FILE PHOTO: Commission on Human Rights spokesperson Atty. Jacqueline de Guia. Image from CHR.
MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos celebrating a better Christmas this year should not forget other people going through a tough time and leave them behind.
This was the core of the Commission on Human Rights’ (CHR) message for the Yuletide Season, encouraging Filipinos to set aside time to help the less fortunate, including those affected by the recent onslaught of Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai).
“Bumababa rin ang naitatalang kaso ng COVID-19 sa bansa. Ikinalulugod ng CHR na muli nating natatamasa ang ilan sa mga kinagisnang tradisyon tuwing Kapaskuhan. Ngunit sa ating pagbangon, wala sanang maiiwan. Isaisip natin silang mga mahihina, isinasantabi, at mga inaabuso sa lipunan,” CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said in a statement.
“Sa gitna ng mga pagdiriwang, nawa’y manaig din ang likas na diwa ng malasakit at bayanihan para makapagbahagi tayo sa mga kapuspalad at mga nalugmok nating kababayan, kabilang ang mga nasalanta ng iba’t ibang sakuna, tulad ng bagyong Odette na nanalasa sa Visayas at Mindanao kamakailan,” she added.
The CHR spokesperson explained that while Filipinos are known to be a resilient bunch, the nation as a whole must hold the government accountable in terms of pushing for the people’s human rights and dignity amid recovery efforts.
“Hindi biro ang mga hamon na kinaharap natin bilang isang bayan noong mga nakaraang taon. Bagama’t patuloy tayong nakikibaka sa mga pagsubok, marami rin tayong mga napagtagumpayan na dapat nating ipagpasalamat, ipagdiwang, at gawing inspirasyon tungo sa tuloy-tuloy na paghilom at pagbangon,” De Guia noted.
“Hindi bago sa mga Pilipino ang karanasan sa mga kalamidad. Likas tayong matatag bilang isang lahi. Ngunit patuloy na paalala ng [CHR] na ito ay dapat tapatan ng masugid na pagtupad ng gobyerno sa obligasyon nitong itaguyod at pangalagaan ang karapatan at dignidad ng lahat,” she added.
While COVID-19 cases have seen a continuous downtrend, the country endured two surges in 2021 — one that ran from March to April and another from August to September.
As of Friday, 51,050 people have died due to COVID-19.
But just as the country was recovering from the economic downturn, Typhoon Odette left a trail of destruction when it barreled through northern parts of Mindanao, portions of Visayas, and Palawan — a disaster now being compared to Super Typhoon Yolanda’s effects in 2013.
As of December 24, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council said that 326 have been confirmed dead while 58 remain missing due to the super typhoon. Meanwhile, numbers from the Department of Social Welfare and Development showed that over 95,000 houses were totally damaged due to Odette.
CHR is not the first government agency to make the reminder on Christmas Eve. Earlier, Vice President Leni Robredo reminded Filipinos to let people, especially those experiencing hardships, remember that they are not alone.
READ: Robredo’s Christmas message: Hope is found in togetherness, selflessness
Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo on the other hand stressed that Christmas time should also be a time of compassion and empathy, urging people to go beyond well wishing and help those who would really need assistance.
READ: Chief Justice Gesmundo wishes for compassion, empathy among Filipinos amid calamity, pandemic
But beyond Odette and COVID-19, De Guia also said that CHR hopes people can use the holidays to reflect on the choices they make into the upcoming year, especially with the upcoming national elections in May 2022.
“Ngayong panahon ng eleksyon, pahalagahan natin ang bagong oportunidad na maghalal ng mga kandidatong kakatawan sa mga makataong pagpapahalaga at interes ng sambayanan. Isipin natin lalo’t higit ang kapakanan ng mga nasa laylayan ng lipunan para mapalakas ang mga serbisyong karapatdapat para sa kanila,” De Guia said.
“Nawa’y ang diwa ng Kapaskuhan ay ating isabuhay sa lahat ng panahon. Ang pagmamalasakit at pagkalinga sa ating kapwa ay patuloy nating ipamalas sa lahat ng pagkakataon. Katuwang ninyo lagi ang Komisyon sa paninindigan, pagpapalaganap, at pagtataguyod ng katotohanan, karapatan, at, dignidad ng lahat. Isang mapayapa at makabuluhang Pasko sa ating lahat!” she added.