Christmas in the hermitage…

Dear Editor:

I must have been dreaming, thinking about Christmas in this time of the year. Though, if any, I’ll choose not to think of Christmas at all. Commemorating Jesus’ birth is not as it used to be in a place many would never wish to set foot enough to call home.

Christmas…Yes! It’s for fun, gaiety, laughter, love. I had not known Christmas would be without peace and freedom until last year.

For someone in the mid-twenties, Christmas is not at all for lights, foods, music, gifts, reasons many would look forward to. I know there are people who do not celebrate, not because they haven’t got a chance or didn’t believe at all.

Oftentimes, no food to feed their hungry mouths to fill their empty stomachs. We celebrated last Christmas with no lights on. Christmas greetings had been whispered. Perhaps, Christmas is for joy, merry-making and yet we’re afraid to even sing. Why? Because of war!

Maybe Christmas is just for those who can afford, for those who are at peace or for those who are free. Maybe Christmas is for those who are at home. (Even Jesus was born in a manger.) A hillock-like shadow huddled as one in a dump corner of a nipa hut, numb fingers grasping the blankets to keep them warm in the cold night. They think not a gift this Christmas and yet they thank God for a home (in the land they never own). A clearing, or a foxhole, in a place so unknown to them, in a place many think would never hold life and yet they thank God for another Christmas.

But there are people who offered as shepherds without herds, hammock is their only bed. They may have the material blessings, a house to come home to. They left everything for their idealisms. They chose to wander in search for a new day waiting for the sun to rise where it sets. Will they feel the spirit of Christmas enough to think what they’ve done on us? War has caused why others chose the tree shades as shelter. Insurgency has let many others to choose the forest as their only known address. Christmas was supposed to be for love when you are not at peace, free. Maybe it is not love at all, most especially for those who lost their homes. Refugees of war… Is there any reason to celebrate Christmas?

Justice, freedom, peace count the most important blessings.

Somehow it’s taken for granted. We’ll just realize its importance the moment we lose them. Now! It’s not enough to wonder… It’s not making any sense to curse the day and yet wished night would never come.

With a glass of water to feed our hungry mouths, fresh air to fill our empty stomach, we could still celebrate. Just think we are free at peace. We may never have the material blessings. We should ignore the lump in our throats and smile. Just laugh though sigh would soon follow. Others said father and mother and child have no reason to celebrate. Others said Christmas would be without fear for mother and father since the child was slaughtered in an encounter (most especially when they believed this loving child was in a medical mission).

What joy Christmas can be than to see stars appear again in our gloomy skies. What glad in our hearts than to know that no more walls would lock us inside, no more guns, bullets that would hunt us in our sleep, no more war that would keep us apart from home.

I may never would have written the best, a few somehow resent, but many would agree, a lot more would appreciate the message, and a handful would understand. I tried my best to make you understand the reason of this misery that ruined the stability of our security. Hence, the fragments should be restored before the buccaneer would come and take it. I wish that people would still hope that everything will be alright. After fearful and sleepless nights, a new day would come. Despite the hardships, still lies the way towards freedom from our fears.

There are people we could rely. They would think of us this Christmas. They will protect the lines not to be severed by interventions. They will restore our love to our nation not to be altered by any philosophy. They will give us back the peace, justice and freedom. Even in war they’ll refuse to falter. I would never think of any gifts this Christmas. I know it would be as exciting as before, joining my family in greetings infront of an unlighted Christmas tree. We would whisper our wishes and greetings, just as we would have noche buena with no lights on.

There is enough reason to peer out of our window. To wait from our doors, not for Santa Claus (in red?camouflage, black bonnet?) (Never!!!) but the little children, to hear them sing again. Merry Christmas. (THE FOOTHILLS OF LANGUB) Postscript: With the recent turn of events, we’re stunned to know what’s happening right at the doorstep of insurgency.

How about those who are locked inside the stone walling, hiding behind the iron curtain and those who are in unfathomable dungeon? What more horrifying to know…? It’s true Lt. Captain Lunas, Lt. Diaz, what you said. Now, for over a year, it’s kinda late to say I realized that there’s still way to redeem myself. I still am, this day, someone at the window casting smiles you must have thought of a captive audience as your hand waved goodbye. The freedom that we enjoy today is the gift of a lifetime. You are the Santas I’ll think of this Christmas… “Gang.”