Ang nalalapit na Kapaskuhan ( Christmas is around the corner)

               Madami sa atin ngayon ang may kanya-kanyang preparasyon para sa darating na kapaskuhan. Mayroong pumupunta sa mga malls o iba`t-ibang lugar na may tiangge para lamang makahanap at makabili ng mga pang-regalo sa mga inaanak, kamag-anak, katrabaho, o iba pang mga mahal sa buhay. Unti-unti na ring nagmamahalan ang presyo ng mga pangunahing inihahanda sa pasko. Katulad ng hamon, keso de bola, at marami pang iba. Kapansin-pansin na din ang nag-gagandahang mga parol, christmas lights, at iba pang mga dekorasyon na nagsisimbulo sa nalalapit na pagdiriwang ng pasko. Tunay ngang napaka-busy ng mga tao kapag darating ang pagdiriwang na ito.

               Kadalasan nawawalan na rin sa isipan ng lahat ang tunay na kahulugan ng pasko. Mula sa wikang Ingles, ang pasko ay Christmas.Sa salitang ito, ating makikita ang pangalan na Siyang tunay na dahilan kung bakit natin taun-taon pinagdiriwang ang pasko. Si Jesus Christ na Siyang anak ng Diyos, bumaba sa lupa upang ,magkatawang-tao at iligtas ang nakararami sa kasalanan. Nang dahil sa pag-ibig mula sa Ama, walang pag-aatubiling inalay ni Hesus ang buhay Niya para sa lahat. Ang darating ng pasko ay isang pag-alala sa pagkapanganak ni Hesus. 

               Bago pa man tayo maliko sa  mga bagay na nakasanayan na natin sa pagdiriwang ng pasko, bigyan muna natin ng halaga at pansin ang anak ng Diyos na si Hesus, Gawing makabuluhan ang panahong ito sa pagbibigay ng pagmamahal sa ating kapwa at maging mas malapit sa Panginoon.

THE RESIGNATION OF NHCP CHAIRPERSON MARIA SERENA DIOKNO

                      Aside from being the head of the National History Commission of the Philippines, Maria Serena Diokno is also a professor of history and a former vice-president for the academic affairs of the University of the Philippine. Diokno is also one of the 12 UP Centennial Fellows who will participate in the UP Centennial Lecture series as part of Centennial celebration the Philippines` premier institution of higher learning. She is also a founding member and executive director of the Southeast Asian Studies Regional Exchange (SEASREP) foundation, an organization of the Southeast Asian scholars that promotes Southeast Asian studies in the country.

                   In 29^th of November this year, Diokno stepped down from her position as the chairperson of the NHCP. This was because of her strong opposition over the burial of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos at Libingan ng mga Bayani on Taguig City. According to Maria Serena Diokno, the burial of Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani erases the memory of the lives lost and destroyed during his regime, and mocks the collective action for Filipinos to oust him. She also said that, she wanted to “place her voice on the side of history that the Duterte government ignores, but the history that beckons our people to demand justice that even the highest court of the land will not bestow.” The next day, she joined street protests against the hero`s burial at EDSA People Power Monument. The resignation was effective in December 1 in the present year.

                  Malacañang palace has said it`s gratitude for the 5-year service of Diokno as the head of NHCP since 2011 that was appointed by President Benigno Aquino III during its presidency. But President Rodrigo Duterte was still standing firm on his decision about the Marcos burial. Now, Diokno plans to teach history at University of the Philippines. She is also planning to go around communities and schools with her fellow historians to teach about martial law.