The Star of Christmas: Jesus or Santa?

The day before Christmas, I overheard the woman next door instructing her daughter to make a wish with santa. It sort of annoyed me. Then as I handed my gift to the child, I asked her, “whose birthday it is, anyway?” My heart sank when the mother had to coach the lassie.

On Christmas Eve, I hosted parlor games for the kids of my neighborhood. I asked the same question upon giving them presents, once again, to my dismay, the mother has to coach the answer that it is Jesus Christ birthday!

Obviously, santa claus is more popular than Jesus among the children on Christmas season (now it's BRO here in the Philippines) because even the parents have no understanding of the real meaning of Christ's birthday. In some countries, it is called Holiday season; Christ is no longer the Star of the season.

I also do not like the tradition of the Filipino parents exploiting their kids for begging presents. It creates pressure on the giver. Gifts must be freely given and cannot be earned just like our salvation in Christ!

Related Article:

Donation and Salvation: the similarities & differences

Religious symbolism of The 12 Days of Christmas

It is going to be my very first time to celebrate the Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) alone in my pad. Fixing stuff to organize and plan a fruiful new year forced me to stay in Manila. I will probably miss my mama who cannot afford to leave her little apos (grandchildren) in Palawan and the sea breeze, sea foods, etc. of my hometown (sigh).

Sensing that i will be having home alone Christmas, my neighborhood invited me this morning to join their party after my Christmas eve worship service. Maybe on the 25^th, I would just be singing all day " The 12 Days of Christmas" and would be reflecting its interesting Religious symbolism that I recently stumbled upon on this site: http://www.carols.org.uk

Religious symbolism of The Twelve Days of Christmas

(The 12 Days of Christmas)

1 True Love refers to God
2 Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
4 Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings refers to the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace.
6 Geese A-laying refers to the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8 Maids A-milking refers to the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping refers to the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming refers to the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed

Share a Gift, Touch a Heart

        My Christian Group in MLQ School of Law (Deus Judicium Christian Fellowship) just had a Christmas Party or Potluck Party last Sunday in my place.   It was the first time that we had a DVD marathon as a group. The star studded movie Kimmy Dora is indeed enjoyable. We missed those members who were not able to attend especially those who organized it in 1997 (married people usually cannot easily be pulled off).

Aside from the weekly Bible Study inside the campus, “Share a Gift, Touch a Heart” is the Christmas activity that Deus Judicium have been faithfully conducting for thirteen (13) years now with the prayers and support of donors. This is not an ordinary gift giving for indigent children. The program includes sharing the message of the saving grace of God; to impart on young minds the real meaning of Christmas. Our 100 to 200 less privileged beneficiaries are mostly Sunday School students from our church contact list. School supplies instead of toys are the gifts we pack for them. Since December is the mid-school year here in the Philippines, it is expected that they are running out of school stuff.

For this year, the activity will be held at a community near the Smokey Mountain dump site on December 20, 2009, 2:00-4:00pm. If you would like to be part of this activity, whether a donor or a volunteer, please feel free to contact me or Atty. Vicky Logronio at 0919-7560907. Below are the pictures taken in previous years.

Meeting my Prince Charming

    I was in a place with a crowd of strangers when I encountered my Prince Charming.  Different kinds of people were literally just around the corner.

    As I was standing then, not as a Princess but like a lady-in-waiting, an unknown man suddenly approached me from behind and held my hand so tight.                           Surprisingly, I did not react violently to refuse his unofficial and informal manner.   Looking back at him curiously, I realized that I was just as tall as his shoulders.   So I needed to lift my head a little higher to glance his face. We were still holding hands when I finally recognized his features.   My eyes were nailed to him.  I was mesmerized by his looks.   Heck, he was absolutely handsome!

    That is how I met the man of my dreams.   Strange, isn’t it?      It happened in 2005, on a cool December night while I was impersonating Sleeping Beauty.   But it was my mother’s voice that woke me up instead of a kiss from my Prince Charming whom I did not get along with a little too well (sigh).

    Now that it is December again, I guess he is on his way to join me in dreaming great things for Aslan (God).  Maybe he comes from a very far yet magnificent palace that it took him years to travel or maybe his horse got tired so he decided to hitch a ride with Santa Claus.   Maybe.......

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Legitime of the Compulsory Heirs

Filipinos generally adapt the English custom of ultimogeniture by which the youngest son succeeds the family home.

But the Philippine law respects the legitime of the compulsory heirs for the sake of family solidarity and to protect them from the unjustified anger or thoughtlessness of the testator. Article 886 of the New Civil Code defines LEGITIME as part of the testator’s property which he cannot dispose of because the law has reserved it for compulsory heirs.

Thus, the dispositions that deprive a compulsory heir of his legitime cannot be given effect albeit a WILL was validly executed by the testator.

Compulsory heirs: (Art. 887)

1. Legitimate children and descendants;
2. In default of the foregoing, legitimate parents and ascendants;
3. Widow or widower; and
4. Illegitimate Children

Take for instance, the legitime of the legitimate children is one-half (½ ) of the testator’s properties divided by the number of children.

The testator may only disinherit or omit any or all of the compulsory heirs if the causes that are expressly stated in Articles 919-921 of the Code are specified in a will.

Despite the provisions of the law, I would not mind if my legitime from my parents would be impaired. After all, the efforts or monies used to acquire the properties were produced by their very own hands. I believe, God’s blessings will enable me to buy my own property someday.

1 Peter 1:3-5

³Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
⁴and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, ⁵who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.