Many times, we ask where is divine justice when those who lie, cheat and steal continue to remain in power. This Christmas, let’s reflect on this passage from the Book of Ecclesiastes:
To everything there is a season—Whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever—God shall judge the righteous and the wicked.
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
…And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
I wish everybody a meaningful Christmas!
Thanks, Ellen. Allow me to post here my comment in PCIJ.
The Top Ten Reasons Why We Still Expect a Happy Xmas This Year:
10. We have not been arrested, tortured, salvaged, or ambushed by the wicked armed forces;
9. We still have a few nurses and doctors left to treat us when we get hit by stray bullets fired in the Xmas and New Year’s revelry – (wait til they polish their English);
8. We won’t experience price increases in gasoline, diesel, water, UP tuition, LPG, and electricity this Xmas – they all happen next year;
7. We won’t be burdened by the expensive hamon, queso de bola, grapes, and apples this year – we’re not buying any;
6. We’ve made this year’s Xmas bonus last one day more than last year’s – by ignoring all ATMs for 24 hrs;
5. We’ve avoided the expensive Malls and survived the Xmas shopping in Divisoria and Baclaran without any untoward incidents – except for a stiff neck from walking sideways for hours;
4. We’ve never been safer during driving – no accidents happen when your average speed is one KPH;
3. We’ve saved ourselves the trouble of campaigning against a new constitution while handing over our gifts to our inaanaks – (I spoke too soon?);
2. We won’t be hearing from the Queen’s lapdogs and bootlickers until the end of the year (Don’t watch TV and don’t open your radio);
And the No 1 reason why we still expect a happy Xmas this year:
We Filipinos are a stupid, fencesitting, and apathetic bunch of cowards! Throw out the Midget before Monday and we’ll all have a blast!
Merry Chacha-less Xmas and Happy Gloria-less New Year’s to you, Ellen and all the guys here who have made Ellen’s blog worth the bandwidth.
Merry Christmas Everyone !
allow me to share my favorite christmas song :
The Rebel Jesus – Jackson Browne
All the streets are filled with laughter and light
And the music of the season
And the merchants windows are all bright
With the faces of the children
And the families hurrying to their homes
As the sky darkens and freezes
Theyll be gathering around the hearths and tables
Giving thanks for all gods graces
And the birth of the rebel jesus
Well they call him by the prince of peace
And they call him by the savior
And they pray to him upon the seas
And in every bold endeavor
As they fill his churches with their pride and gold
And their faith in him increases
But theyve turned the nature that I worshipped in
From a temple to a robbers den
In the words of the rebel jesus
We guard our world with locks and guns
And we guard our fine possessions
And once a year when christmas comes
We give to our relations
And perhaps we give a little to the poor
If the generosity should seize us
But if any one of us should interfere
In the business of why they are poor
They get the same as the rebel jesus
But please forgive me if I have seem
To take the tone of judgement
For Ive no wish to come between
This day and your enjoyment
In this life of hardship and of earthly toil
We have need for anything that frees us
So I bid you pleasure
And I bid you cheer
From a heathen and a pagan
On the side of the rebel jesus.
Yes Tongue, we (3. We’ve saved ourselves the trouble of campaigning against a new constitution while handing over our gifts to our inaanaks – (I spoke too soon?);) spoke too soon.
But never mind, there are enough blessings to count on. Let’s enjoy this Christmas.
naragsak nga pascua ken naimbag a baru a tawen yo kakabsat.
This time of year is not only to Celebrate the birth of the Holy Child, but time to reflect the year 2006, that despite all the crisis, all the wars, and all pains inflicted, we are still around and enjoy another season. That we are able to again put some smile on some loves one faces, by giving some simple gifts, some of us work so hard to afford yet given without reservations and wish that the coming year will be better for most of countrymen and women in our native country and to some of us in our new and adapted countries and that we also wish to bring Enlightenment to our leaders to led us to the right and righteous path and to One and All A Merry Christmas and may you and your loved ones have a pleasant one.
Isang pagbati sa lahat ng MALIGAYANG PASKO!!!
In Arabic: “Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidad!”
Australian ” ’ave a bonza Christy an’ a beaut New Year, mate!”
Bulgarian: “Tchestitie Koleda; Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo.”
Cambodian: “Soursdey Noel.”
Chinese: “Kung His Hain Nien bing Chu Shen Tan” (Mandarin) or “Gun Tso Sun Tan’Gung Haw Sun” (Cantonese).
Danish: “Gaedelig Jul” or “God jul og godt niter.”
Dutch: “Zelig keratfeest” or “Zelig Kersifeest.”
Finnish: “Hauskaa joulus ja Zelig Kersifeest.”
French: “Joyeux Noel!”
German: “Froehliche Weihnachten und ein glueckliches Neues Jahr.”
Greek: “Kala Christouyanna!”
Hawaiian: “Male Kalikimaka.”
Hebrew: “Chag Samesch.”
Hungarian: “Kelienes kara’csonyi u’nnepeket e’s boldog u’j e’vet.”
Indonesian: “Salamat Hari Nata!”
Italian: “Buono Feste Natalizie.”
Japanese: “Shinnen omedate, Merii.”
Korean: “Sung Tan Chuk Ha.”
Malay: “Salaat Hari Natal dan Tahun Baru.”
Maori: “Mari Kirihimete.”
Norwegian: ” “God Jul” or “Giedelig Jul.”
Portuguese: ” “Boss Festes.”
Rumanian: “Sarbatori vesela.”
Russian : “Pozdrevlyayus prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom.”
Spanish: “Feliz Navidad!”
Thai: “Sawadee Pae Mai.”
Turkish: “Noelniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutiu Olsun.”
Ukrainian: “S Rozhdestvom Kristtovym.”
Vietnamese: “Chung Mung Giang Sinh.”
Welsh: “Nadolig Llawen.”
And, in Latin: “Natale hilare et Annum Faustum!”
Ang pasko ay sumapit all in 33 languages, including our own Tagalog.
Ma’m Ellen at sa ating mga kababayan na sumusubaybay dito sa iyong blog….isang MALIGAYANG PASKO at sana’y maging maaliwalas, masaya, gloria-less, at MAUNLAD NA BAGONG TAON!!! 😀
Ang syáng dahilan ng ang Pasko’y makabuluhan at makahulugan – ang pagsilang ng Kristo sa sabsaban ng ating puso.
Huwag matakot! Ang Diyos ay Diyos ng mga mararalita, mga dinuduhagi’t ng Katotohanan.
Maligayang Pasko… mga kasama, kapatid, at kaibigan!!!
Happy Holidays to you Ellen,and to all of you!
Inspite of all the turmoil in our country, we have to be reminded that we are a Christian Nation and Jesus is our saviour! As we celebrate His birth, we have to thank Him for a year that just passed no matter how turbulent it was! We have to thank Him for being able to participate in our country’s liberation from oppression. We have to thank Him that we are still alive and kicking! We have to thank Him for having our families and friends this Holiday. As we celebrate His birth, we should also celebrate our renewed strength to continue fighting for our political survival. Let us ask Jesus to give us a miracle this Christmas! YOU ALL KNOW WHAT I HAVE IN MIND! I AM LOOKING FORWAND TO A GREAT BLOGGING YEAR IN 2007! LET US ENJOY OUR HOLIDAYS!
Wishing everyone a very happy Xmas and a meaningful New Year!…
Just keep our PERSEVERANCE & PATIENCE, and definitely ‘WE WILL GET THERE!’…
Peace everyone!…..
Karl, congratulations! I understand you just welcomed a new member of your family. That should make your Christmas more meaningful.
kahit walang dapat ipagsaya ngayong pasko bunga ng talamak na katiwalian sa administrasyon ni gloriang magnanakaw at walang kahihiyan, mataimtim nating gunitain ang araw ng pagsilang ng dakilang manunubos, si hesus!
huwag ninyong husgahan ang aking sinabi. nagdurugo lamang ang aking puso sa kalagayan ng mga kababayan nating halos sabay sabay na dumanas ng dagok ng tadhana bunga ng pagbaha at mudslide dulot ng mga bagyong nanalasa, sunog at karahasang winawalang bahala ng mga kinauukulang mas inuuna ang pagpapakabusog sa paghuthot sa kaban ng bayan habang iniaasa sa iba ang kanilang pananagutan upang kalingain ang kawawang mga biktima.
Maligayang pasko at manigong bagong taon sa lahat.
We still have one more reason to rejoice:
We’ve still got one fat palace butt to kick next year!!
Peace to everyone…(next year na po magpo-post, salamat)
salamat, ms. ellen.
agree ako sa sinabi mo, na sa kabila ng lahat, ang mahalaga ay buhay tayo at magkakasama. habang tayo’y buhay ay kaya nating mag-ambag ng ating talino at lakas para sa kagalingan ng ating bayan at mamamayan. bukas makalawa, tayo rin naman at ang ating mga anak ang aani sa lahat ng ating sakripisyo at pagsisikap
kalakip nito ang dalangin ko na sana ay alagaan ng panginoon ang iyong kalusugan at iligtas ka sa lahat ng kapahamakan.
makabuluhang pasko sa lahat!
Frohe Weihnachten und ein Gutes Neues Jahr! Hoffentlich, sans Gloria! JAWOHL!!! sans Gloria!
What does it mean, Elvie?
Karl:
Congrats sa bagong baby!
Happy Christmas to all! Christmas is also now observed in Japan as a family day when parents buy cakes and roast chicken for the kids!!!
Happy Christ-mas to all ! May the spirit of Christ-mas inspire us to continue to hold on to what is true and real.
There is a Christmas song now aired on radios here in CA, and it is about Christmas in SFO. which in a nutshell says, “We may not have a White Christmas in San Francisco as snow does not fall on its hills, but the natives of San Francisco definitely know how to celebrate Christmas, too. To all, we say, “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!” I surely love it.
To all, I say likewise: PEACE ON EARTH, GOODWILL TO MEN!
A word can best describe the adversary of peace and prosperity, illegitimate Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is Parasite. Contributing nothing to better the lives of the Pilipinos, yet stealing the sovereign rights of the populace especially on these special holidays. Perhaps, a good time to reflect how such parasite managed to ruined the good on all. Merry Christmas!
Maligayang Pasko po sa inyong lahat! Naway dinggin ng poong maykapal ang ating mga dinadasal.
from malaya’s 23 dec issue:
No-election’ scenario gains new life
——————————————————————————–
BY WENDELL VIGILIA
THE looming signature campaign by the Palace-backed Sigaw ng Bayan and Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) for a second People’s Initiative petition has breathed new life into the attempt to cancel the May 2007 elections.
Rep. Prospero Pichay (Lakas, Surigao del Sur) said the Charter change (Cha-cha) campaign has not lost steam and so is his proposal to postpone the local and senatorial elections until November.
“The People’s Initiative is still alive. The second wave of signature gathering is coming with the possibilities of abolishing the Senate and even party-list system,” he said.
Pichay said the signature gathering could be finished by the second week of January. He said this could be followed by a plebiscite by April.
The Supreme Court on Oct. 25 dismissed the first People’s Initiative petition by Cha-cha proponents Sigaw and ULAP as “fraudulent and deceptive.”
On Nov. 21, the High Court also junked Sigaw and ULAP’s appeal to reverse the decision, saying the appeal offered no new argument.
The second PI initiative is advocating a shift to a presidential-unicameral form of government instead of Speaker Jose de Venecia’s parliamentary-unicameral system.
Pichay said there is a good chance for the second petition to succeed after Supreme Court, in its Oct. 25 decision, upheld that RA 6735 or the Initiatives and Referendum Act is sufficient to stand as an enabling law.
Pichay is the author of Resolution 1285 which, like De Venecia’s HR 1230, convenes Congress into a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass) to change the 1987 Constitution.
The House has archived the approved Con-Ass Resolution 197 because of the mounting protests against the alleged “illegal and immoral” way the majority planned to undertake the initiative, particularly the “no-election” proposal on May which Pichay revived.
Pichay earlier said De Venecia’s proposed charter was “highly scandalous” because it does not have a specific election date and leaves to the interim parliament the setting of the elections for the regular parliament.
Pichay also assailed the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) for threatening to continue with rallies against Cha-cha after Malacañang this week admitted that the campaign is not yet dead.
“It’s really disappointing that these Church leaders are very much busy engaging themselves in politics. It seems that they are frustrated politicians,” he said.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) chair Benjamin Abalos said they are ready to accept a new petition.
“Bear in mind that we already have an enabling law, based on the recent Supreme Court decision,” he said in a media briefing.
The Comelec last Aug. 31 disapproved the first PI petition citing the SC ruling in the 1997 Santiago vs Comelec case which enjoins it from entertaining RA 6735 for its lack of an enabling law.
Abalos said the enabling law will be able to guide the petitioners in conducting a signature campaign.
“They will now be guided. May mga guidelines na ginawa ang Korte Suprema, di ba? Signature stations will be established; how the signatures will be secured; how the verification will be made. That will now be the precedent (for any petition),” Abalos said.
He said it is possible to include plebiscite questions during next year’s polls if the petition is approved and “if hindi pa napi-print yung ballot.”
“If the petition is approved after na-print na ang ballots, I don’t know,” Abalos added. – With Gerard Anthony Naval
********************************************************************
naglalabasan na naman ang mga masisibang uhaw sa kapangyarihan!!!
Ellen: My message meant: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Hopefully without Gloria! Jawohl- is word actually equivalent to a strong Yes or complete approval. Sans or ohne means without.
Ang “Happy Holidays” ay bati ng mga hinidi Kristiano. Ang dahilan daw nila hindi daw ipinanganak si Hesus sa Disyembre. Paano sa buwan ito Siya ipinanganak eh ang lamig at ayon daw sa Biblia nasa labas ang pastor na inaalagaan ang mga tupa. Kung tag-lamig tulad ng Disyembre, hindi daw ito mangyayari. May pilosopo pang nagsasabi na nang ipinanganak si Hesus ay nakahubad na wala man lang takip eh ang lamig-lamig. At eto ang matinding dahilan: Ang kasaysayan ng Pasko ay galing sa tradisyong Pagano. Pati mga Christmas Tree at bigayan ng mga aginaldo ay mga gawain ng pagano. Ewan ko ba…Basta ang bati ko sa inyong lahat: Happy Christmas at Merry New Year !
isabel Says:
December 23rd, 2006 at 4:19 pm
salamat, ms. ellen.
agree ako sa sinabi mo, na sa kabila ng lahat, ang mahalaga ay buhay tayo at magkakasama. habang tayo’y buhay ay kaya nating mag-ambag ng ating talino at lakas para sa kagalingan ng ating bayan at mamamayan. bukas makalawa, tayo rin naman at ang ating mga anak ang aani sa lahat ng ating sakripisyo at pagsisikap
kalakip nito ang dalangin ko na sana ay alagaan ng panginoon ang iyong kalusugan at iligtas ka sa lahat ng kapahamakan.
makabuluhang pasko sa lahat!
————
re-post ko ito isabel, kasi bilib ako sa galing mong magsulat sa sariling wika. maligayang pasko sa iyo, kay ellen, at sa lahat ng me goodwill to this forum.
ELLEN
SORRY I MIGHT HAVE MISSED THE TIME
AS WRITTEN BY BLOGGERS OR
I GOT A BROKEN SEIKO.
CAN ANYBODY TELL ME WHAT TIME IS
IT NOW IN OUR COUNTRY. A TIME
TO BE BORN? OR A TIME TO DIE?
A GOOD PINOY TRAIT IS THE ABILITY
TO SET ASIDE STRIFE OR SORROW,
OR THE GOOD FIGHT TO PAY HOMAGE
TO GOD. WESTERNERS HAD IT DURING WW I
WHEN SOLDIERS FIGHTING EACH OTHER
STOPPED FIRING AND SUNG NOEL INSTEAD.
A GOOD GLORIA AND ESPERON TRAIT TOO
IS TO DECLARE CEASEFIRE DURING
CHRISTMAS WHILE THEY CONTINUE
KILLING THEIR ENEMIES, accdg to
JOEMA.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TRUE AND SO
TRUE PINOYS.
SO SORRY I WAS NOT
PAYING ATTENTION
THE TIME IS:
IT IS TIME TO REFLECT.
salamat, alitaptap. maligayang pasko din sa iyo at isang mapagpalayang bagong taon sa lahat. sana sa pagsapit ng 2007 ay gumising tayo sa isang bagong umaga na wala na ang dwendeng itim sa malakanyang at magkaroon ng tunay na dahilan ang lahat ng pilipino, sa loob man at sa labas ng bansa, na magdiwang at magsaya.
re: Happy Holidays, tama ka artsee, ito nga ang bati ng mga taong hindi naniniwala sa pasko. sa lugar kung saan ako nagtatrabaho, sa halip na merry christmas ay happy holidays ang batian ng mga tao dahil ang isa sa may ari (stockholder) ay jewish. nag sabit ako ng poster na merry christmas sa labas ng opisina namin, ano ka, pinatanggal ba naman. kasi daw ayaw nilang ma-offend ang ibang hindi “of christian faith”. naglagay nga ng kaisa-isang krismas tri sa lobby, pero may katabing hanukkah candles.
i have nothing against jews really, or any other religion for that matter. dahil ako naman ay bagong salta lang dito, at ako’y pangkaraniwang empleyado lamang, i cannot impose my belief and my culture on them.
ang wal-mart, dahil binoykot ng mga kristyano last year dahil sa happy holidays na yan, ay bumalik sa merry christmas this year. yan ang kailangan natin, pagkakaisa. sabay-sabay nating isigaw at ipakita ang ating objection. pasasaan ba’t bibigay din naman ang mga iyan.
Ellen, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND MAY THE NEW YEAR BLESS YOU WITH GOOD HEALTH. I uttered a prayer that God heal you fully by the power of the Holy Spirit.
GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO AND PEACE ON EARTH TO ALL MEN OF GOODWILL.
tama ka, robert, at sang-ayon din ako sa sinabi ni joma. para sa akin ay patibong lamang ni dwendeng itim at ahasperon itong pag-deklara ng ceasefire. baka sakali nga naman ay maging kampante itong mga “kaaway” nila upang madali nilang matunton at mapuksa.
hindi lang naman sa bala namamatay ang mga pilipino. marami ang unti-unti nilang pinapatay dahil sa gutom at kawalan ng pag-asa. nabasa ko iyong tungkol sa sa mag-asa sa sentral luson na dahil sa pag-toryur ng militar ay pinili na lang magpakamatay.
parang sinasabi sa atin na “take your pick”. ano ang gusto mo, “instant death” (isang bala ka lang) o “slow and painful death” (mamatay sa gutom ng dilat ang mata)?
kasama ba ito sa pagninilayan natin ngayong pasko at bagong taon?
para sa akin ay hindi, pagsikapan nating mabuhay, hindi lamang para sa ating sarili, kungdi para sa ating bayan. ang misyon natin ay maghawan ng daan para sa pag-unlad at pagsulong ng bayan at upng ang susunod na herasyon ay mabuhay ng malaya mula sa takot, pagkagutom, at kamangmangan. kung gusto ng mga gloria at mga ahasperon na iyan na magpakabayani, let them die instead for their “country” or their vested interests. tingnan lang natin kung meron isang tunay na pilipino na magtitirik ng kandila at gugunita sa kanilang kadakilaan pagdating ng panahon.
Mrivera:
Isa lang naman ang dapat gawin ng mga pilipino. PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA SI GREAT SWITIK! Bagamat mukhang malabo pa ay unti-unti nang nagigising ang marami, kahit mga dayuhang nagmamasid sa Pilipinas, na ulupong pala ang pinaupo ng mga pilipino noong 2001 bilang kapalit doon sa duly elected president ng Pilipinas. Kulang na nga lang ay lakas ng loob na ipatalsik ang ungas kasama ng asawa niyang hihid at mga ganid niyang galamay.
In due time, mapapatalsik din iyan. Nakikita natin ngayon na naglalabasan na ang mga pilipinong may tunay na malasakit sa bansa. Hinay-hinay nga lang sila.
Sipain din iyong ungas na namumuno ng AFP. Switik din ang dating sa totoo lang!
PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA! Sorry, paskong-pasko ito ang isinisigaw ko! Pero no time para sa pagsasaya sa totoo lang. Hindi mabubuhay ang mga pilipino sa gutom! Konting bigas at ramen, kasya ba iyon? Pustiso nagbigay daw. Papaanong ngunguya sa bagong ngyipin kung wala namang ngunguyain! Tonto talaga!
time to reflect.
si gloria kaya, may reflection? wala siguro, dahil wala naman siyang kaluluwa. may budhi daw siya? meron. kasing itim nga lamang ng pusikit na karimlang ni isang bituin ay wala dahil takot tumanglaw upang saksihan ang mga karumal dumal na krimeng isinasagawa ng kanyang mga kampon habang payapang nahihimbing ang mga tao.
ganyan kasi ang mga pusakal na magnanakaw.
It’s time to renew the true meaning of Christmas. There’s just too much commercialism and materialism that goes with its celebration. Ang mga bata hindi na nauunawaan ang tunay na kahulugan ng Pasko. Para sa kanila, ang ibig sabihin ng Pasko ay Santa Claus at mga regalo. I think parents bear some responsibilities in sharing the true meaning of Christmas to these children. Otherwise, they would grow up to be greedy and selfish just like many of our corrupt officials in the country today.
Isabel,
Hindi Christmas tree iyon. Hannukah tree iyon. Kaya babatiin kita ng Happy Hannukah Day at Merry Christmas na rin.
Gayundin, Merry Christmas sa lahat, simula kay Ellen, Yuko, Mrivera, Joeseg, alitaptap, pandawan, parasabayan, bobvhoymaik, Artsee, Elvira, tikbalang, Toney C., Chabeli, Tiago, menok, Spartan, vic (ikaw si “naykika” sa kabila?), bayonic, crimson, at manong apoy. Pati na rin sa mga “absent” na sina AnnaDB, Juan M., johnmarzan, manuelbuencamino, chi, Diego KG, ocayvalle, norphil, taipan, Emilio ofw, Mike Uliling, kitamokitako, nelbar, Phil Cruz. Did I miss anyone?
Was surprised to read the first Christmas greet I got here coming from Anthony Scalia – Merry Xmas, too!
tongue,
(h)annukah mo? ganun ba yon?
anyway, bahala na sa life nila yang mga kanutong yan. basta tayo dito may pasko, at para sa mga taong may pagmamahal at malasakit para sa kapuwa lalo na sa mga maralita, araw-araw ay pasko.
merry christmas, tongue.
Someone said Jesus was not born in December 25. A careful look at the origin of Christmas indeed proves Jesus was not born in December. Rather, early ancient writers said Jesus could have been born April 20, May 20 or even January 6. Wala man isa ang nagsabing sa Disyembre ipinanganak ang Panginoong Hesus. It was actually decreed by a Catholic Pope sometime in the 4th Century long after Christ ascended to heaven and all the Apostles have died. Kaya ang argumento dito hindi daw aral ng Diyos o sulat sa Biblia ang sinunod kundi sa utos lang ng isang Papa na gawing ika-25 ng Disyembre ang kapanganakan ni Kristo. The narration in the Bible tells us that at the time of His birth, the Shepherd was out attending to the flock. And the Angel appeared sending good news and tidings. Christmas unbelievers futher say that even though the Angel’s message was about rejoicing, nowhere in the Bible does it teach that His birth should be celebrated. What’s mentioned in the Bible was to observe “Passover”. Ang sabi nila: Ang definition ng Christmas daw ay Christ at Mass. May kasamang Misa. And they also say that if we check the dictionary, Christmas is defined as pagan tradition. Ano man sabihin ng iba kahit na may valid arguments para sa akin ay walang masama kung ipagdiwang ang kapanganakan ni Hesus. Kung tayo nga nadiriwang ng atin mga kaarawan, ang para kay Kristo pa kaya na ating Panginoon at Anak ng Diyos?
panginoon diyos, maraming salamat sa pagkakataon na ginawa mo upang magkabuklod bukolod kami tungo sa isang makatarungan, makatotohanan, malaya, mapayapang bansa na hinahangad.
dahil sayo lalo namin natutunan ang pagrespeto sa isa’t isa at makilala ang aming pinagmulan.
naging gabay ka sa anumang uri ng pakikibaka upang maiayos ang aming bansa, lipunan at tahanan.
bigyan mo pa kami ng ibayo pang lakas at kalusugan upang maisakatuparan ang mga mithiin at layunin na aming ipapasa sa susunod na henerasyon.
sipag, tiyaga, tapang, dangal, talino at pagwawaksi sa mga maling gawi ang aming ipupuhunan para sa maayos’t maliwanag na bukas!
gabayan mo po kami sa araw-araw na gawain.
Sa bawat dapit hapon na bigay, ay lilipas din ang hating gabi upang bigyan pansin ang paparating na bagong umaaga…
Ellen:
I have just finished reading the Old Testament that we are reading in Church this year for our Sunday School lessons. I have read the Bible a lot of times, but this year, for all the troubles in the world here and there that I try to get involved in fact like the war in Iraq (I am an interpreter in fact for the International Criminal Tribunal for Iraq), I have found more meaning in the words of Ecclesiastes, and I have underlined the above quotes in it that apply to our time.
Next year, we are studying the New Testament, and I hope I will be able to find new meanings to the Words of the Saviour there in the same way that I have watched the Nativity movie at our temple in Oakland with new and better insight.