The Holidays are Getting to Me.

November 20, 2007

It isn't often that I blog about serious things. Ever since I started blogging, I've tried to keep things light for the most part. The reason being that I blog to escape from the rigors of the real world and enter a place where I can be as irreverent and stupid as I want to be, as long I watch my grammar. I am however, not as retarded as I present myself to be. I do have a serious side and it will inevitably spill on over to this blog every so often. Today is one of those times. 

Christmas is a mere 35 days away and the season has always carried a bit of melancholy for me. Not that I do not find joy in the season, I do, specially since I got married to the Sexy Nomad who absolutely adores the holidays. I simply seem to be more emotional than usual when this time of the year arrives. 

I came across another email from an old schoolmate, Harvey Keh, and it really struck a cord in me. I'd like to share it to all of you here, not only because I believe in its mnessage but also because I'm lazy and this blog really really needs an update. Anyway, I hope you find the chance to read this and really let it sink in.

 

 

Dear Friends,

Good day to you and an Advanced Merry Christmas!!!

Its less than 40 days to Christmas and most of us are now thinking of what we can give to our family and friends. For those who are having a hard time thinking of what meaningful gifts they can give this Christmas Season, here are some suggestions:)

 a.) The Gift of HOPE - In the midst of the numerous problems that face our country today, there is still much that we can Hope for and thus, the Ateneo de Manila-School of Government is selling a desktop Calendar of Hope for 2008 which features 12 inspiring Filipino leaders that give Hope to all of us. These Filipino leaders go beyond themselves to serve the most marginalized sectors of our society and to show all of us that indeed the Filipino  Spirit can still rise up in these seemingly hopeless situation. Some of the people featured in this Calendar of Hope include Dr. Nina Yuson of Museo Pambata, Rina Lopez-Bautista of Knowledge Channel and James Auste of the Cancer Warriors Foundation. Each Calendar of Hope is being sold for only P 120.00. To see the designs of the Calendar, you can visit http://ylse.multiply.com/photos/album/1 . For your inquiries and orders, please email Reese Fernandez at reesefernandez@yahoo.com or you can call her at (02) 426-5657.

b.) The Gift of Education - We all know for a fact that there are so many poor but deserving students who are more than capable to finish their college education but only lack enough resources and opportunities. Pathways to Higher Education-Philippines tries to address that by identifying these students from the public high schools and providing them with access to resources and opportunities that will allow them to enter top notch colleges and universities and help them finish their education. By having a good education, they will have better lives and break the Poverty cycle in their family. This Christmas, Pathways brings back its famous Pathways Coffee Pack (containing Benguet Coffee and a Mug), this coffee pack sells for only P 150.00 and proceeds will help send poor but deserving students to school. More importantly, the Benguet coffee is really good! For inquiries and orders, you may contact the Pathways office at (02) 920-0153 or you can email Ira Tamis at itamis@ateneo.edu  .  

c.) The Gift of Reading - Did you know that more than 20% of our public high school students do not know how to read? One of the major reasons is that our public schools severely lack books and libraries. Thus, AHON Foundation has come up with a way for you to get involved this Christmas in bringing books to the lives of our public school students. By buying an AHON Foundation Christmas Card you get to help donate a set of storybooks and reference books to an impoverished public elementary school library. You can give these cards to your family and friends and inside the card it tells them that you made a donation under their name this Christmas. You can buy these AHON Christmas cards at the following prices: P 100, P 300 and P 500. To see the designs of these AHON Christmas Cards, you can visit the AHON Foundation website at www.ahonfoundation.blogspot.com . For inquiries and orders, you can call Donna Odra or Cecille Bautista at (02) 683-0262 local 109 or you can email them at ahonfoundation@gmail.com

Hope you will consider giving these meaningful gifts this Christmas! Please help us by sending this email to your friends or posting this at your blog  Thank you very much for your time and may you have a blessed Christmas!

Sincerely,

Harvey S. Keh

Email: harveykeh@gmail.com

Oh and should you feel compelled to repost this please do. The more word of this gets out the better. Happy holidays folks!!!