On Facebook, a mission to make Pinoys celebrate the ’366 days of Christmas’
By Anna Valmero
Published on: loqal.ph
CALOOCAN CITY, METRO MANILA— Bethsaida Cantojos believes the meaning of Christmas should go beyond shopping for gifts and partying. She believes Filipinos should carry the spirit of Christmas every day through sharing or simply making someone happy.
From grade school and high school at La Consolacion College, Bethsaida has been active in joining outreach programs to poor communities and visiting differently-abled children. Every summer, her days are kept busy in joining church programs to visit communities .
This routine carried on until she entered college at the University of Santo Tomas. But she joined the corporate world, she slowly realized something was missing.
“It seems the Christmas spirit of giving dies after the holidays,” she says. “I noticed that Filipinos are only really in the mood of giving when Christmas comes.”
“I feel limited by the idea that people can only share gifts and give joy to others during Christmas. This is how the idea of extending Christmas to 366 days came about.”
Her pet project called “366 Days of Christmas” aims to give gifts to 366 children and persons in need. Her only appeal is that people join her simple quest – she aims to assist those who wish to share their their blessings and help identify recipients for these donated items.
Interested “gift givers” can select any day of this year until December 25. She posts and updates pledges and donations on this Facebook page.
She actually started a day after last Christmas; eight days after December 25, she was busy giving gifts to various charities. She herself pledged to give a gift on her 33rd birthday this coming January 27 and promises to give on days that don’t have pledges yet.
She has identified strategic places where people can send in their donations: one in Pangasinan for Luzon, Iloilo in Visayas, Cagayan De Oro in Mindanao and Metro Manila. She plans to visit each place once or twice per quarter to give gifts, admitting it’s also her motivation to travel locally.
“This way, visiting a place becomes more meaningful because I am able to met new friends and help to someone and enjoy the beauty of the place as well,” she says.
Also, she plans to tap a friend or two in these areas to help setup a small gatherings for those interested to give gifts or donations. A high school friend in Cagayan even pledged to put up a treat for those receiving gifts.
The popularity of social networking sites like Facebook – along with email and text messaging – plays a big role in helping her achieve her goals.
“One friend jokingly told me that this project would give me a headache but not for me, because I love doing it. I know a lot of my friends are willing to help spread the spirit of giving,” she says.
“We Filipinos are known for celebrating Christmas the longest in the world, I say let us live up to that and celebrate Christmas everyday.”
From grade school and high school at La Consolacion College, Bethsaida has been active in joining outreach programs to poor communities and visiting differently-abled children. Every summer, her days are kept busy in joining church programs to visit communities .
This routine carried on until she entered college at the University of Santo Tomas. But she joined the corporate world, she slowly realized something was missing.
“It seems the Christmas spirit of giving dies after the holidays,” she says. “I noticed that Filipinos are only really in the mood of giving when Christmas comes.”
“I feel limited by the idea that people can only share gifts and give joy to others during Christmas. This is how the idea of extending Christmas to 366 days came about.”
Her pet project called “366 Days of Christmas” aims to give gifts to 366 children and persons in need. Her only appeal is that people join her simple quest – she aims to assist those who wish to share their their blessings and help identify recipients for these donated items.
Interested “gift givers” can select any day of this year until December 25. She posts and updates pledges and donations on this Facebook page.
She actually started a day after last Christmas; eight days after December 25, she was busy giving gifts to various charities. She herself pledged to give a gift on her 33rd birthday this coming January 27 and promises to give on days that don’t have pledges yet.
She has identified strategic places where people can send in their donations: one in Pangasinan for Luzon, Iloilo in Visayas, Cagayan De Oro in Mindanao and Metro Manila. She plans to visit each place once or twice per quarter to give gifts, admitting it’s also her motivation to travel locally.
“This way, visiting a place becomes more meaningful because I am able to met new friends and help to someone and enjoy the beauty of the place as well,” she says.
Also, she plans to tap a friend or two in these areas to help setup a small gatherings for those interested to give gifts or donations. A high school friend in Cagayan even pledged to put up a treat for those receiving gifts.
The popularity of social networking sites like Facebook – along with email and text messaging – plays a big role in helping her achieve her goals.
“One friend jokingly told me that this project would give me a headache but not for me, because I love doing it. I know a lot of my friends are willing to help spread the spirit of giving,” she says.
“We Filipinos are known for celebrating Christmas the longest in the world, I say let us live up to that and celebrate Christmas everyday.”