‘THE longest Christmas season has officially begun,” cried a friend on Facebook today.

It’s scary, I know. Even scarier than the ghouls that roamed our streets and homes on Hallows’ Eve.  Wasn’t it only yesterday that we were all just lounging by the beach, trying to work ourselves into a deep tan?  Ack!

While Christmas carols have been playing since September and most department stores have been decked in Yuletide décor since then, somehow the idea of Christmas just being around the corner doesn’t hit home until we’ve gone through the All Saints’ Day/All Souls’ Day commemorations.

But I suppose after the poignancy of the Halloween/Undas weekend, and the devastating tragedy of the losses from the last few typhoons, we all need to look forward to the warmth that the Yuletide season will bring.

Of course, some people just dread the thought of Christmas shopping and spending. Also what about the annoying monster crowds, the hideously humongous traffic jams, or the sungit taxi drivers who are suddenly choosy about the passengers they pick up? But perhaps we don’t need to think of holiday season in this manner.

We can all behave like Ebenezer Scrooge and bah-humbug our way through it all, but we know we’ll have to give in to the soft cuddly feelings of the season sooner than later. I noticed that even my friends who aren’t so spiritual or have doubts about the existence of God, Jesus and the Virgin Mary—which is the real point of the holiday by the way—suddenly behave like blubbering kids and get all excited about Christmas.

I, for one, always look forward to seeing my family and friends’ faces light up when they open their gifts. And even when the presents aren’t expensive or as large as we all want them to be (for instance, I really wanted to get a Toyota Prius last Christmas, hahaha), just being around the people we cherish and adore is such a comfort.

Besides, I think after being affected in one way or another by the recent typhoons, our friends and family wouldn’t mind having smaller presents this year, as long as these are meaningful and given with our love and fondest wishes for the season.

It may be a stretch for some to feel all toasty and charitable in the coming holidays, especially those who may have lost loved ones and their homes in the last typhoons. But as a friend pointed out, it is up to us, those who were not directly touched by the calamities, to help the victims get into the Christmas spirit.

 I encourage companies, for instance, to scrap their usual expensive office parties and rechannel their funds and their energies to the victims in the evacuation centers. By now, donor fatigue has probably set in and flood victims have already been forgotten. So perhaps this Christmas, we can all renew our commitment to take care of our less fortunate kababayan by sharing our resources and ourselves.

Instead of planning for presentations to be watched by only a handful of our colleagues, with the matching P50,000 prizes for the winners, maybe we can plan how our officemates can minister to those who may not be as fortunate as those of us who can afford a Christmas ham- or queso de bola-centered Noche Buena.

Lending a hand to people in need is one of the most powerful and overwhelming gestures between human beings. The giver is at once rewarded by feelings of unquantifiable joy at being able to be of service to others. The recipient’s recompense, on the other hand, is an inspired sense of gratitude at the thought that he is not forgotten. Like, they say, isn’t Christmas all about giving love and sharing?

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Shop early and relieve yourselves of the mad rush for holiday presents! Check out this list of bazaars for your shopping needs, courtesy of Millionaire Acts (www.millionaireacts.com):

* Yuletide Souk: The Big Red Bazaar

The Rockwell Tent, Rockwell Center,

Makati City

November 7-8

* Paskong Pilipino Bazaar and Expo

World Trade Center

Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City

November 13-15

* Clothes for a Cause Bazaar

Glorietta Center, Ayala Center, Makati City

November 13-15

* The 43rd International Bazaar 2009

PICC Forums I, II, and III

CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City

November 15

* Christmas Bangketa Sale

Center Mall, Greenhills Shopping Center

San Juan City

November 13, 2009-January 10, 2010

* Global Pinoy Bazaar

Rockwell Tent, Rockwell Center, Makati City

November 14-15

* Greenhills Night Market

Parking Lot, Greenhills Shopping Center

November 14, 2009-January 11, 2010

* Noel Bazaar & Christmas Shop Expo

World Trade Center, Roxas Boulevard,

Pasay City

November 25-30; December 18-20

* St. James The Great Christmas Bazaar

Cuenca Community Center & St. James

Parking Lot, Ayala Alabang Village,

Alabang, Muntinlupa City

November 27-29

* The 9th World Bazaar Festival

World Trade Center, Roxas Boulevard,

Pasay City

Contact: Worldbex Services International

December 4-16

* Grand Christmas Bazaar ’09 @

The Big Tent

Holy Spirit Drive, Don Antonio,

Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City

December 4-6, 11-13, 18-23; 10 am-10pm

* Noel Bazaar: The Special Edition

A.Venue Hall, Antel, Lifestyle City

Makati Avenue, Makati City

December 5-6

* Christmas Flea Market

People’s Village, Tiendesitas

Frontera Verde, Pasig City

December 10, 2009-January 10, 2010

* Christmas Bazaar

Glorietta Park Tent

Ayala Center, Makati City

December 11-30

* Holiday Madness Bazaar

Cubao Expo, Araneta Center

Cubao, Quezon City

December 19-20

 I’ll try to regularly update you of more bazaar schedules either through this column or via my blog. Now, those who still want to give me a Prius this Christmas can contact Alfred Ty at Toyota Motors. Mwahaha! n