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This is an article that I wrote in 2006 but which was not shared to the Ang Bagong Pinoy community. I'm posting it here on the website as I'd like to share it this Christmas because I believe the messages are as relevant now as they were 2 years ago. [ Boogie ]
Merry Christmas to all!
At the height of the preparations for this Christmas season, a theme that somehow permeated the consciousness of a lot of Filipinos was the phrase "… tuloy pa din ang Pasko …" Apparently, the intention was to bolster the spirits of people and rally them to the idea that in spite of the hardships surrounding us and the recent tragedies that have befallen a lot of our countrymen; in spite of the hopelessness that pervades the air and the continuing exodus of talents for the proverbial greener pastures; in spite of our frustrations with institutions that have seemingly failed us instead of providing us the much-needed sense of security, hope, and direction; Christmas will push through and will weather all storms.
Of course, Christmas did push through and will always do! But the sad part of it all is that the thought even crossed our minds. It was like thinking that Christmas depended on us, or that it depended on our situation and the predicaments of our lives. The good news is that it does not! Christmas will always be Christmas no matter what stage or state of life we might find ourselves in. It is solely dependent on the reason for its being: the birth of Jesus Christ as a saving gesture of an infinitely loving God for a world embroiled in sin. That is what Christmas is all about and it can never be taken away from us.
What we should be focusing more on is the precious gift that Christ's coming gives us. I believe that more than anything else, the message of Christmas is HOPE. But it is not just a hope that we receive but a hope that should radiate from us and influence and inspire those we come into contact with. True to the Pearl Principle that Ang Bagong Pinoy espouses, HOPE should be the change that we aspire to come from within. The Pearl Principle is an advocacy of effecting positive and peaceful change within and within one's sphere of influence, an advocacy of converting a state of hopelessness into a state of
optimism, where opportunities are created as in the creation of a pearl.
We then look to Jesus and his birth as the source of a lasting formula for how HOPE can become ingrained in us. Jesus has shown us that before we can infuse HOPE in ourselves and inspire HOPE in others, we have to instill the following elements in our lives:
H – umility. Jesus is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords but He chose to be born in swaddling clothes in a manger. He did not call attention to Himself but chose to present Himself first to lowly shepherds.
It is with a same attitude of humility that Ang Bagong Pinoy should approach change that starts from within – a humbling of one's self and a realization that we have nothing to boast of to a God who chose to humble Himself and become like one of us in all aspects except sin. Any attempt at transformation must start with an acceptance of one's failings and weaknesses and a loving tolerance and forbearance of our neighbors' shortcomings as well.
O – bedience. Everyone comes into this world to live. But Jesus Christ came into this world to die! It is a specific mission of dying on the cross for our sins that Jesus obediently submitted Himself to from the day of His birth. It is an example of total submission to the plan of God that spells success because of a complete obedience to the Father's will.
I believe that God has a great plan for the Philippines and has been leading us to a fulfillment of His will but we have been too stubborn and unyielding to His leadings that we have failed to achieve the glorious fruits of His plan for us and have for so long delayed its realization.
P – atience. Jesus' coming has been foretold by prophets long before Him. It is with tenacious patience that His coming was awaited. Jesus came into this world as a child and went through the arduous years of growing up into adulthood before fulfilling His divine mission.
Nowadays there seems to be a growing sense of urgency in addressing the situation of hopelessness and despair that we seem to find our country in. The birth of Ang Bagong Pinoy itself was born out of a realization that it has been a generation since EDSA 1 and yet nothing seems to have changed and the dreams of that glorious moment in our history seem to have all but vanished in apathy and disillusion. But it is that temptation to rush headlong into a frenzy of action aimed at finding quick solutions to our problems that Ang Bagong Pinoy wishes to fight. Ang Bagong Pinoy believes that in a desperate attempt to effect changes as fast as we would want them to happen, we have not been lacking in attempts in the past to create an atmosphere of change where we hoped our dreams would flourish. Unfortunately, it seems that the foundations for making lasting changes have not really been fully established and as a result we have seen efforts fizzle out in the long term and the enthusiasm and zeal of people pushing for them all but burn out.
E – mpathy. Jesus, in all His divinity as true God, chose to become true man in order to fully suffer our humanity. He chose to live with us, to walk with us, and to feel all the nuances of being human with all the laughter and tears, the joys and the pains, the virtues and foibles of what being human is all about.
To inspire hope in others, we also have to first understand where the sense of hopelessness and despair is coming from. Ang Bagong Pinoy should be immersed in the whole gamut of problems besetting our country and its people. Ang Bagong Pinoy should also recognize that in spite of this sense of hopelessness, there are dreams that are
struggling to get out and should labor to help articulate these dreams and find concrete expressions.
Yes, the message of Christmas is HOPE. But it is hope that results from humility, obedience, patience, and empathy. It is hope that comes with a desire for change but with a conviction that it must start from within. The sense of urgency that Ang Bagong Pinoy must submit to is this:
Change should start right now. Change should start with me.
Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon sa lahat!
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