First published in Daily Tribune under Anthony Vivero's Vibes and Vision dated December 12, 2005.
Has the true reason of the season long been forgotten? It seems it has been replaced by Santa Claus, the Christmas symbol of the West. When commercialism was introduced to us, it slowly influenced the Filipinos' way of celebrating Christmas, which is traditionally a family-oriented one. Love is now measured with the tag price of the gift that one receives. We now put too much importance on the financial aspect during this time of year, rather than on peace and love towards man.
“People making lists, buying special gifts, taking time to be kind to one all. It's the time of year when good friends are here and you wish you could give more than the presents from the store. Why don't you give love on Christmas day…”
This is part of a Western Christmas song, which reminds us of true spirit of the season. Even Westerners feel that the true essence of Christmas has already been replaced by the thought that material things can bring more happiness than the expression of pure love and compassion.
In the Philippines we started to feel the downside of commercialism when the financial crisis hit us. All of the sudden, the joyful atmosphere of Christmas was gone. Man-made stars still light up windows, Christmas trees still stand, the trees in the yard remain burning with lights, but the joy and the spirit of the season that we used to feel before are nowhere to be find. It seems everything is there except the spirit of Christmas.
What is missing now is the true love of man that can be shared among his fellow men. I remember when my father was still alive. He showed me the true spirit of Christmas. Since that time, my life started to turn for the better, and I will share how it happened with you, my beloved readers.
Chistmas of '89
It was a fruitful year. All my businesses were doing so well that it seemed like money was flowing like water from a well. It was Christmas and it was the time to share the blessings that I got. And, of course, the best gifts that I had were for my “papa” who cared for me after he got separated from my mother.
I bought the best shirt, pants and shoes for him. He would be the best looking father in the neighborhood, I promised myself. I also bought a wallet and put some cash in it for him. It was my way of returning his kindness. He wasn't able to give the best things money could buy but he gave us love that money can't buy.
Actually, that year was no different at all. There was the exchange of gifts, the partaking of one of the best feasts cooked by our Lola Inang. But it seemed my papa was planning to spend Christmas in a different way that year.
So come Christmas morning, we exchanged gifts, and I persuaded him to wear my gifts or else I wouldn't give the best gift of all, the wallet that contained an ample amount of money. So, he changed clothes, which looked perfect on him. So I gave the wallet, and then every family member was lining up towards me to get their share of blessings that I got from the Lord. Each and every one was so happy, until we noticed that papa was nowhere to be found.
We waited for him for lunch until he arrived in a different outfit. He was now wearing an ordinary old white shirt, a pair of old slippers instead of the imported shoes I gave. I asked what happened, thinking that he had been a victim of a hold-up. I even looked in his pocket for the money I gave him, and saw that it was almost all gone except for three pieces of a hundred-peso bill. All of my cousins were up on their feet to get the person responsible for this presumed incident.
But my papa smiled, telling us everything was just fine and that he just had his best Christmas ever. Then he led us to the dining area to have our lunch. Everyone was puzzled, for he wouldn't tell us the details of the missing clothes and money.
Luckily one of my friends had seen what happened. He said my father had played Santa Claus to the poor children in the reclamation area in Roxas Boulevard. He even gave away his clothes and shoes in exchange for the old clothes of the poor. And children lined up for a cash gift from a surprise Santa Claus who was not in costume.
I was outraged. I confronted my father and told him that I knew what had been done with my gifts to him. I was almost crying while telling him that he didn't take care and treasure the gifts that came from my hard work. But he just gave me a smile and told me he treated my gift as a blessing from God, so he treasured my blessing by sharing it with the poor.
I couldn't understand him. So with pain in my heart I decided to leave him. But before we parted ways, he again smiled and said, “One day you will realize that the greatest gift that one can give and have is love, loving those who have less in life, taking care of the needs of those who are handicapped in life, giving your own food to those who are hungry, giving your own clothes to those who will treasure it more than you will. Until then, the best Christmas in your life will not come.”
We spent two more Christmases before he died unexpectedly. Those two Christmases were no different from our other Christmases. He never repeated the incident that had hurt me so much.
In his wake after Christmas, unfamiliar faces came, one after another, to pay their respect and bid the last farewell. One crying man caught my attention — he was wearing the shoes that I had given to my papa. It was well-maintained that even after two years it looked new. The man seemed to treasure the shoes. When I asked him about my father, he cried and said they had lost a man who had helped them in dire times, in small but life-saving ways. He even told me how happy they were during Christmas because my papa gave whatever he had then. Tears fell from my own eyes. I was ashamed of myself; I knew now the wisdom I couldn't understand years ago.
The burial came, and expecting just a few people because we are a small family, I was surprised by the number of people that came. He was indeed not just an ordinary man; he was a blessing to the poor — the greatest gift they got and my greatest gift as well.
My father is long gone, but his lesson about giving of oneself even it means going hungry or being poorer so others may live is the legacy I hold in my heart. He shared his wisdom not by words but by his actions. He was not a pastor nor a religious person who spent more time talking and judging other people, but he was an honest man and strong in his belief that someone has to help those who may not be able to return the favor. Share your love with those who will not just love you, but love others as well, because you showed them how.
Every year, we spend so much time looking for the greatest gifts for our loved ones. Mall after mall, we sort through one item to another. Year after year the gifts get more expensive. We always forget that the greatest gift is the most priceless. It is not just showing them love, but teaching each and everyone how to love, unconditionally.
Let us get rid of our fear of losing some if we give to people we don't know. Get rid of the thought that giving is only for the rich people and receiving is mainly for the poor. Men are made equal by God, and that equality is best experienced if love is the center of man's mind and intention. One peso from the poor at heart is more worthy than a million from the rich people who help with a name tag on their gift.
The greatest gift of my life was given one Christmas time — a lesson that will last forever and be used all through my life. It will never fade nor whither but will give more benefit not just to me but to others as well. The wisdom of true love is not spoken; it must be shown by action and let the people you love learn that the greatest gift on earth is through giving the best in you to those who never experienced love, truly and sincerely.
Any comment and suggestion maybe forwarded to anthonyvivero@yahoo.com and anthonyvivero@hotmail.com.
