"ESSENCE OF CHRISTMAS"

Christmas has been trivialized into Santa Claus, his reindeer's, Christmas lights and trees, and lots of toys and goodies to bring cheer to humankind on this festive holiday season.

   I have always thought of Christmas time as a good time, a kind, forgiving, charitable, loving, sharing.  Christmas is the season for gifts and shopping.  Every Christmas, many people go to malls to buy different gifts to be given to their friends and love ones.

   At 16th to 24th of December, we Filipinos traditionally go to church at early dawn, some or most are walking going to the church to attend the mass at four in the morning, it is called "Misa de Gallio."  For kinds, Christmas is so fun, they go for caroling, and the money that they've collected, the carolers have equal shares.  Every Christmas, the families and their relatives are gathered together to celebrate the Christmas; full of happiness, care, giving or exchanging of gifts, and full of LOVE.

   Christmas is spoken of as "the season of joy" and "a time of cheer." So, be good, be kind, be humane, and charitable; LOVE your fellows; console the afflicted; pardon those have done you wrong.

   This Christmas season, take time for LOVE.!

   MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!