The Festive Season: Its Purpose?

                Christmas is in the air! Actually, no, scratch that—Christmas is in malls, homes, schools, office buildings, the streets, and anywhere else where decorations can be hung and put up.

                Even radio stations play Mariah Carey’s renditions of Christmas songs as far back as Halloween.

                Shoppers start rolling and filling their carts with ingredients for Noche Buena (almost everything is 50% off!) and buying gifts for their ‘manito’ and ‘manita.’ Which I should really be doing soon, I have numerous parties to attend!

                [I FORGOT THE SENTENCE HERE L] Employees wear Santa hats while on duty. Everyone is possessed by the Christmas spirit—but are we celebrating the festive season more than its actual purpose?

                While driving around with my family one December night, the city filled with twinkling lights and colorful parols, I noticed how the malls are always cramped with people and the churches always have open doors, but only a few enter.

                Is this what Christmas has become?

                We should not focus on who’s on the Naughty or Nice list, nor whose Christmas tree is taller and brighter. It’s not just about the gifts we receive nor what unlimited food is on the table. We are celebrating the birthday of a superhero, a teacher, a brother, a friend: the birthday of Jesus Christ.

                And in this season, may we truly and sincerely never forget the love we have for Him—for Jesus.

- Jenika Gi-An C. Nero