The Birthday We Forgot to Greet

The season of giving turned into the season of spending—but the One it’s all for is hardly remembered.

When Christmas season hits the Philippines, the streets light up—but so does the crime rate. Pickpockets, scams, and snatchers suddenly multiply. Why? Because in a season meant for love, people chase money instead.

We rush to buy, to impress, to give gifts we can’t afford. Some even steal or cheat just to keep up with expectations. Ninongs and ninangs—once spiritual guides—turn into gift machines. It’s a sad trade: we remember everyone except the One we’re supposed to celebrate.

You can’t miss it. Every tarp screams “SALE,” every post says “Shop Now.” Yet rarely do you see “Give Love” or even a simple “Happy Birthday, Jesus.” The malls glow brighter than churches, and devotion becomes an optional errand between discounts.

Ironically, during Holy Week—when the country pauses to pray—crime almost disappears. That silence shows the difference between celebration and distraction. When Christ is the center, peace follows. When He’s forgotten, chaos fills the space.

Christmas hasn’t lost its magic. We just changed its direction. Maybe this year, we can light the candles again—not for the gifts we’ll get, but for the love we’ve long ignored.

⌨ ᴛʸᵖⁱⁿᵍ ᴏᵘᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ʙˡᵘᵉ ᵈᵃʳᵉᵐ ᵐᵘˢⁱᶜ ᵇˡᵒᵍ

Merely Christmas • Darem Placer
Out this season on Bandcamp.

It’s Not About the Price

From phones to clothes to cars, price tags shine loud. But when the glitter fades, what’s left worth holding on to?

We chase things.

Phones, watches, cars, clothes, cakes, beds…

We always think: the more expensive, the better.

But life has a way of humbling us.

Because the truth is:
More costly doesn’t always mean more valuable.

A ₱3,300 phone and a ₱141,000 phone can both stay silent when no one calls.

A ₱1,600 watch and a ₱300,000 watch? Same time.

A ₱455,000 car and a ₱33.5M luxury car? Same traffic, same road.

A ₱1,200 mattress and an ₱86,000 bed? Useless if you still can’t sleep.

A ₱200 cake and a ₱25,000 cake can both taste empty if there’s no joy in the celebration.

A ₱2,000 camera and an ₱80,000 camera make no difference when there’s no moment worth capturing.

A ₱300 book and a ₱5,000 book? The same if you never read or understood it.

A ₱200 pair of sneakers and a ₱20,000 pair can both protect your feet just the same.

A ₱100 shirt and an ₱8,000 branded shirt both cover the same nakedness.

You get the point.

There’s a limit to what money can give.

And beyond that, what matters is rarely found in receipts.

So before you chase the next big thing, pause.

Ask yourself:
Do I really need this?

Or is it just a prettier version of the same emptiness?

When the glitter fades,
it’s not about how much it costs.
It’s about how much it means.

𝚃𝚢𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙾𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙱𝚕𝚞𝚎 • 𝖽𝖺𝗋𝖾𝗆.𝗆𝗎𝗌𝗂𝖼.𝖻𝗅𝗈𝗀