My (usual) Christmas rant

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another weekend. We are seven days away to Christmas, and it’s time for me do yet another rant, well, something that I do each time this season of the year comes around. In the past so many days, aside from the reports on the attendance in the misa de gallo (and the traditional foodstuff that go with it), we were also flooded with reports about this and that shopping sprees, this and that bargain centers, this and that stuff to be bought in time for the Noche Buena. And yes, did I mention the endless Christmas parties (something the gym or fitness center operators are thankful for) and the exchange gifts be it at the office or at home? Don’t say it, everything has to do with something that everyone (or most of us) has so little of – money. Yup, why is it that many of us had to spend every penny there is for the holidays? That I do not understand. And let us not even start discussing about how other would berate people (myself included) for giving only so much amount (or money) for the inaanak and their friends and cousins and hangers on ) who go with them when they go house to house (ala trick or treat) asking for what else, pamasko. Well, on this aspect, I mean the kids, I am not complaining. Call it kahi-araan, crisis or no crisis, Christmas is bound to happen, err to be celebrated. But seriously, is it the mind set? Certainly it’s not coping up the Joneses when one wishes for good things and good food for the holidays. Let’s say we all deserve a break (Yup, with all the call for solemn commemoration of the birth of the Savior and its deeper meaning notwithstanding). Now, do I hear myself saying I rest my case?

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The Calbayog LGU employees will be 8,000-peso richer this Christmas. The Sangguniang Panlungsod has passed Ordinance number 2009-SS08-759 granting the amount of Eight Thousand Pesos as extra bonus to all regular employees of LGU Calbayog.

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Halad sa Pasko 2009, the annual Christmas Festival of the City Government of Calbayog formally opened last Wednesday. Mayor Mel Sarmiento and Councilors Julius Mancol and Ina Rabuya were on hand for the program. Performances were made by the ISKOLARs and the Calbayog Rondalla. The event was highlighted by the lighting of the Christmas Tree and a fireworks display.

And in case you’d like to know, there will be no giant Christmas Tree this year. Word has it that the organizers did not set up the tree at the Cardinal Rosales Plaza (where the giant tree was setup at least for the past 15 years) because the place is being prepped for the Centennial celebration next year. Hmm, considering the time, must be some huge preparations over there.

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Onstage tonight at the Calbayog City Sports Center: “Riot sa Calbayog” with Pooh, K Brosas, Princess Ryan and Joseph Bitangcol. For tickets contact Ritchie at 0906-520-8161

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Parokya ni Edgar will be performing at the Calbayog City Sports Center this coming Monday, December 21, 2009. For tickets you may call (055) 209-1646.

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Let me leave you with something I got from the History channel (sorry, it’s the history buff in me again): a little history about Christmas in Europe and in the last place that Karl Marx would have wanted to stay – America.

“In the early 17th century, a wave of religious reform changed the way Christmas was celebrated in Europe. When Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan forces took over England in 1645, they vowed to rid England of decadence and, as part of their effort, cancelled Christmas. By popular demand, Charles II was restored to the throne and, with him, came the return of the popular holiday.”

“The pilgrims, English separatists that came to America in 1620, were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. As a result, Christmas was not a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was actually outlawed in Boston. Anyone exhibiting the Christmas spirit was fined five shillings. By contrast, in the Jamestown settlement, Captain John Smith reported that Christmas was enjoyed by all and passed without incident.”

“After the American Revolution, English customs fell out of favor, including Christmas. In fact, Congress was in session on December 25, 1789, the first Christmas under America's new constitution. Christmas wasn't declared a federal holiday until June 26, 1870.”

Well, after what it has been through, I’m beginning to understand why many take time to celebrate Christmas with gusto.

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Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!