With the New Year and Christmas just around the corner I was thinking of things that I’m grateful for this year. There are actually a lot of reasons why I should be happy but I wanted to focus on one. I’m happy that social media boomed in the Philippines because it actually makes the holiday season much more merrier and special. I listed down 7 reasons why I believe this is the case below. 
Social Media heightens the anticipation and hype for holidays. People talk about it weeks or months before the holiday and they “infect” others with their excitement. Santa Clause doesn’t need billboards anymore or commercials. Facebook, Twitter, and the millions of his “believers” will market the spirit of Christmas for him.
Twitter or Facebook is just one click away on your laptop, iPad, Galaxy Tab, or smart phone. When the clock strikes 12 on the 24th millions of Filipinos will be spreading the holiday cheer by greeting everyone in their network via updates. The rise of real time technology lets us celebrate special moments with everyone at that precise point in time.
This is one of the most special reasons for me. When I was a kid Christmas was confined to my family and a select group of friends. I never know what’s happening with other people in my life. Facebook has changed that. Now I can see how Christmas was for other people via photo uploads and status updates. It might be a shallow way but it is still a connection that I think we should all cherish and be thankful for.
My friend Chris Tan and his girlfriend made this hilarious holiday greeting video on Facebook. Other than greeting everyone they also turned it into their Christmas wish list. Awesome, awesome, awesome idea Chris. I’m sure others will follow! I hope you get what you wished for, haha!
Ways of Holiday greetings can actually be put into a time line of sorts. It started out as the physical Hallmark greeting card then it evolved into SMS (Text) greetings. Then we saw the rise of e-cards especially from the corporate sector. Now there’s social media! You can create your own greeting or grab a nice one from Youtube or Flickr. For example, check out this inverted Christmas Tree photo! Lol.
Holidays can be heartbreaking if you don’t get to talk to or see your loved ones. This happens a lot in the Philippines. We have over 10,000,000 overseas Filipino workers. I’m sure bulk of them don’t get to come home for the holidays to spend it with their families. I’m thankful for Skype, Yahoo Messenger, Facebook, and other tools that lets them celebrate the holidays. It’s not the same as physically being there by at least they have that connection.
Social media is all about establishing and maintaining connections. This means that whatever we post can be viewed by our network. I hope that in the coming days you guys will post positive things that will inspire and uplift your friends, family, and co-workers. Let’s stop talking about the bad things going on in the world for a few days and just be one in being thankful. By spreading the happiness you become a blessing to others.
With that let me wish all of the readers of New Media PH an advanced very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Thank you for being part of this community.
It’s 2, 3 and 4 for me.
Yeah!