Why Won't Santa Visit Poor Children?

A Christmas story from the Philippines by Roy Thomsitt

 

 

 

Tina's Live TV Concert Leads Into Christmas Eve Firework Climax

The presenter got the party-goer audience to countdown the last 10 seconds before going live with the broadcast, and all of a sudden she and Di were centre stage before a massive television audience.

The presenter quickly recapped the story of Di and Santa Claus, and the well. Then, as the camera scanned the poorly lit chimney, she told the story of how the local people had come together to build Di's Christmas surprise, Santa's special chimney; and how Di had captured the imagination of people not just around the Philippines, but in Filipino communities around the world.

"Di," the presenter asked, "how did you feel when you realised Santa Claus may have fallen down your well last Christmas"

Di smiled shyly, a bit embarrassed now that she had ever thought such a silly thing.

Her eyes, though, were bright, cheerful and full of joy as she replied: "I cried. He's such a lovely man, and I thought it was our fault because we did not have a chimney."

"Di, tell everyone the news you had from Lapland. Not everyone has heard that yet," the presenter prompted.

Now Di was less shy and shouted out as she had the day she got the news: "Santa's alive; he didn't die in our well!"

Even the adults in the garden cheered, as did the presenter and the television crew.

"So, Di, you think Santa Claus is still in Lapland now?"

She shook her head a little.

"No," she replied, with mature confidence. "I think he'll be travelling by now."

Di had wanted to say that he had already been and would come back later. But that had to stay her secret.

"So, Di, will Santa come to your chimney tonight?" the presenter asked.

"I expect so," she replied, again with a calm confidence that belied her age.

Everyone present was charmed by the demure little 7 year old, as were millions of people watching around the country. But Di was glad when the presenter turned to her parents. At that point, Di stepped across to Tina, who was now waiting at the edge of the little stage.

Tina bent down a little so Di could whisper to her:

"Tina, I am so proud of you. You look so beautiful, everyone will love you."

Tina was touched, and had just been thinking the same of her little cousin as she had faced the audience herself. But by now, both the girls were feeling as confident as regular television personalities, not young novices.

The presenter was asking Di's Ma about the day that Di had made the "discovery" about Santa and the well, and then her father about the big job of planning and building the chimney. She then summoned Di back to the microphone beside her Ma and Papa.

"Di, what did you feel when you first saw the chimney," the presenter asked.

Di beamed: "I was just so excited and happy. It was the best Christmas gift anyone could ever have. And such a big surprise."

"And what did you think of your Pa for making it all come true?"

Di laughed, and looked up at her Papa.

"I thought he was a magician," she laughed....."and the nicest man in the world."

That was it. Di's interview was over, and now it was sheer excitement that rushed through her as she and her parents got down from the stage. This was what she had really been waiting for since they had got back from seeing Santa Claus and the reindeer earlier.

The presenter now summoned Tina over, and explained to the audience why their coverage had been extended.

"So, we're now having a live impromptu concert from the edge of the Palawan rain forest," the presenter enthused after describing Tina's earlier singing. "A Christmas Eve special videoke session, featuring Tina Jimenez."

 

 

Next: Santa Claus Story (cont)