@jekai_88 25 November 2020

Christmas In Time of Crisis

Christmas had always been the most awaited occasion of everyone especially us Filipinos. Our love for the Christmas season is so overwhelming that we start decorating our houses and start the countdown once September comes, that's why we are considered to have the longest celebration. This year is not an exception. Despite the different crisis that we are facing, we are still excited as Christmas is fast approaching. Children of all ages can't seem to contain their excitement , especially my kids, for they have already hanged their Santa bags where they would usually write down their wish list for "Santa" to fulfill on Christmas Eve. We can already hear Christmas songs being played over radios and other music sites. Everyone feels so hyped up that everyone is being filled with hope that as Christmas approaches, the world will be healed and would go back to normal. 2 months before Christmas, when everyone thought that everything is getter better, a devastating news hit our country.

Typhoon Rolly hit the Bicol region on November 1, which left a destructive trail on the region causing a huge loss in both infrastructure and agriculture in the said province, with 1 casualty and 6 bodies missing. Thousand of residents where led to evacuation centers. Just days after the onslaught of Typhoon Rolly, another super typhoon entered.

Typhoon Ulysses hit Luzon hardest from November 11 to 12. The typhoon unleashed powerful winds and torrential rain that killed dozens of people, destroyed thousands of homes, and left swathes of the island region flooded. Cries of help flooded newsfeed on social media as people were left stranded on the roofs of their houses.

In Isabela and Cagayan provinces in the Cagayan Valley, heavy rains threatened to overspill Magat Dam, the largest in the country, where authorities decided to release water from the dam to prevent it from spilling, but the surge from the opened floodgates caused massive flooding that submerged many houses and displaced thousands of residents. Different kind of rescue and financial drives where held to support the affected residents of different affected regions. People extend their helps in any means, food, clothing, water, and money just to make sure that our fellow Filipino are given the help that they need. Aids from different countries as well are being sent for assistance. It's devastating that a our fellow countrymen are experiencing such crisis especially now that Christmas is fast approaching. Spending Christmas in evacuation centers, away from their homes. But knowing how strong we Filipinos are, I know that we could stand again with smiles in our faces and celebrate Christmas with our loved ones with the excitement. It might not be as grandiose as it was before, but I know that as long as families are together, Christmas would still be meaningful, for celebrating Christmas always means hope. Christmas would always be in our hearts, whatever crisis we may face.