Now that it's Christmas

MANILA, Philippines – 'Tis the most wonderful time of the year again. And it is even more wonderful with the memories of the many yuletides past. Yet, a full Christmas is one that is not only wonderful - but meaningful as well.

As a little girl, like most Filipino kids, Christmas to me meant expecting colorfully wrapped gifts from godparents and generous relatives. Euphoria would set in at the sight of seeing bright, twinkling Christmas lights in the neighborhood or when the stores began to display Santa Claus figures, replacing the grotesque Halloween decors.

Christmas has not changed much since my youth. I still find myself lining up in the malls, or wrestling my way into crowded Christmas "tiangge" or in Taiwanese shops along Manalili Street, frantically doing last-minute shopping. It takes a martyr's perseverance to cover every item on a kilometric list of things-to-buy - especially when budget is tight. But because it's Christmas, people don't really mind taking the trouble.

Nothing can get in the way of our celebration of the merry season. Everyone tends to behave really well. Total strangers smile at one another, particularly at crowded grocery stores and supermarkets. And with extra cash from the Christmas bonus, people become quite generous, too.

While gifts don't really make the season more meaningful, they can make Christmas more memorable. The big challenge perhaps is to be able to give to as many people, without draining our savings or maxing out our credit cards. Maybe the following ideas can help:

Personalize it. A little effort can work wonders with creativity. The photography class I took up as an elective back in high school serves me in practical ways. The photos I took which did not make it to my photo album for submission as a class project, I use as front covers for the Christmas cards I give out to dear relatives and friends. With red and green trimmings on the side and a heartwarming greeting on the inside make it something for each recipient to cherish, much better than a half-thought e-card!

Go green. Global warming, green house effect, flooding issues are actually nothing new; we've been hearing it since way back. An environmental idea for gifts this Christmas is to give away seedlings or potted plants to loved ones, preferably with written instructions on the best way to grow the plants. The gift-giver is sure to be remembered as the recipients tend to their growing plants or as they see the green standing in their backyard or by the window. The more practical plants to give are useful herbs and spices.

Showcase your culinary prowess. Consider putting your kitchen expertise to work. Take out your favorite cookie recipes, bake a bunch, place in cookie jar or any container, tie with a red or green ribbon and its ready for delivery! It's inexpensive and highly personalized. Who knows, your email account would soon be flooded with orders - and you would have a flourishing business going!

Reuse. Recycle. It's a fact that we don't always get what we want or what we hoped for, especially with gifts. I put in storage the gifts I do not quite like or can't find any use for. At Christmas I have a treasure trove to dig in, to find something that a loved one might enjoy. Most people might frown about this practice, but what could be worse than wasting away items which others may have good use for? As they say, it's the thought that counts and the gesture, well… is important too.

Ornamentals galore! It's certainly a nice feeling one gets when the Christmas ornament he or she had given as a gift lands in a friend's Christmas tree or dinner table! The pine cone with a green ribbon that I got back in high school has since been a regular fixture in our Christmas Tree. Personalized decors can be easy and even fun to make. There are various materials to find in the city's Freedom Park in Carbon Market, such as undecorated Christmas wreaths and the like, which are good to match inexpensive ribbons from Familia House. A bit of adornment here and there, done loving hands, it makes a unique gift to give.

You are what you give. A gift of kindness for those in need could make a huge difference in how you celebrate Christmas, the season of love and compassion. Organize a gift-giving trip among your friends and family members. Visit Gasa Sa Gugma home for the elderly or My Bonita Homes, a center for the young and abandoned kids. Make prior arrangements with the places you want to visit, and ask how you can possibly help or make these people happy this Christmas. Better yet, make it a year-round activity.

As we can see, there's a lot of ways to make Christmas both meaningful and memorable, for ourselves and for others. It takes only little effort and imagination - and, most of all, pure intention.