Under the Christmas tree is a present to have, to hold and to cherish.
Up the same tree is a better brighter future that an angel or a star may lead and inspire us to seek.
Remember Kings Gaspar, Melchor and Baltazar whose wise judgment is celebrated on the first Sunday of January? They followed the Shining Light of Bethlehem to the Nativity scene, paid homage and offered gifts to newborn Jesus Christ, obeyed an angel’s advice and broke a petty deal with vile Herod.
I guess that after the Christmassy moments, the Three Magi rode camels and went their merry eastward way.
By the way, the same Angel Gabriel warned and told the Holy Family to pack up and bail out, days before Herod’s army mass-murdered the Innocents.
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Before cartoonists draw images of babies showing vulnerable Huklubans the exit, baka puwedeng ipunin natin lahat ang mga mabubuti at masasayang nangyari sa ating buhay nitong nakaraang 2020.
Gawin natin itong palaman sa Happiness Sandwich na lagi nating iisip-isipan at nanamnamin.
Paraphrasing Florante: Tatanda at lilipas din tayo. Ngunit may awiting iiwanan sa alaala, na kahit minsa’y tayo’y nagkasama.
Have you seen a confused kalabaw yet?
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Tandang-Tanda Ko:
Mang Tomas: Yehey sa bakuna kontra Kubid. Babalik na tayo sa dating buhay.
Impong Isko: Reincarnation? Ipis again?
Lolo Pedro: Ang ibig po niyang sabihin ay return to normal life.
Impong Isko: What do you think of me, abnormal?
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Tandang-Tanda Mo:
Kaka Huse: Sabagay, sa bandang September 2021 pa daw bago tayo maililista sa tuturukan.
Impong Isko: By then, nakalimutan na kaya natin kung para saan ang manggas?
Mang Tomas: Baka nga hindi na nga rin natin kailangan ang face mask?
Impong Isko: Don’t worry, guys. Tuloy and ikot ng mundo!
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Tandang-Tanda Na:
Kaka Huse: Ano naman ang gagawin mo habang may pandemic?
Impong Isko: Stay home, para maiwasan ang taong mausisa. Wear a mask, para matakpan ang simangot tuwing may tsiska sa paligid. Social distancing, para malayo sa mga toxic. Wash my hands, para sanitized ang sakal ko.
Lolo Pedro: O, sino pa ang may tanong?
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The Galicia family will mark my mom Belle’s first death anniversary on January 12.
Sa araw ng aming pagbababang luksa, muli kaming nagpapasalamat sa mga nakiramay at tumulong to ease the grief over our great loss.
Moreover, we will also mark my Daddy Chit’s 40th death anniversary on January 26.
We celebrate their passage knowing that mom and dad are reunited in a better place called Home.
Both will be missed. Fleeting moments and lasting memories created with them stay etched in our hearts.
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We likewise join everyone in fervent prayer as we recall and remember the loved ones, friends, neighbours and strangers whose presence was snatched away from us during these hard and trying times.
Faithful souls have moved on to the Great Beyond; we stay. But unlike the conditions and circumstances during the initial waves, we now have better and stronger physical shields to protect us against a raging pandemic.
Moreover, we will never run out of faith to cling on, hope to push through and love to share and spread.
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Quoting Pope Francis: “Rivers do not drink their own waters, trees do not eat their own fruit, the sun does not shine on itself and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves. Living for others is the rule of nature. We are all born to help each other. No matter how difficult it is … Life is good when you are happy; but much better when others are happy because of you.”
Need we say more?
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Tandang-Tanda Pa:
Mang Tomas: Maiba tayo. Ano nga ba ang New Year’s Resolution mo?
Impong Isko: Iinumin ko ang maintenance pills na nireseta ni Doc.
Lolo Pedro: Ang ibig po niyang sabihin ay yung mga pagbabagong gagawin mo sa 2021.
Impong Isko: Ha? Susundin ko yung health tip ni Mang Kepweng. Dadagdagan ko ng luya.
*****
Don’t take me wrong. I have faith in ginger, as much as I trust the vaccine, the flu shot and other ant bites.
But above all else, my faith in man’s goodness and kindness never wanes. Many brave souls still pray in silence for those who are oppressed, repressed and depressed.
Politicians, so-called influencers and the KSP (Kulang Sa Pansin) should know better. Public propaganda is annoying. Noisy trumpets squeaking an ego’s need to win brownie points hurt the ear. Oratory promising to make the world perfect is boring. To each of the pathetic failures labelled as social enabler, SMB (Style Mo Bulok)!
Let people freely and quietly cuddle righteousness from what they believe in. Allow them to freely and serenely praise and embrace the God of their faith.
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2020 is over. Some saw the year as very memorable. Others disagreed, saying the year that passed was a huge disappointment and it was pure relief to see it end, wishing it went with the virus. “Another year over …”
“… A new year has begun.” The year 2021 is here. Positive predictions are in the air, mostly Covid-19 related. However, thoughts of moral and spiritual positivism keep people away from boring pandemic desperation.
Resolutions are written. Whether these are carried out to the letter or carried outright to the litter is another story. Hopes, not bought like a lottery ticket, are raised. Promises to be kept are made.
In the year 2021, many will still be struggling daily to survive a global health crisis; to live through war zones; to ease hunger and homelessness; and to overcome displacement and destruction brought about by man-made and natural disasters, calamities, catastrophes and tragedies.
But again, there are blessed leaders worldwide who are ready to face and respond to challenges of conflict and disunity, to rule with equity and justice for the next days and beyond. They are prepared to do the right thing, in the name of God and humanity. The world can count on them and, mind you, they are not characters from an old comic book or cartoon series.
Just one wish for the New Year: “… To take each moment and live each moment in peace (love and joy) eternally; let there be peace (love and joy) on earth and let it begin with me.”
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Tandaan Lagi: Ang panahon ay laging pasulong, iwasang mamuhay nang paurong. Higit sa lahat, payabungin ang pag-ibig; gawing maunlad at mapayapa ang bagong taong 2021.
Keep safe and stay healthy, dear friends. #####
PHOTO # 1:
Mommy Belle and Daddy Chit Galicia, circa 1952. Their physical pilgrimage on earth was completed on January 12, 2020 and January 26, 1981, respectively. As their spirits reunite in a heavenly Home, their memories stay in the hearts of their loved ones. (Photo Archives)
PHOTO # 2:
Snowy Christmas 2020. At first, it looked like a penguin. With a few quick makeovers, the near-frozen balls turned into an imperfect but magical “Frosty” that drew family (left photo) together – from left: Bonggay, Zarah, snowman sculptor Zoe, Raphael, Evelyn and Gabriel – during its 30-minute creation. After all, the outdoor fun marked one of those quite rare early winter moments when Toronto was blessed with a white blanket on Christmas Day. Although in a natural freezer, we would never ignore frolicking in holiday snow. Text and Photos: Butch Galicia
PHOTO # 3:
In a visit to Montreal in 2015, Evelyn and I also wanted to know the latest. Thus, we spent a quick moment with Les Chuchoteuses (The Gossipers), a Rose-Aimée Bélanger bronze outdoor sculpture created in 2002 and installed along Montreal’s Rue Saint-Paul, in Quebec, Canada. Text and Photo: Butch Galicia