AS we celebrate the joy and quiet wonder of the Yuletide season, The Sunday Punch extends its heartfelt wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year to its readers, partners, and the communities we serve.

Christmas comes each year wrapped in familiar settings—lights, songs, greetings, and gatherings—but beneath these traditions lies a deeper message that deserves renewed reflection, especially in times of uncertainty.

Barely five months have passed since our esteemed Publisher-Editor, Ermin Garcia, returned to his Creator. His passing left a void not only in this institution but also in the continuing struggle for fearless journalism anchored in principle.

Yet even in his absence, The Sunday Punch remains steadfast in its avowed mission: to bring out the truth, guided by its enduring core philosophy—“No man is to be referenced more than the Truth.”

This commitment does not waver with the seasons; rather, it gains greater relevance during moments that call for introspection and moral clarity.

In the spirit of Christmas, it is fitting to pause from the noise of daily politics and ponder the true meaning of this sacred season. Christmas is, at its heart, a story of love, compassion, humility, and hope. It begins not in palaces or halls of power, but in a manger.

Jesus Christ, revered by billions across generations, entered the world clothed only in swaddling garments, His frail and tender body cradled in a feeding trough for animals on a quiet, star-lit night in Bethlehem, in the most vulnerable human form.

Jesus was born not as a ruler commanding authority but as a child of a poor couple, Mary and Joseph, who were far from home and found no room in the overflowing inn. With nowhere else to go, they sought shelter in a stable meant for sheep.

From the very moment of His birth, Jesus identified with the poor, the displaced, and the forgotten.

In contemporary times, Mary and Joseph could be knocking on doors of overcrowded shelters, or else, they would be settling temporarily in an abandoned, dilapidated house or a makeshift shanty on the outskirts of town.

Make room for them this time.

Merry Christmas to all!