THIS year is challenging, to say the least, for many sectors. Aside from the pandemic, we were hit recently by more devastating typhoons. Because of all this, there have been many debates running in my head about this holiday season. Do we still prepare presents? How do we celebrate festively without contact with family and friends? Can this holiday be really “merry”?
Last week, I resolved to make this holiday season a “purpose-filled” one. I decided that from gifts, gestures and get-togethers, we can all make this Christmas even more meaningful. Below are the results of my research and personal plans:
GIFTS
FOR gifts, I tried to simplify it this year. Instead of doing individual gifts, I opted for “family gifts.” Instead of going for decorative or nice-to-have items, I opted for things closer to the hygiene department. I found antibacterial and more gentle cleaning agents that may be used by the whole family.
For my god kids, I opted for educational toys, arts & crafts and study/organizing furniture that may give their distance learning a newer flavor this coming new year.
I wanted to find ways to personalize, recycle things in the house and involve my family to give the gift more meaning. I was glad to have attended a Facebook Live card-making and gift-wrapping tutorial from Teacher Nica Cosio last Saturday. Many of the things she suggested, I actually have in our house. I also like the more recycle-friendly material she suggested to use as gift wrapper. Sample works are found in the photo above and at www.carlosandveronica.net. For our overseas family and friends, as well as digital social groups, I plan to do a Christmas project in Canva with my kids. Canva is an online design tool with tons of templates you can choose from.
Our periodic get-togethers with our friends provided occasions to see how much our kids have grown up and what they were up to. We also looked forward a lot to our mutual visits with our overseas friends and family especially from Taipei and New York for the same reasons. Given that we were unable to do so these past few months, I decided to make a short video with my family. One of the highlights of the video is my son’s violin performances of “Silent Night” and “Joy to the World.” This is also good for him since there were no recitals this year. For all your kids who dance, perform or even do sports, you can include a few snippets. Maybe even end with a short song from the singers of the family. I am sure your relatives overseas would enjoy seeing your family “in action” like how they would have seen you in an in-person Christmas reunion. There are many free applications to easily edit your videos.
GESTURES
THE reason why I also decided to simplify my gifts this year is because I wanted to use a bigger portion of my usual budget for worthy causes. I realized that the best way to show gratitude this year is to be more empathic and do meaningful action where it matters the most, and however way we can.
Whether we are an executive, an entrepreneur or a big conglomerate, I believe there are gestures we can do that concretely impact people’s lives. Since the lockdown, I have worked hardest with one thing in mind. I want our employees to have a good Christmas. This year, I also started to find ways to give back to schools I have attended. I have also recently listed down my previous teachers and plan a Christmas surprise for them. My husband and I also found means to help places that mean a lot to us, like when the typhoon hit our home province of Bicol.
That’s why I was glad to know about Araneta City’s great gesture of temporarily converting its Gateway Gallery into a free learning space for teachers and college students in need of stable Wi-Fi connection. This provides the much-needed conducive study atmosphere during this pandemic.
In partnership with the J. Amado Araneta Foundation and Quezon City’s Education Affairs Unit, the City of Firsts’ art museum now becomes the Gateway Gallery Learning Lab. It is equipped with a fast and reliable 5G Internet connection to aid students and teachers in their online classes.
Setting the mood at the Learning Lab is Gateway Gallery’s interesting artwork gallery, which features a diverse cultural and historical display that will set an inspiring ambiance for education.
A teacher or college student may reserve a slot online or via walk-in. A valid school identification card will be requested to access the amenities. A dedicated waiting area will be allotted to walk-ins should the Learning Lab reach its maximum person capacity.
For online reservations, contact Gateway Gallery via the Connect Section of its Pocket Museum mobile app, or through its official social-media page (www.facebook.com/GatewayGalleryPH).
Next week, I will share a lot of ideas on “purpose-filled” virtual get-togethers.