It’s the first day of September already! The Ber months are here again and in the Philippines, this means that the Christmas season has begun. You would hear Christmas songs played in stores, homes, and many other places. Some would even start putting up Christmas decorations during this time.

I guess Filipinos love the Christmas season a lot that’s why we have the longest or one of the longest Christmas celebrations in the world. It’s not surprising because the Philippines is one country in Asia with probably the biggest Christian population. We also love to celebrate and get together with our families and friends.

However, in all this merriment, partying, and gift-giving, it is also easy to forget the reason why we are doing all these things.

What are we really celebrating during Christmas?

What’s the reason behind our traditions?

Why do we give gifts to each other or to kids?

Before we become too busy again, it would be good to pause and ask ourselves these questions.

In line with this, I would like to share with you my newest baby. It’s not a human baby. It’s my latest book Pasko Pa Rin.

I first wrote Pasko Pa Rin as a poem during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Then, I expanded it to become a children’s story. I looked for a publisher for it and found one. After years of waiting for it to be finished, we are, finally, launching it at the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) this month!

This is another dream come true and an answered prayer! When the pandemic happened, I wondered if I would be able to go back again to launch a book at the MIBF. I initially wanted to finish and release this book earlier. But things did not pan out.

Now that the pandemic is over, maybe, this is truly God’s Will that my latest book would be released at this time.

Why I Wrote Pasko Pa Rin

I mentioned earlier that I wrote this during the first year of the pandemic. I thought that people needed to be reminded then that Christmas remains Christmas even when we are experiencing a lack in many things.

Kahit walang mga bago

Kahit walang mga regalo

Kahit nagsara ang negosyo o nawalan ng trabaho

Pasko pa rin dahil kay Kristo.

May dekorasyon man o wala

Sagana man o hindi ang handa

Magpasalamat pa rin tayo at magdiwang

Nang dahil sa Kanyang pagsilang.

– Pasko Pa Rin, Teresa Gumap-as Dumadag

I thought that it was a perfect message for Christmas during the pandemic because many people lost their jobs and many families were having a hard time making ends meet.

But come to think of it, this message is still true whether there is a pandemic or not because poverty was present around the world even before the COVID-19 pandemic happened. Even now that the pandemic is over, many businesses and families are still struggling to get back on their feet.

I also wrote this book because I wanted to teach my kids and many other kids these truths. I wanted to teach or remind kids (and their parents who will be reading this book to them) that Jesus is the reason for our celebrations. That Christmas will continue to be Christmas even without the merrymaking because Christmas is all about CHRIST our Savior who came to the world to save us. Thus, even if we do not have anything else, we still have a reason to celebrate and be thankful because we received the best and most perfect gift already . . . the gift of our salvation through Jesus Christ!

I also teach and remind kids (and their parents) in this book that we should be grateful for our blessings, especially for the gift of our families.

For us who survived the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important for all of us to realize what a precious gift and favor it is that we are still alive and we can celebrate Christmas again with our families. We are doubly blessed if our family members are still complete for there were many families who lost loved ones during the pandemic.

I love buying books for my children. I had been looking for a Christmas book authored by a Filipino that explicitly teaches these truths and values. Sadly, I have not found any in the past. There were other books about Christmas or set at Christmastime. But I have yet to find one that explicitly teaches why we are doing the many fun things that we do during this season. That is one reason I wrote this book.

Book Launch & Book Signing Event

I invite you to come to the Manila International Book Fair, particularly on September 17 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM at the Paulines’ booth. That’s Sunday morning and the last day of the book fair. We will be launching my latest children’s book Pasko Pa Rin and I will be signing copies.

This children’s book would be a great Christmas gift option for the children in your family and network. It’s no ordinary gift. It will teach or remind them of the Real Reason for the season of CHRISTmas.

If you want to go to the MIBF for free, you can save or download this QR Code and register on or before September 8.

Or you can download and print these tickets so you can enjoy free entrance.

I would love to see you there!

But if you are not free, you can still buy copies of my book from our website’s online shop or at Paulines’ branches around the country. If you want your copies signed and if you want to support my advocacy of donating copies of this book to children from poor and indigenous communities, order and buy from me. Part of the proceeds of the sales will be used for this cause. You may read more about my book donation drive here.

Let’s help people remember that Jesus is the reason for the Season of Christmas! Help me spread this message of truth through this children’s book by choosing to buy copies of this book and giving them away as Christmas presents this Christmas and beyond!