What is the best gift one could ever receive?

As the season of giving is celebrated, folks all around the globe scramble to find the best-fitting presents for their loved ones. Most often, it would be colorful trinkets, useful appliances, and practical money. While these provide satisfaction and glee to most, some continue to long for something unmatched by tangible items. A gift that one could not be given or received so easily—even if the stars were to shower from the sky.

What lies beyond the wraps is not a luxurious item. Instead, it is only the simple gathering under one roof amidst it all. The joy of a community like the neighboring schools of Sitio Cabading, consisting of Antipolo City National Science and Technology High School (AnSci), Cabading Elementary School (Cabading ES), and Antipolo Institute of Technology (AiTech). Institutions that served as second homes for employees, parents, and students, waiting to receive such a present after fussing coldly all year round.

Gifting the Working

If you were to gift an employee for the holidays, the first option in mind would be appliances, cash, or even the 13th-month pay—something useful and practical. But is that truly all a working individual could ever want? Take Melanie Herreros, one of the custodians tasked to keep the grounds of AnSci safe and tidy. As someone who cleans the campus halls all year long, she returns to her family back at home to celebrate Christmas and occasionally returns to AnSci to feed the campus dogs she had also been caring for.

“Kapag Christmas, umuuwi talaga kami sa bahay kasi sabi nga nila, ‘pag sa bahay ka nag-Christmas, ‘yong blessing pumapasok. Pero namimiss ko rin ‘yong dogs kaya sinasadya ko talaga silang puntahan para bigyan sila ng food.” Herreros explained.

While Herreros continues to serve as a campus custodian, she will always choose to celebrate with family over the extra grind of work. For her, the greatest gift she could ever receive is not the 13th-month pay or is it something useful or practical. Instead, she considers that it is the ability to spend time at home, which is joyful and immaterial. Above all, working individuals like her go beyond the business setting, they also have families to go home to after a painstaking day of hustling.

Gifting the Parenting

A parent’s only wish for their children to stay safe and grow healthy, a desire always expressed during birthdays, weddings, and even Christmas. These are the wants of people selfless enough to drop their wants for the sake of their babies’ wellness. With such care parents hold, one cannot stop but ponder what they would want for the holidays. Most probably, when asked, parents will always answer “Nothing, it’s alright.” Like Mei Narral, a mother of two Cabading ES students, requests nothing but for a simple annual family gathering.

“Ngayong may family na ako, kami na ‘yong pumupunta sa ibang kamag-anak.” Narral mentioned, even persevering to meet with relatives. “Minsan, mayroong mga ‘di makakapunta- kaya minsan nag-seset nalang kami ng date para magkita-kita kahit papaano.”

For a parent such as Narral, the most important thing is to meet the people of her blood and reunite every year as a family tradition. A simple act of kindness and togetherness that brings warmth to her motherly heart. An act that gifts her greatly, as she hopes that it will be continued annually as her children grow older—a gift that parents around the world should be receiving back.

Gifting the Schooling 

Nothing beats a good set of school supplies for the learner on his way to post-holiday school. Surely, most have already wrapped these tools in boxes, along with cash in red envelopes to be given by uncles and aunts as “pamasko” for youngsters. Essentially cash and a few gifts are what the youth want—but not for Jomari Bernardo. To the third-year AiTech collegian taking Bachelor of Construction Engineering Technology and Management, such gifts are better with gleeful and relaxing reunions.

“Expected mo na masaya, syempre miss niyo ‘yong isa’t isa, party-party gano’n.” Bernardo expressed, adding that gatherings lighten up the academic burden. “Ang sarap mag-reunite kasi- parang doon mo mafefeel na makakapagpahinga ka, diba kasi yearly lang siya nangyayari, so in that way, ‘yong buong pagod mo buong taon, na-rerelieve kapag dumadating na ‘yong season na ‘yon.”

As people return to work and school after the holidays, students like Bernardo are better off with stomachs full of food and delight before they go on to conquer the academic challenges and goals set ahead for them. This allows learners to set a clear focus and provides quality output with the help of togetherness and contentment.

Whether they are an employee, parent, student, or anyone you’d like to gift, keep in mind to do so wholeheartedly. Never fear that the present you have to offer will not suffice, just because it does not hold the luxury of gadgets or expensive clothing. The gift that lies inside the wraps is more than the value of money, as the act of taking part in celebrating the holidays together alone is already gifting the greatest.