If I had a fat bonus, (which I don’t), I’d buy myself a digital camera and give my old one to a close relative or to one of my best friends but I’d have to raffle it off amongst them because I don’t want to be accused of playing favorites.  I’d also buy myself a new mobile phone and put in a notebook as well so that when I go on speaking engagements my presentations don’t screw up. 

Then I’d give my hubby a 29-inch digital TV.  For my kids I have a choice between a Sony PSP, a Nintendo DS, or an Xbox, or video games of their choice.  My 9-year old son was asking me for an MP3 player but I’d leave that to my editor who is his ninong.

Really now, times are tough and with the EVAT enforced, the average Filipino family will have to do more with less this year, me included.  (I hope our kumares and kumpares are reading this.)  We also have to tighten our belts all the more, which is fine by me as long as belt-tightening measures will translate to a smaller waistline.

But you need not be a Scrooge this Christmas because there are cheaper alternatives to the hi-tech toys and gadgets on my list.  In case you haven’t discovered the Bodega in Divisoria that sells toys at bargain prices, then it’s about time you pay it a visit.  However, if you’re claustrophobic, skip the place and settle for the neighborhood tiangges where you’d find the same toys at slightly higher prices that at the Bodega.

On the other hand, if you want to stay away from the maddening crowd, visit your favorite bookstore and decide to give a book instead and help cultivate the love for reading.  For kids, Adarna and other local publishing houses publish storybooks that are reasonably priced.  There’s a set of ten Lola Basyang stories that costs less than 600 pesos and that’s good for ten kids already.  Of course there are a lot of stories to choose from written by talented Filipino authors.

For teens, how about giving them a year’s subscription of their favorite magazines?  At least they’ll still be reading. 

For adults, those self-help books would do but you may find them rather expensive so recommend the books of Bo Sanchez.  But if there’s one book I’d really love to give all my friends is the book by Atty. Alexander Lacson entitled 12 Little Things You Can Do For Your Country.

Inspired by Tipping Point by John Maxwell (which I have added to my reading list next to Future Shock and other Alvin Toffler books), Atty. Lacson listed down twelve very simple, practical, and doable ways of helping the country rise to its former glory.  It’s an easy read that I was done with it even before I was finished cooking our dinner.  I’ve met the author twice, the first to purchase the book and have him sign it and the second to tell him I was moved to tears after reading it.

One of the “little things” Atty. Lacson suggested is to ask for receipts each time we make a purchase.  Now that’s not really very hard to do, is it?  So next time you shop at Divisoria, Baclaran, or at any tiangge, ask for the receipt so that the stall owners pay the correct taxes.

Another “little thing” he suggested is to buy Filipino.  This is self-explanatory.  But reading his thoughts on this and with the figures he cited in the book, I’d think twice before buying imported goods.  I just have to empty my tube of Colgate. 

And there are ten little things more which I won’t discuss anymore otherwise you won’t be buying the book.  But if you know somebody in government, please do give him or her this volume.  It just might open up their minds and hearts.

By the way, this volume is not available commercially so if you’re interested send me an email at openingpagemb@yahoo.com.  I don’t want the author’s email to be flooded with spam.

So this Christmas, you can either give hi-tech or no tech.  At least you have a choice.