Nanay's Christmas wish

Dear Nanay,

Avery merry Christmas to you and your family! I wanted to know aside from happiness and peace for your family and the rest of the world, what your Christmas wish is. What does a woman who has had a full and productive life and has everything want? — Just Asking

Dear Just Asking,

I have always said that ever since I got married and became a mother, my only wish was to give my children what I was not fortunate enough to receive — an education. I vowed to give my children the best education I could afford and do everything I could so that they could finish college. Fortunately, they were able to finish their schooling and became successful professionals and good parents after that.

Pagkatapos magtapos ng mga anak ko (after my children were done), my wish was for my grandchildren, and now my great-grandchildren, to finish school. Fortunately again, all my grandchildren were able to finish college with many even getting post-graduate degrees! I cannot be more proud of my grandchildren. They have all turned out to be such fine men and women!

Now, I am so fortunate to have the privilege of watching my great-grandchildren grow up. With the eldest ones in high school, I am hopeful that I will still be around long enough to see them finish their college education and to see what challenges lie before them after that. Even seeing them this early, I am sure they will surpass even their parents’ and grandparents’ accomplishments.

You have to understand that my biggest frustration in life was that I never went to college. Wala kaming pera noon at napilitan na ako magtrabaho ng husto (we didn’t have money then and I was forced to work very hard). So it is almost ironic that I found my way into a business that deals with books and school supplies — the most basic tools of education. Since a college education was my lifelong dream, my wish has always been for my children and the rest of my family to enjoy that which I never had.

Thank you for asking and a Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Sincerely,

Nanay

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P10 Goes A Long Way

Dear Nanay,

I just wanted to comment on your letter writer “Mae,” who last week shared how she encourages her children to do small acts of charity.

I agree with her that it is never too early to encourage your children not only to help others but to share what they have. We have to encourage these values in our youth who are increasingly becoming a generation that only asks, “What is in it for me?”

Maybe this Christmas is as appropriate a time as ever to teach children how to share, given what is happening to our countrymen in the south. The outpouring of support by everyone is very touching and so many people who remain nameless are doing their part. Perhaps the memories of Ondoy still linger in many people’s minds and we do remember what our brothers and sisters are going through this Christmas season.

So I encourage everyone to do their part. Every little bit counts. There are 90 million Filipinos. If each one gave just P10 each, that would be P900 million. Ten pesos is not even a cup of coffee, not even a hamburger. Do not listen to those who say you cannot make a difference if you only give a little. They have no idea what they are talking about. You can make a difference and even that little bit will make a difference.

More power to you, Nanay. More power to your National Book Store Foundation, which I know has so many education projects nationwide. More power to the Philippine STAR. More power to your customers and readers. And may God continue to bless you, especially this Christmas season.

 — Lara Jane

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If you have a question, e-mail us at asknanay@nationalbookstore.com.ph or just drop your letter at drop boxes in all National Book Store branches nationwide.