The Ber months are here again. In the Philippines, this signals the start of the Christmas season. Although liturgically, it’s not yet Christmas or even Advent, many Filipinos love to play and listen to Christmas songs as early as September 1. Many Filipinos also start putting up Christmas decorations.

I guess this is because Filipinos are joyful and hopeful people and remembering the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ brings a lot of joy and hope into our hearts.

Can you relate? Are you one of us?

A New Children’s Book

Two Christmases ago when we first celebrated Christmas during the COVID-19 pandemic, God placed a burden on my heart.

I felt that I needed to remind people and teach children, particularly, that Jesus is the real reason for the season of Christmas. That even though we were facing a lot of problems and experiencing a lack in many ways, Christmas continues to be Christmas, and the joy and hope that Christmas brings are not diminished by our challenges.

During that time, I was also looking for Christmas-themed children’s books written by Filipino authors. There was only a handful. And we already have a copy of almost all the Christmas-themed children’s books written by Filipino authors at that time. Moreover, I discovered that these books did not really directly discuss the real reason why we are celebrating Christmas.

This moved me to write a poem titled Pasko Pa Rin. Then, I expanded it to become a children’s story.

I submitted it to possible publishers.

By the grace of God, it was accepted by Paulines Publishing.

Pasko Pa Rin Story

Pasko Pa Rin, just like my other children’s book Maliit na ang Palda ni Isay, was inspired by a true story during my childhood. In this story, the protagonists in my children’s book Maliit na ang Palda ni Isay, Isay and Nanay/Aling Tess, are back and they are again teaching children and parents through this book many Christian and Filipino values on top of highlighting that Jesus is the real reason for the season of Christmas.

I felt that this message is most important during the COVID-19 pandemic because many families were experiencing financial problems. And even now that the economies are slowly opening up, businesses and families are still struggling to get back on their feet. Not all businesses that closed down at the height of the pandemic were able to open again. Some had to permanently close their businesses. The children of those business owners and the employees of those businesses, definitely need to read and hear this story and learn the lessons from this story.

But even if there is no more pandemic, I think that this message is important and should be spread to as many children as possible. There are families and children experiencing financial challenges even before the pandemic. There are many children who were born into poor families. These are the children who need to read or hear the message of this book the most.

Book Donation Drive

Thus, I am starting a book donation drive once more; but this time, it is for the Christmas season and for the Christmas children’s book Pasko Pa Rin!

This was inspired by my other book donation drive #IsayGoestoSchools wherein we donate copies of my other children’s book Maliit na ang Palda ni Isay also to children in poor communities and public schools. You may read more details about it here.

Our Goals

Our main goal is to evangelize children and their families by proclaiming the Good News through this children’s book.

1. Donate copies of the children’s book Pasko Pa Rin! to elementary public school children in the Philippines.
2. Donate copies of the children’s book Pasko Pa Rin! to poor communities and orphanages in the Philippines. 
3. Donate copies of the children’s book Pasko Pa Rin! to public libraries.
4. Raise funds to go on a book tour in parishes and schools to have a storytelling session with the kids, give a short inspirational talk, and facilitate an activity with them to further reinforce the lessons.

What Lessons Does This Children’s Book Teach?

• Jesus is the real reason for the season of Christmas. It is His birth that we celebrate during Christmas.
• Christmas remains to be Christmas and Christmas will continue to be celebrated even when we are lacking in material things like money, food, shelter, brand-new clothes, shoes, toys, gifts, or other possessions.
• We should thank God for the gift of Jesus and the gift of salvation.
• We can celebrate Christmas in a simple way.
• We are not too poor to give to others.
• Our love and concern for others is a gift in itself.
• As Christians, we are all called and exhorted to bring the Good News and Jesus to others in word and in deed.
• Helping each other during difficult times helps keep the Spirit of Christmas alive and brings it to others even during times of crisis.
• Be grateful for what you have.
• Do not be materialistic.

Do you also believe that children and their parents or guardians need to be reminded or taught that Jesus is the real reason for the season of Christmas?

Do you also think that Christmas has become so commercialized and people are forgetting that Jesus and His birth should be the highlight of this celebration?

Do you want to give hope and joy to poor children through this children’s book and the message that it brings during Advent or Christmastime? Or even as early as the Ber months?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, I invite you to consider supporting my book donation drive and advocacy!

Help me remind people that #Jesusisthereasonfortheseason and that whatever circumstances we find ourselves in at Christmastime, we should be grateful to God, our Father for sending His only begotten Son, Jesus, to the world to save us.

How can you help?

1. You can help us raise funds for this book donation drive by donating money to purchase copies of this book from the publisher. The minimum donation is P250 to cover the price of each book and related admin. costs. Those who will donate P1,000 or more will receive a signed copy of the children’s book Pasko Pa Rin! But if you want to donate your free copy, that is also possible. Just inform us when you email us your proof of donation.

You may deposit your donation here: BPI Saving Account # 8269-081-822 Account Name: Maria Teresa G. Dumadag

You may also send your donations via Paypal (teregmps@yahoo.com) and GCash (09178345846).

Please email us a copy of your deposit slip or proof of donation to teresa.hopenetwork@gmail.com with the subject CHRISTMAS BOOK DONATION DRIVE. When you email us, you can also inform us if you want your free copy sent via courier with your complete name, address, and mobile number. We will also issue a Certificate of Donation to our donors.

Metro Manila residents who donate P1,000 or higher no longer need to pay for the shipping fee. But donors from the provinces will have to shoulder the shipping fee to their province.

2. You may help by sharing this page on your social media accounts and encouraging your family and friends to donate.

3. If you are a blogger or writer, you may help by writing about this children’s book and book donation drive.

4. If you are a storyteller, photographer, or videographer, you can help our team in our future book tours by helping us tell stories in schools with a lot of children and by helping us document the events.

5. If you are part of a company with a CSR program focused on education and values formation, you can partner with us on donating books to your public school or orphanage of choice. Shipping costs to provincial public schools will have to be shouldered by your company. If you want to bring the author to a public school in the province, your company will need to shoulder her travel and accommodation expenses as well.

6. If you are part of a group, organization, or association, you can partner with us in donating books to your public school or orphanage of choice.

7. You can help by volunteering your time or talent in working on this project or advocacy.

About the Author: Teresa Gumap-as Dumadag

• Author of at least 10 books
• Amazon Bestselling Author of 4 books
• Winner in the Cardinal Sin Catholic Book Awards for 3 consecutive years
• Winner in the 40th Catholic Mass Media Awards for her blog (this blog) Hands-On Parent while Earning
• A member of the Commission on the Family and Co-Head of the Ministry for the Children and the Elderly of the Mary, Mother of Good Counsel Parish in Paranaque
• Founder of the Catholic Homeschooling Parents Support Group and Homeschooling Parents Support Group PH
• Freelance contributing writer for print and online publications like Didache and Kerygma of Shepherd’s Voice Publication/Feast Books.
• Podcaster at Follow God with Teresa
• She has been conducting seminars, training and workshops, facilitating retreats, and giving talks, presentations and speeches to various groups (companies, schools, religious/prayer groups) in the past decades locally and abroad.

As of this writing, the book is not yet printed. Should it not meet the target release date this Christmas 2022, it will be released by September 2023.

UPDATE: The children’s book is now available and will be launched at the Manila International Book Fair on September 2023.

We invite you to support this advocacy/book donation drive this Christmas as your birthday and Christmas gift to Jesus and the children of our land.

Feel free to send me an email if you have any questions or clarifications on how you can support our book donation drive.

Together, let’s bring back CHRIST in CHRISTmas!