Amid the bright lights and festive noise of a commercialized Christmas, the profound mystery at the heart of the celebration often fades. This year, that mystery confronts Filipinos with a stark and urgent question: what does it mean to be truly and fully human when millions of our countrymen face a bleak holiday season due to devastating floods?
The Core of Christmas: Action Over Belief
The essence of Christmas is not a distant theological puzzle. It is the story of a loving God who chose to live among humanity. The real wonder lies in this choice—to experience human life fully, even to the point of suffering at the hands of corrupt leaders. For many, the lesson of Christmas is not static faith but active imitation. Belief alone can lead to empty rituals, while imitation leads to Christ-like, truly human actions that uplift others. This distinction has never been more critical. With countless families displaced and desperate, the call is to step into the sandals of Jesus and act with genuine humaneness toward one another.
A Crisis of Inhumanity: Floods and Failed Responsibilities
The immediate context for this existential challenge is the plight of flood survivors. These Filipinos are spending Christmas "down in the dumps," a direct result of a disaster exacerbated by selfish and corrupt political and business leaders. Their suffering casts a shadow over the nation's festivities. The path to sunshine for these victims lies solely in the humaneness of their fellow citizens. The author issues a direct challenge: certain congressmen, senators, DPWH officials, and contractors must "exit brute creation and rejoin the world of humans."
If conscience prevails, as it did for former Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara, the necessary steps are clear. They must return stolen funds, identify suitable relocation sites, and allocate money for survivors to build safe, livable homes. This is their fundamental job; after the flood, it becomes an act of atonement for the inhuman conditions they helped create.
A Collective Call to Truly Human Action
This situation demands a nationwide response rooted in our shared humanity. Thriving businesses and capable individuals can adopt a family or community, providing basic necessities and temporary shelter. It is unconscionable to enjoy lavish Christmas parties while our brothers and sisters lack roofs, food, and hope for the future. Beyond direct aid, every Filipino can join the push for decisive government action.
We must demand a transparent and expedited investigation into the causes of the flood and the misuse of public funds. The perfunctory "no-foul-play" conclusion in the death of former DPWH undersecretary Catalina Cabral underscores the critical need for incorruptible investigators and prosecutors. Justice is a cornerstone of humaneness.
For the flood victims, a joyful Christmas is impossible without our active, human response. Therefore, the author offers a powerful alternative to the seasonal greeting. Instead of a trite "Merry Christmas," the wish and prayer for this season and all others is that we, as a people, choose to be "truly and fully human" to one another.
