A Tribute

What do you do when someone close to you passes away? I am surely not the right person to answer this question. A few hours ago, someone close to me left this world. I am at a loss, and without knowing how I should act, I feel the need to say a few words.

He was a great person, fun loving and friendly. He never smoked, never took drugs, never had a problem with alcohol. He always stayed active, playing badminton, he ate well, and did not have any health problems. He was as healthy as healthy can be.

Tonight, this man left this world. He was smiling and talking happily. And then, with no warning, he keeled over. Breathing uneasily, taking deep breaths between long pauses, he eventually stopped breathing. We tried CPR until the paramedics arrived, then they took over. He was taken to the hospital. They tried to resuscitate him, but after half an hour, all was lost. No one knows why his heart stopped beating. We'll just have to wait for the postmortem.

What do you do when you have lost someone important? How should you feel when you were there watching it happen? I don't know. I'm trying to find an answer, but I'm drawing blanks.

Why? Why him? Why now? At the age of 23, he will be 24 on Sunday. It was not his time. If God threw a lightning bolt, why did it have to strike him? Why not me? This is how I feel. I feel useless. I should be crying, but I can't. I feel it inside, but I cannot express it. What is wrong with me?

There is nothing I can do now. I can only pray that his soul rests in peace.

Godspeed, my friend, may you enjoy eternal life in paradise.

'Tis the Season to be Jolly

Another year looms around the corner as the jolly season comes again. Christmas.

As the famous jingle goes: "'Tis the season to be jolly, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la--la-la...".

But just how jolly is it? While the well-to-do masses flock the shopping malls, erect tremendous decorations, and spend hundreds of dollars on wrapping paper, there are countless numbers of people who cannot afford such luxury. But that is beyond the scope here.

Christmas Day and Valentine's Day are only such examples of corporate gluttony. These 'special' days, created by global corps to increase sales and make more profit. The proof? If Valentine's Day did not exist, Hallmark would not be the greeting card making giant it is today. Christmas Day, if this corporate holiday ceased to exist, global sales of stuff would not be at an all time high during the 4th quarter of the year.

Putting conspiracies aside, Christmas Day truly is a special day. And a day worth celebrating it is. However, one has to think: How did Christmas Day become so materialistic? Amidst the corporate propaganda Christmas has become, we all tend to forget the one most important thing. The 25th of December is not only Christmas day, but it is also the day Jesus Christ was born.

Being Christian, I may not celebrate Christmas Day, but I do celebrate the day Christ was born. The 25th of December should not be known as Christmas Day, rather Christ's birthday.

And on that note, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.