Chief Justice Gesmundo wishes for compassion, empathy among Filipinos amid calamity, pandemic

Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo. (File photo by MARIANNE BERMUDEZ / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo has appealed to Filipinos to remember that Christmas should also be a time for compassion and empathy as a lot of people have experienced hardships within 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent typhoon.

In his Christmas message released on Friday, Gesmundo urged that people who are fortunate to even share Christmas with relatives — as many have lost their loved ones within the year — to help others beyond just wishing them well.

“While Christmas is truly a time for great joy and thanksgiving, it is also a time for compassion and empathy.  May those of us who are fortunate enough to be with our loved ones spare more than a thought for those who are alone, lost, and abandoned,” he said.

“While we remain hopeful for better times and steer toward a brighter horizon, let us reflect beyond the merriment, and strive to become vessels of selflessness and charity.  Have a blessed and meaningful Christmas,” he added.

According to the SC head, he is urging Filipinos to join him in praying that people may find mindfulness and sensitivity amid the current circumstances.

“As we gather with family and friends to commemorate Christmas, let us pray for mindfulness and sensitivity to fragility of our circumstances.  The continuing circumstances of the current pandemic coupled with the recent devastation brought about by Typhoon Odette have had a disruptive impact in our lives,” Gesmundo said.

“These challenges and trials, however, only put into focus our resilience, benevolence, and solidarity as a people, and as a nation,” he added.

While COVID-19 cases are recently on a continuous downtrend, the country had endured two surges in 2021 — one from March to April and another from August to September.

As of the Department of Health’s latest count, 50,981 individuals have died due to COVID-19.

But just as the country was recovering from the pandemic’s woes, Typhoon Odette barreled through northern parts of Mindanao, southern portions of Visayas, and Palawan, leaving behind a trail of destruction so catastrophic it is being compared to Super Typhoon Yolanda.

As of Friday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council said that 326 have been confirmed dead while 58 remain missing.  Meanwhile, numbers from the Department of Social Welfare and Development showed that over 95,000 houses were totally damaged due to Odette.

EDV