What is Willie’s Christmas wish?

Last Sunday, Dec. 22, Willie Revillame as promised entertained the Yolanda survivors in Tacloban City (after weeks earlier donating P10M through DSWD Sec. Dinky Soliman). He took his private plane (the same one taken by Justin Bieber), leaving Manila in the morning and coming back the same day after the show.

Three days earlier, Willie held a raffle for the movie press at the ground-floor restaurant of his own Wil Tower, hosting the affair the way he did his defunct TV5 show Wiltime Big Time. Asked if he was missing TV, Willie said no, preoccupied as he is with his many (yes, plural!) businesses. If he’s open to offers from other networks (ABS-CBN or GMA), Willie said yes, “If the format would be like Wowowee, my show at ABS-CBN, because it was from that show that I was able to build all this,” sweeping his hand in the air to indicate his Wil Tower and the adjoining condo building in progress.

His Christmas Wish album is in the market, released by MCA Music, Inc.

“Everybody has a Christmas wish,” said Willie. “My wish is simple. Sana lahat tayo ay may keso de bola at hamon sa noche buena, may Christmas lights sa ating mga Christmas tree, especially our kababayan affected by Typhoon Yolanda all over the Visayas. We should be together in facing any trials in our lives, sa bawat bagyong dumaraan, at muling tatayo sa anumang pagsubok na darating sa ating buhay….”

In short, “Sana laging sama-sama ang bawat pamilya.”

Poems for Christmas

From Funfare contributor, election lawyer Romy Macalintal, here are poems by James J. Metcalfe relating to the Christmas Season which were lifted from his books, Garden in My Heart (1949 Edition), Rosary of Rhymes (1952 Edition) and Poem Portraits of the Saints (1956 Edition). These books had the Imprimatur of Francis Cardinal Spellman, then Archbishop of New York prior to their publications.

Said Romy, “The Christmas season gives us more spiritual inspiration and motivation to share our blessings with our less fortunate brothers and sisters and those who are in dire need of our help and support, especially the Yolanda victims,” citing a verse from Matthew 10:8: Without cost we have received, and so without cost we have to give.  

 

THE NATIVITY

 

In poverty and humbleness/The Son of God was born,

That holiest of hours that/we now call Christmas Morn.

 

His blessed Mother smiled with joy/While Joseph knelt in awe,

And worshipped Jesus as he lay/Upon his bed of straw.

 

The shepherds and the Magi came/To honor and adore,

The Saviour true that all the world/Had long been waiting for.

 

Dear Mary, we adore your Son/Eternal Lord and God,

And may we do His holy will/While we are on this sod.

 

Teach us to live in poverty/Whatever storm or strife,

And do without the worldly wealth/And pleasures of this life.

 

* * *

MY CHRISTMAS WISH

 

I hope the little Heart of Him/Who is our little King,

Will bless you on this Christmas Day/And bring you everything.

 

The heart that loves us even when/It seems so all alone,

And though It is a tiny Heart/Is greater than our own.

 

I hope His Blessed Mother with/Her eyes of heaven-blue,

Will be your inspiration and/Your every dream come true.

 

May good St. Joseph pray for you/And in his gentle way,

Fulfill my wish of happiness/For you on Christmas Day.

 

I pray that you may always please/The Holy Family,

And share the comfort of their peace/For all eternity.

 

***

THIS CHRISTMAS MORN

 

God bless you in the hour of/This holy Christmas Morn,

When we commemorate the day/His only Son was born.

 

May He be with you in your home/To love and comfort you,

And give you all the grace you need/In everything you do.

 

May He protect the ones you love/However near or far,

And guide their souls to Bethlehem/Beneath His brilliant star.

 

And when another year begins/According to His will

May He be always at your side/And all your prayers fulfill.

 

God bless you on this Christmas Day/And every gift you give,

And bless you every hour and/Each moment that you live.

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