The recently held University Week celebration was indeed a great success for all of us. The eight colleges competed in various academic competitions which includes poetry interpretation, debate, story-telling, impromptu speech, and Quiz Bees. A job well done for all the participants, all of them are winners. The eight colleges also competed in different categories such as: cultural dance, choir, vocal solo and cheering.

The University Games 2006 started on December 5 with special guests, the SAN MIGUEL All- stars. Students participated in different sports: basketball, volleyball, chess, swimming, badminton, and table tennis. Winners in different events face the final round.

The most awaited and important highlight of the celebration, the search for Mr. and Ms University 2006 was held on December 9 supposedly at the main quadrangle but was moved to the covered court because of the rain. Before arriving at the 12 finalists, the candidates paraded their beauty and tested their personality and wit in the question and answer portion.

The weeklong celebration includes the annual gift-giving event, Bigay Puso 2006 for the poor to be held on December 15 at the covered court.

Christmas

The most valuable gift on Christmas

We can't hide the truth that much of our giving is done because it’s a Christmas tradition. We don’t ask why we do it, we just do it. Sometimes we give only because someone else bought a gift for us and we feel obligated to buy a gift in return. I remember when I was in Elementary we had our christmas party wherein we exchanged gifts in our class, we felt the excitment in waiting for our name to be called. All of them were called but no name joyce was heard. I cried because I expect to receive a gift in exchange of the fifty peso amount of gift that I bought. The teacher told me that the person who was supposed to give m the gift was absent. I cried and told my mom about it. The next day my classmate apologized and his reason for not being present on our christmas day s just because his father died. I felt ashamed and guilty. I was expecting for just a material thing to receive not knowing that it is not that important.

Giving gifts without giving ourselves is a kind of tradeoff. It may not even be giving at all. To love is to give yourself. That’s the whole point of Christmas. And so, in our giving this Christmas may we first thank God for his gift of love to us, and give of ourselves to our loved ones before giving them material gifts.

God’s gift of divine love and the gift of yourself are of more value than all the money or treasures in the world. They’re free. They’re already yours.

Exchanging gifts is one of the traditions that most of us observe on Christmas, this is a wonderful way for family and friends to mark this time of year. But what we must all remember is that these tradition, enjoyable as it is ultimately have nothing to do with the true meaning of giving on Christmas. The true meaning is that the most valuable gift on this christmas is yourslf, your love and not those material things.