D-Day on how not to end up a wreck this Christmas - STARBYTES by Butch Francisco

In the middle of all these impeachment trial proceedings we see every day on TV, D-Day’s episode last Monday came like a whiff of cool and fresh December air. It was a light feature, but very relevant. It was about Christmas and how to survive the holidays – especially in these hard times.

Well, let’s face it. Ever since Christmas became a commercialized affair – losing in the process the true meaning of the season – it has become one big annual headache for grownups.

In D-Day, host Dina Bonnevie and her celebrity guests have some helpful tips on how not to end up a wreck in this most stressful of seasons. They began by talking about Christmas shopping.

Everyone in the panel agreed that it is best to start shopping early. Of course, this is sound advice. But what about those who have to wait for their Christmas bonus before they can shop? Lovely Rivero had an answer to that: Shop little by little until the budget allotted for Christmas shopping comes in.

My advice is for people to visit the tiangges that have sprouted all over the metropolis. The one in Greenhills offers the widest variety of goods at reasonable prices. And here, at least you can haggle to death. But, of course, you can also get squeezed to death what with those thousands of people streaming in and out of that crowded place.

The trade fairs held every so often at the 5th level of SM Megamall is also another option for shoppers. Here, you can buy all sorts of delicacies from different regions in the Philippines. Of course, items are priced a lot higher here (by as much as P10 per item). But then, that is to be expected since the goods are transported all the way from the provinces. And you have to remember that stall owners here still have to pay their dues to Henry Sy. But in spite of the markup, your money still goes a long way here in trade fairs.

Raising money for shopping is really just half of the problem in this Christmas mad rush we go through year after year. Making sure your money and other valuables do not get stolen while in shopping malls is actually the other half. This issue was also discussed in that "Christmas survival" episode of D-Day.

Since everyone needs money during the holidays, pickpockets really make a killing in this season supposedly for joy. Lovely Rivero’s advice to shoppers: Dress simply and compartmentalize your money – "para kapag nadukutan ka, may matitira ka pang pera."

Character actor Mon Confiado also gave a warning to would-be buyers of gift cheques. Buy only from authorized dealers because there are a lot of stolen gift cheques that are currently flooding the market.

To those who regularly withdraw money from ATM machines, Andrew E. had this to say: Observe carefully the person behind you in the line. He may poke a knife or even a gun at you after you have withdrawn your money. And – Andrew E. added – never, never count your money in public places. This is like inviting holduppers to divest you of your precious money.

Dina Bonnevie’s warning to the public, however, is the most sound: Don’t bring your kids shopping – at least not during this period. If they don’t get kidnapped (and I hope and pray this doesn’t happen to anyone), chances are, they’ll break a piece of merchandise in the store and you may end up paying through your nose. Or maybe they’ll get bored. They’ll whine and throw a tantrum and you’ll be forced just to go straight home. Then, you lose one day of your Christmas shopping.

Another Christmas "hassle" that was taken up on D-Day concerns the endless eating and drinking we do during the holiday season.

According to character actor Pen Medina, if you’re playing host at a party and you don’t want to get drunk, excuse yourself from the table every so often and pretend to be busy in the kitchen.

And regarding those endless eating sessions we do around this time, sexy star Camille Roxas gave this practical advice: If you have to eat, go ahead and eat – "pero sabayan mo ng gym."

There are a lot of other holiday "pressures" that I wish were tackled on D-Day: Wrapping presents or this ticklish issue about recycling gifts, for instance.

But then, this is only a one hour show and they can’t possibly discuss all the Christmas "problems" we go through every year. Besides, the things we worry about during the holiday season are endless. It’s almost as long as our Christmas shopping list which – some of us probably wish – we could just crumple and throw away especially in these difficult times.

If only we can go back to basics and simplify Christmas again. Then, maybe, we can finally find the true meaning of this joyous occasion.

(On Tuesday, I’ll try to give tips on how to eat, drink and be merry during the holidays and still stay in shape.)