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| Photo from www.gmanetwork.com |
“Nothing can stop us from welcoming Christmas even though we
have lost our home,” says Ellen Miano, a survivor of the devastating
typhoon-hit in Eastern Visayas.
Gifts under our glam Christmas tree, scrumptious feast for Noche
Buena, simbang gabi with loved ones, heavenly Christmas carols and
never-ending parties… Can Christmas get any better? Well, this year’s a bit
different especially to our fellowmen who were struck by Typhoon Haiyan in
November. After a month there had been confirmed more than 6, 000 death cases
and more or less 2,000 people missing. (http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-1-222569-Typhoon-hit-Philippines-celebrates-Christmas-despite-continuing-hardship). With 4.4 million homeless people and $12.9
billion worth of damage, the yuletide season does not seem very happy in the
region. Water and electricity are yet
fully repaired in the whole region so a literally dark Christmas is expected. It
is still very far from recovery but with help of the government, Filipinos, and
the whole world, it is never impossible.
Despite all the devastation, our kababayans from Leyte did
not postpone Christmas but embraced the coming of the Lord maybe with empty
hands but with hearts full of hope. Ronfrey Magdua, also a survivor, built a
4-meter-tall star-shaped lantern made of wood and wrapped in the Philippine’s
flag which he displayed in the yard of a family that perished in the disaster.
In Palo, another town very badly devastated by the typhoon,
Jean Dotado and her family feasted with apples, oranges, grapes and sliced
bread with peanut butter which they got from the funds from UN. The UN’s World
Food Programme has given out P 1,300 to the poor families in Tacloban and
nearby towns and they plan to give out $6 million to 100,000 families next
week. Others spend the money on medicines and rehabilitation of their houses.
Despite severe damage, churches in Tacloban still opened their
doors and held the simbang gabi or
the Christmas Novena and Christmas masses.
Yes it is a cliché but there will always be a rainbow after
the rain. No matter what, we are still lucky that we are here to celebrate the
birth of our savior and no casualty should keep us from having a merry
Christmas. Our fellow kababayans in
Eastern Visayas are great examples of hope and strength. This Christmas, let’s
cherish all our blessings and take part in helping people in need. This is the
true spirit of Christmas.
Source:
By: Mykha Marie B. Tabuzo
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