The Christmas Story (A "Behind-The-Scenes" Version)

A repost. As originally published on EV Mail News for the week of December 5-11, 2011.
http://www.evmailnews.com/eastern-visayas-mail-issue-of-december-5-11-2011


I love Christmas. It's one of my favorite occasions next to Resurrection Day or Easter. Since I like to celebrate the birthdays of my family and close friends (I don't necessarily like celebrating mine!), it's no surprise that I'd love celebrating Christmas. It's the birthday of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! It's the Birthday of all birthdays!

It warms my heart just to see all the celebrations going on in every home, in the workplace, in the streets, and in places of business during the holidays. Christmas trees of different sizes everywhere. Gifts, ribbons, tinsels, glitters, bells, beautiful decors, Christmas balls and Christmas lights all around! What heart wouldn't melt in such glory, in such warmth and majestic pomp? Christmas is the time of year when we can go overboard with everything --from the decorations, lights, presents, food, parties, to the presence of families and friends around us. Sometimes "too much family" and too many people can be overwhelming but not on Christmas! We revel in the luxury of love, friendship, sentimentality, reminiscing, and celebrating with those we care about because... why not? It's the birthday of The KING!

For a lot of people, the story of Christmas is a very familiar one. We were told about it since we were young. We read it in books, we see it on TV, and everybody talks about it in church especially during the holidays. It has been handed down from generations to generations and almost everyone, even those who don't believe in Christ knows the general concept of the story of Christmas. Which version do you know?

As I continue to read and learn from God's Word, and as I also read other books by Christian authors on the subject of Christ's birth, I may have a slightly different version compared to the more common one as told in bedtime storytelling. This version is biblical, partly "intelligent speculations," partly historical, and little part fiction. I say "intelligent speculation" because for this story of utmost importance, I don't want to inject anything that is only hypothetical or purely imaginary since it might mar the essence of the whole story. Whatever speculations there are on this version of the Christmas story, they are all based on the truth of the Bible, the common knowledge of the traditions and way of life of the people during the time of Joseph and Mary and at the time when Jesus was born. There are also views from some Bible experts. And whatever fiction I include, it will be very minimal and will not affect the main truths of the story.

So here goes:

Photo borrowed from Huffingtonpost.com

It was probably sometime around the end of June or mid-July more than 2,000 years ago, when a teenage Jewish girl named Mary, who lived in a small town in the city of Galilee called Nazareth, had an experience of a lifetime which she will never ever forget. An angel of the Lord named Gabriel paid her a visit to announce something that will change her life forever. The angel announced that the teenage girl Mary has found favor in the eyes of God and He will use her to conceive a son who will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.

As the angel Gabriel stood before her, Mary was trembling with awe and fear. She has never seen an angel before. What a sight to behold! What an amazing, glorious being! But what the angel was saying was even more amazing. It was unbelievable! The Lord God Almighty whom Mary serves with all her heart has given her a favor to use her as His instrument? But, but..... Questions were reeling in Mary's mind. She was only a teenager. She has never known a man. How can the conception happen? Besides, she is betrothed to Joseph. They are in the middle of all the preparations they needed for the wedding. Joseph is a good man, a godly man. How will I tell him? How will he take the news? Mary was scared. Her heart was beating so fast she can feel it almost jump out of her chest.

But despite of all the questions and thoughts that were going through her mind, there is one thing Mary was sure of --she cannot say no to God. And so she answered the angel Gabriel, I am the handmaiden of the Lord, be it to be according to thy word. What humility! What servitude! What courage! See, at that time, it was unheard of for a teenage girl to be without a husband at a certain age and to be pregnant. And especially to be pregnant without a man! Mary can be stoned to death for humiliating her fiancé Joseph and both their families. It was as good as the sin of adultery because according to the custom of the Jewish people, an engagement is almost as good as marriage. There will be so much shame that will be brought on by this pregnancy. Oh and how is she going to tell Joseph and her family? Tell them than an angel appeared to her and told her that God wants to use her and that the Holy Spirit will make her pregnant? Yeah right. Oh no, what am I going to do? Mary must have asked herself. Maybe that's why the Bible says that she left for the hill country with haste to seek solitude and help from her cousin Elisabeth, in the house of Zacharias.

But Mary need not have to worry after all because God took care of Joseph. Apparently, after Mary told Joseph about the situation, he decided to divorce her privately in order to avoid shame upon her and their families. But an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and explained everything to Joseph. Being a godly man, Joseph, of course, obeyed and he married Mary and decided to take care of her firstborn son.

When taxation time came, Joseph had to go to the city of David in Judaea called Bethlehem in order to be registered and taxed together with his family. So he and a very pregnant Mary traveled with a donkey. As they arrived in Bethlehem, Mary was beginning to have labor pains and cramps. The time came for her to deliver her firstborn. Due to the important occasion of taxation when most families go home to their place of origin, Bethlehem was packed with people. They couldn't find any place to stay for the night. They ended up in an animal stable by the back of an inn where Mary delivered her baby. They were ill-prepared for the coming of the baby due to the trip. And the stable was hardly a place to welcome a newborn child. They only had some swaddling clothes to cover the baby with and they placed him in a manger for there was no bed or any crib in sight. And by the way, they named the baby, JESUS.

No kings or royalties were present at the stable to welcome the King of Heaven in a manger as He entered this world. The only witnesses were the shepherds who were watching their flocks in the fields that night. The angels in heaven declared it to them and told them what happened. Even though there was no flair or celebration happening in Bethlehem the night Jesus was born but all the heavens was rejoicing. A multitude of angels were singing praises and worshiping God for the momentous occasion. The shepherds were there to witness such glorious sight. Heaven was rejoicing because God's plan of salvation has already begun with the birth of Jesus. It's going to be a long road ahead but mankind will be rescued. Death and hell will be conquered by this baby on a manger. As God has planned.

All these things happened to fulfill the prophecy of the Lord from the Old Testament. God was at work here. He was in control. He has a plan. He wanted His Son to enter the world without any worldly glory or recognition because He came not to be served but to serve, He came not to judge the world but to save the world, and He had to do it fully as God and fully as Man. There was no other way.

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS." -Matthew 1:18-25

(For more Bible readings on the Christmas story, also read the Book of Luke, Chapters 1 & 2.)

Do You Speak English?

A repost. As originally published on EV Mail News for the week of November 28 to December 4, 2011.
http://www.evmailnews.com/eastern-visayas-mail-issue-of-nov-28-dec-4-2011


When we first came to the United States, one of the first things I've noticed was that a lot of people were surprised that my family and I can speak very good and fluent English. They are surprised when I tell them that most Filipinos can speak the language very well because it's considered to be the second official national language of the country.

Then they get even more surprised when I tell them that Filipinos use English in schools, in offices, for businesses, in the government, in reporting for some TV programs, on the radio, for some news prints, and even with our everyday conversations.

Since English is widely used in the Philippines, I tell my American friends that we even came up with a new "language" nicknamed "Taglish," (a combination of Tagalog and English), but this doesn't come as a big surprise for them because they've already heard of "Spanglish," (a combination of Spanish and English), which also happens to be the title of a movie released here in 2004.

Speaking the language in an English-speaking country is not difficult. It was never a problem for me and my family, or for any Filipinos who come to America for that matter. Communicating with the language, however, is a different story. Using it in the Philippines and using it in a foreign country are two different matters. For one, there's the "issue" of the accent, diction and pronunciation.

Americans, as we already know from the movies, speak with their own accent which is very different from ours. If you find it hard to understand what they're talking about in the movies, try to imagine them speaking to you directly without any "theatrical" enunciation nor any microphones or speakers to amplify their words.

This is where the "communication" part between two persons who speak exactly the same language can sometimes get "lost in translation." It's either Americans speak too fast, with too much slang, or with a "heavy" accent, that they might as well be speaking in another unknown, foreign tongue.

Another "issue" is the choice of words. It's very interesting to find out (and most Filipinos find out the hard way during the first two years of arriving in the States) that a particular English word that we've used in the Philippines all our lives means differently here in America. Or that word is simply not used for common, daily conversations. We might use it in schools, for essays, or formal letters, but not in informal banter.

Case in point is the word "soft drinks." Filipinos automatically know what I mean when I ask for a soft drink. As you'd have probably guessed, we found out that they don't use the term so much here in Chicago. They use the general word "pop" or soda for all types of soft drinks. "Cola" is acceptable but there are only two choices for that: Coca-cola or Pepsi cola. If you want a variety of soft drinks, you have to say "pop."

Another case in point is the term "comfort room." This is readily understood anywhere in the Philippines and there are even signs for it everywhere. But the first time I asked for directions to the nearest "comfort room" here in Chicago, I was met with a blank stare and a big "say what?" They don't have comfort rooms here, they have restrooms, ladies room, bathrooms, or (to be fancy) a powder room.

Another "funny" word is Ma'am. Filipinos are so respectful that we call almost all females as Ma'am. The only problem is that we pronounce it as mum. An American once asked me why we call all ladies as our Mom. I laughed so hard I can hardly breathe! I explained that it's just the diction. What we mean to say is "maaam." (Remember the joke we used to have with the lessons of the English alphabet we had in first grade? A as in ay-pol? Those were good times!)

As for pronunciation, I remember an American friend telling me that she wished she could give me a "rule of thumb" for pronouncing some English words I wasn't too familiar with but there just isn't any, she said. "New arrivals" just have to learn by listening, asking, and making a few mistakes along the way.

Words like comfortable, interesting, assessor, mayonnaise and supplements were very tricky for me at first until I've learned how to say them (the American way) by listening to others. Even with the most ordinary of words like Eli's (pronounced as eee-lies not eh-lees), Paulina (pooh-lay-na not pawleena), broccoli (brok-lee), oven (ah-ven not ooh-ven), calcium (kal-si-yum not kalshoom), etcetera, résumé and register were very tricky indeed.

Some Americans snickered at my pronunciation just because they say it differently. But no worries, they are my friends and they only chuckled at my pronunciation because they can't help it. They find it too funny the same way we find it so funny when Americans try to speak Tagalog, Bisaya or Waray-waray amidst us local folks.

Sometimes we just have to learn the hard way in order for some things to stick to our "kukute" (thick, dense skulls), and then, we might just learn something new for a change.

And here's the Bible story on how God confounded the language of man in the tower of Babel:

"And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth." –Genesis 11:1-9

Food Talk

A repost. As originally published on EV Mail News for the week of November 14-20, 2011.
http://www.evmailnews.com/eastern-visayas-mail-issue-of-november-14-20-2011


Food experts, nutritionists and medical professionals all agree that "we are what we eat." And what we eat does reveal a lot about our personalities. Food really does talk, they say.

Chicago is kind of a "melting pot" of different cultures and peoples. It's one of the few major cities in America where a multicultural convergence of sorts happen everyday. It's the way of life here. Name a group of people and more likely than not you will find them here in the Windy City. Due to this multicultural presence here, our gastronomic experience is greatly elevated as well. If anyone has any sudden craving for some exotic cuisine, they don't have to worry because they will find it somewhere in Chi Town for sure.

From Asian cuisines- Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan or Malaysian; to some Middle Eastern food- shawarma, lamb kabob, gyros, olives, pita, tahini sauce, hummus, baba ghanoush, falafel, baklava and couscous; and to experience some of the African gourmet cooking- Ethiopian, Eritrean, Ghana, Moroccan, Libyan, Tunisian or Egyptian; and down to the everyday burgers, hotdogs, fried chicken, fries and shakes --all these are available in Chicago and more! Our culinary choices seem endless.

Before leaving Tacloban, I was only exposed to some Chinese food and the usual burgers, hotdogs and fries aside from the local Filipino food and the sumptuous Waray-waray specialties. But now I'm becoming more and more "culturally rounded" (literally and figuratively) due to my extensive culinary experience around the city. I don't have to leave Chicago in order for me to sample different cultures and exotic foods from different countries. They are mostly available here.

Besides, I love to eat. Maybe this is both a curse and a blessing at the same time. Maybe a curse because in my pursuit of a diverse food adventure, I may experience some dishes that are not to my utmost liking (which can happen very rarely though) and food poisoning is also very real in the culinary industry. Although Chicago is very strict and tight in their regulations and sanitary inspections, there are still some loopholes in the system.

On the other hand, being a "foodie" is also a huge blessing because aside from learning other people's cultures and their way of life through their food, I get to see and enjoy the various blessings God has given specifically to each nation. And with food also comes fellowship.

Filipinos are fond of gatherings which include family, friends, food, great conversations, music and fun. Maybe that's where I got my love for food and people. I can't help it, it's in my heritage. And thankfully, I'm not scared to try out new things as well. I would eat anything as long as it's not unsanitary, it's not crawling or moving in any way, and it's not hairy. In my knowledge, I haven't eaten any snakes, bugs, cats nor dogs, unless I've been served those without my consent and my knowledge, and maybe it tasted good so I ate. But my list of inedible food is very short indeed.

"Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man." -Matthew 15:17-20

I'm glad that as Christians we don't have to answer to each other as to what or what not to eat. We are on our own in this matter. But looking back at the time of Jesus, the Pharisees (a group of priests and teachers of the law of Moses among the Jews) condemned Jesus, His disciples and His followers, for not following the traditions of their own people on how, what, and what not to eat. Jesus was criticized for mingling and dining with "sinners."

As I study that part of the Bible, it goes to show that people even in the past were so hung-up with what other people eat and do. That's when Jesus replied with the verses quoted above in Matthew 15. Although basically Jesus is saying that food per se will not and will never defile a man's heart, He continues to say that the motive and the act of eating may cause other people to "stumble," spiritually.

"But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend." -1 Corinthians 8:12-13

Food really does talk, huh! It says a lot about who we are and more importantly the way we eat says a lot of what's in our hearts. Eating is a social activity. As Jesus has shown with His life here on earth, food is always shared with family and friends. Verses in the Bible tell the story of how crowds of people follow Jesus to hear Him speak, and they always interact together with food and they always eat together among the crowds. Jesus knew that we need nourishment for our physical bodies in order for us to function well and to focus on what's important in life.

Yes, Jesus teaches that we "must not live by bread alone, but by every word of God" (Luke 4:4), but He also showed His disciples the miracles of multiplying and dividing food among the multitudes. God knows that food is important for us but He wants us to also understand that His Word is everything that we could ever need, want or hope for, and more.

So as I continue my culinary adventure, I would always thank God for His provision of food and good health as well as the blessings of family, friendship and fellowship. I pray that my eating habits will not offend anyone and that I will never judge anyone in return for what they eat. Man was never intended to live by bread alone or to be alone in this world.

As the saying goes, “No man is an island.” Even God is never alone. He is the Triune God --God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. God is our perfect example of the perfect unity and fellowship among us.

"Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Let not then your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." –Romans 14:13-17