Admittedly, this season was marked with a lot of grieving by the country. First is the continuing economic hardship being experienced by most of the population, especially of the families severely affected by the typhoons that hit the country last November. Second is the death of Fernando Poe, Jr. or FPJ, last Dec. 14 from a stroke. Third is the untimely death of KC de Venecia.
FPJ was the country's undisputed King of Action Movies (Da King). He also made a bid for the Philippine Presidency in the last May Presidential Elections and lost. He and his then running mate, Sen. Loren Legarda filed an Electoral Protest in the Sandiganbayan, stating that they were cheated by a good number of votes. The case was supposed to have had its initial hearing last Dec. 22. For the Filipino Masa, FPJ was the quintessential hero, generous to the underprivileged, a role he played on and offscreen. TV networks covered his wake for a week for 24 hours, and his legions of supporters and adoring fans who filed past his casket at the Sto. Domingo Church to pay their last respects, surpassed, as some said, that of Ninoy Aquino's, the long time political rival of ex-president Ferdinand Marcos. Literally, the FPJ wake was pouring out of our eyes and ears.
KC de Venecia was the 16-year old youngest daughter of House Speaker Joe de Venecia and his wife, Gina. KC got trapped in her brother's bathroom when a fire caused by a short circuit from the lights of their Christmas Tree burned down their 2-storey mansion in Dasma. Both FPJ and KC were laid to rest last Dec. 22.
Amidst the gift-giving and as the year comes to a close, let us be reminded that material things can only give us temporary happiness. What is truly important is the quality of time spent with people we love, knowing the true meaning of contentment, and the personal relationship we should maintain with our MAKER for the sake of our spirit's nourishment and our soul's salvation. A blessed Christmas to all of us.