12.24.09 kulturnatib

Real Santa

Rarely does an opportunity arise to be a real Santa. As we get older, the more we realize that Santa is nothing more than figment of the great consumerist imagination. Yet, along with comes the realization that now, more than when we were younger, is the time to realize Santa. To make him or her real.

In our culture and in other cultures as well who practice this, godfathers and godmothers are the real Santas. Beyond the consumerist trappings of perfunctory gift-giving, godmothers and fathers have the opportunity, the moral responsibility even, to share. Not just things but experiences, advice, a fully engaged and non-judgemental ear and, most especially, time.

Recently, I received a letter from a friend in behalf of a son who is one of two children I have accepted the responsibility of being a godfather to. I will not mention either of their names, the father's and the son's, for I have not secured their permission to do so as this goes to press.

The letter talks about the once-in-a-lifetime and possibly a lifetime defining opportunity for the son. He has been shortlisted to be part of the Philippine Team to compete in the Gothia Cup – the soccer (I prefer football) world cup for youth in Gothenburg, Sweden, which, according to the letter, will be played right around the time for the greatest show on earth – the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa next year.

Football has always been my game even if I didn't have much ambition with it despite playing on a high school varsity team and later on a U.S. college varsity team that saw us playing for a summer in England.

This lack is most remarkable in the fact that I have no memories of any of the games we played – except that we played uniformly badly, at least by European standards, scoring the barest minimum goal in all the games, which the British call nil, which somehow sounds more professional than zero.

The best I remember of that trip is dropping in on a performance of Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' with the Royal Shakespeare Theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon, visiting the Tate Gallery that featured a retrospective by Salvador Dali and buying an old copy of art criticism by that venerable British art critic, John Ruskin from an antique book shop.

I'm sure my friend's son will have a different experience should his trip push through. For one, he is younger. He appears to have a more competitive drive. And he will be in a truly international competition where the Philippines, in its dismal history of international sports participation, has had a stellar showing.

The letter was actually asking for advice on whether his trip should push through. I think there is no question of 'should.' The question more is 'could'. This is a question for Santa, an opportunity, as I said earlier, for a real Santa. With enough real Santas its a short trip from should to could to will.

I have started to talk to friends here about which team they are rooting for in the coming world cup. I have said I don't know yet. Now I do. While it won't be the same cup, it doesn't matter.

Or, it actually matters more. I will have a godson, by God and golly, vying for the cup, which once more, even if from a distance, won't just be another spectator sport. Waaaaaave.