If they were Santa Claus...

Do you believe in Santa Claus? This is a question often asked by everyone both young and old. Sometime in 1897, eight-year-old Virginia O. Hanlon of 115 West 95th St. wrote to the editor of The New York Sun about the existence of Santa. The editorial response written by Francis Pharcellus Church which appeared on Sept. 21, 1897 has become the most reprinted newspaper editorial.

Francis Pharcellus Church wrote, “Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except (what) they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. 

No Santa Claus! Thank God! He lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

I have asked some celebrities the question “If you were Santa Claus what would be your top three gifts for everyone?” and here are their answers:

Dawn Zulueta — 1.) A concrete solution to traffic because it drains us all of precious energy, fuel and time; 2.) Clear evidence that taxpayers’ money goes more to education, health and shelter for civil society; 3.) Development and maintenance of our city parks, greenery as well as preservation of historical sites and architecture. We should take pride in our national identity.

Sitti — 1.) Noche Buena handa dahil masarap na may pagsaluhan on the most memorable time of the year; 2.) Plane tickets for all those who have been separated by circumstances so that they will be reunited once more lalo na yong mga OFWs natin; 3.) New clothes for everyone because it would be really wonderful to wear brand-new clothes to celebrate Jesus’ birthday. Then, that would be the new us filled with love by family and God to welcome Jesus and the new year.

Richard Poon — 1.) Handwritten card to bring more warmth and personal touch in this techie generation; 2.) Toy watch to remind us that we have limited time in life, and to make the most of it; 3.) To give to others gift box that would reverse the notion that Christmas is not about receiving but giving.

Hermes Bautista — The gifts of love, respect and appreciation. Everybody needs love especially this coming Christmas season. Respect comes hand in hand with love, because when you love someone you learn to respect him regardless of his imperfections. And when you receive love and respect you must know how to appreciate and cherish the gifts you receive no matter how big or small they are.

Amy Perez — I will make sure that every Filipino child will have 1.) Pang-Noche Buena; 2.) Maayos na bahay; 3.) Educational scholarship. Ang Pasko ay para sa mga bata.

Martin Nievera — 1.) A compass to help people find the way; 2.) A bag of second chances; 3.) A free membership to “believing.”

(To be continued)