The Varsitarian

THE RETIRED Archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, has reminded Catholics that Christmas is about Jesus Christ, not Santa Claus. And even if Santa Claus is a corruption from Saint Nicholas, a saint in the ancient Roman martyrology known for giving gifts to the poor during Christmas, he’s been appropriated and debased by global capitalism. And yes, those who light up at the mention of Santa Claus don’t know he’s a Christian saint. They’re corrupted too in their blissful ignorance by the commerce of Christmas.

NEEDLESS to say, no incumbent president will ever allow a freedom of information bill to pass under his watch. Not even an electoral victor who vowed his countrymen the “good and noble” oath of transparency by giving access to public information.

Over a year after wooing the public of his grand and ambitious political agenda that catapulted him to the country’s highest office, President Aquino III seemed to have reneged on his promise to pass the proposed bill that had almost been promulgated in the 14th Congress if not for the House of Representatives’ failure to ratify the reconciled House and Senate versions.