Gov. Joseph Marañon called on government and rebel forces in Negros Occidental to honor the three-week holiday truce that began yesterday to enable everyone to celebrate the birth of Christ in an atmosphere of peace.

The truce in the fight against Communist rebels approved by President Gloria Arroyo is set until January 6.

Marañon issued call as the Misa de Gallo, the daily dawn masses leading to Christmas, also began yesterday.

Let us all put Christ at the center of Christmas and practice his teachings to ensure peace and progress, the governor said.

The Paskwa sa Negros also began last night with the lighting of the Provincial Capitol Park and Lagoon, and a Christmas show, the governor said.

The Paskwa sa Negros will run until Dec. 22 with nightly entertainment.

It is important for all of us to reflect on the birth of Christ as we celebrate Christmas, the governor said.

Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra said the holding of the Misa de Gallo or Simbang Gabi from Dec 16 to 24 is a unique Christmas celebration to the Philippines .

It is a privilege requested by the bishops of the Philippines from the Pope, which is renewed every 50 years.

“Waking up early to attend the mass is a sacrifice and this sacrifice is part of the celebration. Being prayerful should be given emphasis in our lives everyday and not only during Christmas,” he said.

Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines president, in a statement posted on the CBCP website, stressed that it is important to put Jesus at the center of our festivities during the Christmas season.

Lagdameo lamented that in the midst of the frantic holiday activities, people tend to forget the reason for the celebration.

“Jesus seems no longer a part of our Christmas parties during the Advent and Christmas season,” Lagdameo noted. “And yet without Jesus, all our festivities, gift-giving, decorations, Christmas carols are without meaning,” he added.

We celebrate Christmas every year, the prelate said, to remind us of God who decided to be with us.

He said Jesus had embraced the nitty-gritty of human existence, so that man may learn from him how it is to become fully human.

“He lived among us, laughed and cried like us, showing us how it is to be truly human yet totally attuned to God,” said Lagdameo.

In the face of natural calamities and social ills people have to endure nowadays, the season of Advent and Christmas nonetheless instills hope in the hearts of the faithful, he added.

The Advent season – four weeks of preparation before Christmas – is a period of waiting for the coming of the Lord, he said.

“We always ask God to come and change the world… to free our world from poverty, violence and war…to make us more concerned of other people, our environment and country,” Lagdameo said.*CPG/NB

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