It has been a custom by many to celebrate the Christmas holidays with fireworks. Not that there is anything bad about that. It is, after all, the season to be jolly and celebrate first, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and then welcome the New Year with merry-making and fireworks along with the varied traditions that come along with the New Year.
But, whenever we attend the Christmas Mass, some people let out fireworks and sing their hearts out in liquor-charged renditions of their favorite songs on karaoke machines as if it were actually New Year’s Eve and not Christmas Eve!
There seems to be a mix-up there somewhere.
Considering the holiness of the celebration, one would suppose that the evening before Christmas should, at least be silent and calm, as the Christmas song goes, in honor of the Savior that was born on a cold winter night in a manger in the little town of Bethlehem.
Then there are also those overenthusiastic and excited merrymakers that ride in the noisy motorcycles, some even passing the church where we and hundreds of other people were hearing mass making the priest stop for a while to let them pass and comment about how annoying those people are. And with the popularity of motorcycles, being affordable and all over the past years, there were so many of them riding around the city on their motorcycles with ear-piercing bereft of the benefit of a muffler.
Despite the edict that the peddling and use of fireworks, or rather firecrackers, is prohibited, lines of makeshift stalls were erected along major highways with fireworks openly being sold.
I have nothing against them. They are making a living. However, they should at least limit their stocks to make some noise to aid merrymaking and not hurt anyone. As far as I can remember, no one has been held liable when a child blows his fingers or hands up by using firecrackers. I too had once had a brush with firecrackers and even lit some really impressively powerful ones but have been holding it off for my kids’ safety and in keeping with the law.
Anyway, I hope someday, that Silent and Holy Night will be realized with the joy and celebration in our hearts and the merrymaking made instead during the New Year.
Happy New Year everyone!
* * * * * *
Speaking of the holidays, peddlers of various food items that are standard fare during the Christmas Season sure made a killing during the marketing rush two days before Christmas and New Year.
The prices of commodities, despite all the pronouncements of government agencies regulating such items, rose in the days leading to the holidays.
The coconuts that are sought for fruit and buko pandan salads during the holidays sold for P45 apiece when on regular days, these cost a mere P25. The prices of fruit also “miraculously” rose when there was not even a shortage as stalls otherwise selling some other merchandise have been converted into fruit stands.
This is short of saying that they are preying on the Filipino’s over-developed sense of tradition and their inexplicable habit of rushing for a photo-finish during such times. Even tricycles, for some unknown reason but to make a sure profit, charged P120 for a regular P60 ride.
But then again, the government cannot be blamed for this issue because they could simply be undermanned or are themselves overwhelmed by the spirit of the season.
Just thought of sharing this so something can be done to probably regulate it someday.
* * * * * *
Here is one aspect where Filipinos can effect change: they should learn how to air their concerns, ask questions and comment on issues that are being discussed, no matter who is presiding over the meeting or discussion.
I’ve seen, witnessed and covered many-a-meeting where subordinates merely listen to their superiors speak then clap when they hear something pleasing but just stay quiet and look when they are not pleased with what is being discussed.
Bosses are intelligent people. Yes. But they do not know everything. They may know something, but not everything. And they hire people with expertise in particular profession or task to help them out. So they should speak up when they think the ideas of bosses are not in accordance with the plans or whatever.
“It doesn’t make sense to hire smart people and tell them what to do. We hire smart people so they can tell us what to do.”
These are two sentences said by no less than Steve Jobs, the late former head of Apple, the company that is responsible for producing many of today’s revolutionary gadgets.
Maybe our seemingly wise and “omniscient” leaders could learn something from this.