Suddenly, at Christmas in Hospitals, there was… silence

And it wasn’t to sing fado. Because knowing how to listen is fundamental, explained João Pedro Mendonça, who was the protagonist of a “very strange” moment.

“If, on Christmas Eve, you don’t have someone to accompany you, always remember that there are people who are with you and who care about you through this means, through television.”

The words are by Jorge Gabriel, one of the several presenters of the Christmas of Hospitalswhich held its 67th edition this Thursday.

Throughout the morning and afternoon, at the Alcoitão Rehabilitation Medicine Center and the São João Hospital (and with brief visits to the Azores and Madeira), many of the country’s best-known artists and musical groups passed by, as always.

Several presenters or journalists from RTP are also invited.

One of them was João Pedro Mendonçajournalist from RTP, who starred in a rare moment on television: silence. Purposeful.

The first message was clear: “Good presences. This is a time for presence.”

As usual, João had prepared an unusual message. But this was more unusual than usual, he himself warned Tânia Ribas de Oliveira: “If you trust me, something very strange will happen here on television”.

Silence.

For the next 12 seconds, João Pedro Mendonça remained silent, Tânia Ribas de Oliveira too, and practically everyone present followed the moment.

Silence.

“Don’t attack usright?” asked the RTP reporter.

“In music, I often say that the break is one of the most important notes, because allows us to draw attention”.

And then he moved on to the central point of his message: “Listen. More than they say. Listen. More than they write. Listen to others. This is the day to speak to the hearts of others. And speaking to the hearts of others can be listening. There are more people who need to know how to listen, despite the fact that there are many people who need to know how to speak. Choose the moment to listen to yours, ours, each other. And happy holidays.”

And speaking of presence, I brought two gifts. One for my colleague Tânia, another for my colleague Lília, camera operator at RTP. “Who is out there fighting for his life. On one side of the chamber and the other, we are the same.”