Year 2021: The Christmas count down starts,,,,,

The whole world faces another yearend with uncertainty because of the corona virus pandemic. It's the second year in a row when the threat of the pandemic forces us to live... one day at a time.  For no one knows with certainty that today may in fact be our last.

Yet for as long as we are gifted with the PRESENT.... we continue to hope and live our time on earth, And pray that God be merciful and spare us from death,,, for now.

Though struggling still with this pandemic, the human spirit finds a light of hope at the start of the "BER" months. In the Gregorian calendar, the last four months of the year are fondly called the "BER" months. It starts in September through October, November, and December. These months have even more significance, in our Filipino customs,  because the beginning of the "BER" months in September is also the start of the holiday season in the Philippines all through the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The Philippines is known as the only country that starts the holiday season once September comes in. That is why the world's longest Christmas season is celebrated in the Philippines, Asia's predominantly Christian nation. All the more significant because Christians look at Christmas as our hope of redemption when the  Savior came to save us from sin. As a nation we implore the Messiah to save us now from this pandemic soon.

By the start of September, Jose Mari Chan, a renowned Filipino songwriter and singer begins to entertain us with his Christmas songs.  He is known as the "Father of Philippine Christmas Music" because of the significant popularity of his iconic Christmas songs during the holiday season.

Soon radio programs and television shows will be featuring holiday tunes, like it is actually Christmas already.  Even the weather joins in, as we begin to feel the colder mornings, especially in the coming days.

In both blissful or hard times, the Filipino resilient spirit will always find the reason to smile as the cool "BER" months begin, ushering in the joyous countdown to Christmas.

Filipinos are normally known for their last-minute shopping, usually after the release of 13th month pay and Christmas bonuses in mid-December. And it is not unusual that many actually begin preparing their lists for holiday shopping and gift-giving as early as the month of September. But this year may not be the case because of the hard times, people lost their jobs and so their income, too, and most of us may just be barely surviving. Even businesses have their second year of economic losses and a number had closed down for good in fact, leaving those they employ jobless.

It is still 116 days before Christmas and in spite of the gloomy economic atmosphere let us buoy up with enthusiasm and expectations as the "BER" months progress to the big event that is Christmas Day. Our Savior Jesus may be kind and generous and miracles happen.... to liberate us from the curse of this pandemic.

That is why on top of all the anticipation, the Catholic Church always reminds the faithful about the real meaning of the Christmas season: God so loved the world that He gave His only Son to redeem us from sin. That really is the true meaning of CHRISTMAS.... liberate us from our selfish selves and be persons for others....especially the needy during these hard times.  

Let us then welcome the "BER" months... in the spirit of Christian love.  Advanced Merry Christmas everyone!

Ad Jesum per Mariam!

 5 September 2021:  A time to celebrate.... in a pandemic!

 It is our second year in this pandemic, and life for most of us continues to be a hard and difficult struggle on a daily basis.   Yet we cannot give up, and must go on living for as long as we are still alive anyway. Because to stop living for whatever reason is to die prematurely.

Life is a gift, and for as long as the gift lasts, let's be grateful and enjoy it.  And so TODAY I want to celebrate an important milestone in my life's journey even as I come closer to the sunset.

SEPTEMBER 5 was the day that I closed the door to my ADB journey of more than 31 years.  At that time, it was three years ahead of my mandatory retirement. It has been exactly 13 years ago today, and the second time happening in this pandemic. 

ADB was my second, and my last job for a living.  At that time of my leaving, it was in this institution that I spent more than half of my mortal life. After few years of considering and thinking about it,  I chose to leave early and while still "young" in order to enjoy life.  Yes, it was to "enjoy living" for myself and my family. The demands of work had taken some of my time from my growing children and family as a whole.  So I wanted to make amends, because retirement is a second chance at life, a "re-birth" in a way, just celebrating life to the full with my family, at least of what is left of it anyway before I face the final sunset for eternity. 

In retrospect now, (although looking back makes the soul nostalgic... sometimes) I had my own share of pleasant and frustrating experiences throughout my long ADB career.  This is not unusual in an imperfect world we all live in.  Yet when I bade goodbye I chose to take home with me only the happy and enriching experiences and memories of my work life... the friendships of colleagues that enriched my humanity as I patiently went through my ADB journey.

So I remember, too,  my very first day in ADB.... full of hope and excitement as my first time to work in an international organization. I reported as silently as it was in the Human Resources Division in the old Roxas Boulevard Building. I was told that my position was the very first created for the Benefits Area; I didn't even have my own desk at that time. Over the years I have climbed the corporate ladder with sheer hard work and dedication, had my own people working with me, and went to some selected foreign missions.

My entire years of service was in the same Human Resources area. I left with the sincerest hope that I have contributed something to the mission and vision of ADB, no matter how small and insignificant perhaps. I was the last of the whole gang of Position Classification Group to leave ADB, with the legacy of position classification systems for both local and expat positions intact as from the day it was first introduced for fair and equitable employment for all.  Literally I was the last man in Position Classification Area from the original group, although I came in as "second generation" of experts in this field. 

When it was time, I also decided to leave as silently as when I first came. So on my own request, I politely declined departmental send off party, so that I can fade away just silently in this place I considered my second home.  Although I decided to send a farewell note to some colleagues, both local and expat, and appreciated much that they were generous with their words of well wishes and good luck. I also decided to send the farewell note to top management including the ADB President, just curious how they would react, and only the VP messaged me back, who is a personal friend.

Apart from the friendship of those close to me, my only physical remembrance of my ADB journey (believe it or not).... is a "mini-Me" given by close friends from their own funds. To be honest, I did look forward from my day one in ADB to that milestone of receiving a gold watch from ADB usually given to long-serving staff. Unfortunately, when my time was up for it, after long years of waiting, ADB changed the rules for awards and I never got to receive the gold watch. Really a big disappointment at that time.

But then I realize now...... the "mini-Me" comes from the sincere friendship of those whose lives I touched while in my ADB journey, and thus more precious for me than the gold watch token that may only be a corporate symbol but devoid of real feeling of appreciation.

So TODAY I cherish my sweet memories in the corporate world, reflecting on life's many valuable lessons during my working years, and celebrating still the gift of life that those who die young did not get the chance to enjoy. I realize that at retirement we cannot stop living just because we think we are getting old. Because the truth is that we actually become old the moment we stop living.  So then the years still remaining provide golden opportunities (that "gold" again!) to start anew and do things we always wanted to do. For the secret of feeling young is to be happy always. That is why I try to laugh often, even at the expense of myself, and find humor in life's unfolding events each day. Perhaps, it is not really flattery... that often I heard people compliment me with.... "you haven't chance". Thank You, Lord.

And thank you, too, to my family, my wife and children, for keeping me company when all my original family has left me, for their love and patience of my "aging" body even as my spirit remains young. With one son already married with their own house, we manage to still stay together as a family in our house... perhaps to keep me and my wife company while we are still here. Thank you so much to all our children and in-law. It is always fun to be family living together as one.

Thank you, ADB for my life's journey that sustained me and supported my growing family. It continues to this day... with my pension and health benefits.  Thank you to my ADB friends and colleagues that have significant and priceless impact on my humanity for the rest of my life. 

Thank You, Triune God, for this chance to enjoy life more at retirement, as I celebrate life anew, like a re-birth. Grant me, Lord, the grace to prepare my soul to transcend eternity.  Welcome me home when my time is up.... but not too soon yet, I pray. Amen.

P.S.

People ask sometimes WHY celebrate my retirement? Well, because it is freedom and a liberation for me from having to work to earn a living. So WHY NOT?

Now, celebrate with me... with your prayers, the milestone of my retirement today.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!