MANILA, Philippines -- Education Secretary Jesli Lapus has instructed schools to keep “simple” or even “austere” their Christmas parties due to the recent calamities that struck the country.

Lapus said schools should even consider canceling their Christmas parties and instead donating the funds for these celebrations to calamity victims.

“The difficult economic times call for austerity and simplicity…Much suffering has been experienced, but it should not stop us from ending the year with the spirit unbowed and full of hope,” Lapus said.

Storm Ondoy and typhoon Pepeng whipped Metro Manila and parts of Luzon, causing flooding and landslides that claimed hundreds of lives and destroyed homes worth hundreds of million pesos.

The typhoons prompted President Macapagal-Arroyo to even impose price controls on basic commodities, which caused a controversy with oil and gas distributors. Ms Arroyo has since lifted price controls after getting a commitment from oil companies to be circumspect in raising pump prices.