Taking Gifting to the Next Level

Today is the last day to join Nuffnang’s Merry SM Christmas Blogger Contest and I have finally decided to join it. I have been thinking on what to write for this contest and I have finally found the answer while browsing my old photo albums in my Facebook Page.

You see, I don’t usually post my Christmas Wish List because nobody has been giving into my demands. Nobody really cared to give me something because they think that my Christmas wishes are expensive or maybe they think that I already have it all so they don’t need to give me any Christmas presents. Well, my Christmas Wish List includes a new pair of eye glasses ( I only have one pair and I believe that I need a spare because sometimes I forget to bring them and I cannot read anymore without my eye glasses) , a shoe rack (the one I got from an online shop sucks, it always gets broken and won’t stay in one place), and a leather seat cover for my car (I have been dreaming to buy one but just couldn’t afford it just yet and it’s quite out of my budget).

The Christmas gift ideas for my loved ones this year are :

• For my Dad – I want to give him a new shaver, he’s growing his beard and I don’t like it.
• For my Mom – I want to give her a new pair of slippers, she’s not into shoes and sandals, so I will give her what she wants and needs.
• For my Fiance – I want to give him Nike train shorts because he needs it more than ever, especially now that they will have their Basketball Game for the Christmas Season.
• For my Son – I want to give him a new pair of school shoes, the one he is currently using still looks good but I think he outgrew it already.
• For my Daughter – I want to give her lots of double A and triple A batteries for her electronic toys and dolls.
• For my brothers – I want to give them new polo shirts to wear for Christmas Eve.

And for the Last Question “How do you plan to give back to others this Christmas?” here is my million dollar answer :

I plan to give back to others this Christmas by joining the activities prepared by our Philippine Army to our Lumad brothers in Bukidnon. It is not a secret that we have many IDPs (Internally Displaced People) in Bukidnon right now because of so many problems that these Lumads are currently facing. There are those who run away from their ancestral land for the reason that armed rebels had attacked them and they decided to flee to save their lives. These people needs help, they don’t have any property, they don’t have a home, they don’t have work, they don’t have anything to eat anymore. They need support, they need medical attention, and they need us more than ever. A little help goes a long way, so I did ask my friends to give what they can, be it used clothing, pre-loved toys from their kids, and food to ease the hunger that our Lumad brothers are currently facing. We will be conducting medical and dental mission because our Philippine Army have doctors and dentists, but we lack medicines, so I am trying to find people who could help us with it. I hope by posting this Gift-Giving idea in my blog post, I could find people who will help in one way or another.

Another way for you to participate in Season of Gifting is through here :  Check out the SM Cares Bears of Joy campaign and know how you can take part in the season of “gift-ing” (http://smcares.com.ph/newsevents/?p=993)

I have joined a lot of alternative Christmas Party for our Lumad brothers for the past 2 years and I can say that it was successful and life-changing. A close friend of mine started his Dream and Action Foundation 4 years ago, this year will be the 5th year of gift-giving to our Lumad Brothers in different municipalities here in Bukidnon Province. We gather our old but usable clothes, pre-loved toys, and food that we could share every year to give to our Lumad Brothers during the Christmas Party that we celebrate with them. We also ask some of our family and friends for support so that we can cater more people every year.

Here are some of the photos that we had during the events:

“For more updates about this year’s “Merry SM Christmas” campaign, visit SM’s official Christmas microsite (https://www.smsupermalls.com/merrysmchristmas2015) and follow its official social media accounts at Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/smsupermalls), Twitter (https://twitter.com/smsupermalls), and Instagram (https://instagram.com/smsupermalls/); and get an insider access to all the fun happenings at SM Supermalls nationwide through Viber (http://chats.viber.com/SMsupermalls). Shoppers can actively share their holiday merriments inside the SM Supermalls by posting their photos on social media and adding the hashtag #MerrySMChristmas2015.”