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Results on a Filipino’s Christmas Party Preference Survey was just released. This Survey initiated by Radio Veritas uses a stratified random sample of 1,200 respondents nationwide for a +/- 3% margin of error (gathered through a text-based and online data gathering process from an existing database of previous face-to-face on-ground interviews) the following information is indicative of the respondents’ preference on conducting Christmas Parties for the yuletide season, inclusive of the dates covering November 1– December 1, 2023. Results of which are as follows:
When asked, “Would you prefer to have an office or workplace Christmas Party for this 2023?” 64% said Yes, to celebrate the season; 25% said No, just give the budget for the Christmas Party as additional Christmas Gift, 9% also said No, but just donate the Christmas Party budget to the less fortunate, and finally 2% were left undecided.
Well, personally as I too sat in each of the Christmas Party I attended; I realized that such gathering was more than just the food, talent show, gifts and prizes … It was celebration among family and friends that brought a sense of happiness among those sharing in the festivities. It was an experience of the various Joys of Christmas.
THE JOY OF COMPANIONSHIP. “The word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us.” Christ shared in our common humanity to be one with us. This is the spirit of the Christmas Season … to share in the company of those we love. More than the mere merriment of our Christmas parties is the joy of togetherness, and by partaking in these festivities we acknowledge that we are part of a family, community or institution to which we are truly grateful for all the love and friendship we were blessed to have. The so called “Samahan ng mga Malalamig ang Pasko (SMP)” will never exist if we open ourselves to the warmth and concern of the people around us most especially to those who care and feel affection for us.
THE JOY OF SHARING. Personally, I believe that it wasn’t coincidence that Christ was born in a manger. A manger is where we feed animals, and Christ born in a manger would eventually reveal that Christ would symbolically be “food for men”. Christ would offer himself as the “bread of life”, inspiring us in each and every Eucharistic Celebration (holy sacrifice of the mass) to share in the same breaking of the bread for others. So, each time we open those “exchange gifts” from our “Monito or Monita” and see that the items inside does not conform to the agreed upon amount. Let us not be too frustrated for the true essence of Christmas is in giving. Besides, it may sound cliché but I still believe that in each and every gift it is always the thought that counts.
THE JOY OF FORGIVENESS. Christ was born for the salvation of men through the forgiveness of our sins. The promise of deliverance in our Holy Bible’s Old Testament finally found fulfillment in the birth of our savior Jesus Christ. So, each time we attend a Christmas party, we should take that opportunity to reach out and reconcile with those we couldn’t see “eye-to-eye” due to personal misunderstandings. For how can we truly celebrate the birth of Christ if hatred lurks within us? How can the joy of the Yuletide Season fill our hearts if we allow ourselves to be consumed by the loathing, we have towards those we consider as our adversaries? And, how can we commemorate the wonderful promise of our salvation if we ourselves are unwilling to forgive those who have sinned against us?
In a couple of days, we will all celebrate Christmas and will be invited to a couple more of Christmas Parties but let us not be overwhelmed by the glitter and spectacle of all these festivities. Let us look beyond the banquet, gifts and entertainment of all our Christmas parties and see the value of COMPANIONSHIP, SHARING and FORGIVENESS to which this blessed season brings. And only then can we truly experience the true joys of Christmas.
“Whatever the preference that may have been in this survey. What remains truly important is the reason for the celebration. The Christmas holiday is an occasion for us to come together and contemplate on the true meaning of the season: the birth of Jesus Christ. In Christ, God spreads his light of salvation upon this world. When Jesus came, he was the fulfillment of God’s promise to break humankind out of the chains and darkness of sin and to bring us into the light of the glory and blessing of God” (Fr. Anton CT Pascual, President, Radio Veritas).
This survey further explains that among those who chose the “altruistic” preference of using the Christmas Party Budget to help our less fortunate compatriots (“kababayans”) it is noteworthy to share that such disposition runs across all age groups at a very minimal distance (due to the margin of error) from each other with elderly respondents (61 years old and above) at 11%, Adults (40 to 60 years old) at 8% and Young Adults (21 to 39 years old) at 6% choosing this “giving” preference.
Christmas is the Season; Christ is the Reason. Christmas is the Celebration; Sharing is the Intention. Christmas is the Festivity; Nativity is the Substantiality. Christmas is the Occasion; Love is the Expression. And, Christmas is the Moment, Emmanuel is the Commencement.
