Luzon region. Sometimes I feel that they just don't really care as much as they should.
• Philippines
14 Dec 12
I am hoping too. They really need help and the government must do actions to help those affected stand and recover from devastating calamity. I agree with you, it is cliche to say that it is just one of the trials for them but it was really devastating. I know they can recover this incident fast.
@edvc77 (2140)
• Philippines
14 Dec 12
I think we still have family gatherings in Christmas Eve. I think we should pray for the viictims of the calamities too and help as well. Have a Blessed Christmas to come!
1 person likes this
@ajithlal (14716)
• India
14 Dec 12
I also think it is good to get friends and family gathering and to pray for others. I think it takes a good heart to help others.
• Philippines
14 Dec 12
Since we are far from our families, we celebrate Christmas by simple dinner at home and going to church the following day. I think the best thing I can do for the victims of the typhoon is to pray for their fast recovery.
@xtedaxcvg (3189)
• Philippines
14 Dec 12
I guess I'll celebrate Christmas in the office this year. Unlike last year, I was lucky enough to get a leave for Christmas and New Year's Eve, but I didn't get lucky this year. I get off work at around 1 AM so Christmas Eve will be long gone when I get home and that will be a work day again. That's life I guess.
• Philippines
14 Dec 12
I also experience that but never fail to attend the dinner Christmas eve. I need to go back to workplace on christmas day because there are work on the following day. That's life.
@rsa101 (37969)
• Philippines
14 Dec 12
Well for the longest time we have not celebrated Christmas with so much of partying but we go home to our province just to be with my parent's house. From there we just eat simply without the fancy partying with other relatives. My parent's are old and sickly that they could not afford to attend to those anymore. So we just visit them to just be reunited with them.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
14 Dec 12
In our case, we also had simple noche buena at home and will go to church the next day and have fun at the mall. We did not celebrate it with grand parties. Just know the real meaning of Christmas even with simple meals is best enough.
@nat1_ong (150)
• Guam
14 Dec 12
Eventhough, I am noe overseas I heard and saw on the television how devastated some of our kababayans are. Same to you, I would pray for them. As for me, I will celebrate christmas with gatherings. I missed the get-together in the Philippines too. If I had a chance, I will surely go back to the Philippines and help people but I am not that rich, I am still saving overseas. I know there will be a chance that I would go back there and help people
1 person likes this
• Philippines
14 Dec 12
That is one of the hardest part in working overseas. You will miss how we celebrate Christmas here which I think the best in the world. Let us pray for those affected by the typhoon in Mindanao.
@zurichann (235)
• Philippines
14 Dec 12
I think not everyone that is doing 'kawang gawa' are hypocrites. I know some people who are really generous when it comes to this. My previous supervisor will usually ask us for donations which will be brought to the people who were victims of different disasters or those families who doesn't have sufficient water or food. Our company country manager also has a program where monies are being generated to be use for the benefit of our countrymen who are living in great poverty.
• Philippines
14 Dec 12
I know too that not all are hypocrites but such opportunities are being grabbed by the politician especially now that the election is really near.
@ajithlal (14716)
• India
14 Dec 12
I think it is always good to celebrate the Christmas as one wishes and from the heart. I also think it is good to celebrate Christmas from the heart. I think you are doing good job by doing donations to the amount that you can spend on huge parties. You can go for small parities like a Christmas cake and some dancing and singing, etc during the Christmas time. Merry Christmas.
• Philippines
14 Dec 12
If that idea is from the heart and not just to make good impression especially now that the election is near.
@aixcar (6)
• Philippines
14 Dec 12
Everyone would still celebrate Christmas the way they do every year. I my opinion, even the victims of the typhoon could still be happy on Christmas. They could still celebrate it. Filipinos, no matter how big their problem is, find ways to be happy. Some would even make jokes out of their misery. The victims, since they have less of what they had, would appreciate more of what they are to be given. The love, concern and sympathy from their fellow Filipinos is enough to make them happy this Christmas.