The past few Christmases in this country have seen a rising number of Filipinos being displaced by typhoons and related calamities due to the worsening climate change phenomenon experienced around the globe.
From typhoon “Ondoy” to “Sendong” and now “Pablo”, the typhoons have been as, if not more relentless than the continuing damage being inflicted by humanity on the environment.
As of this writing, the state weather bureau Pagasa said tropical storm “Quintang” has weakened into a depression and pending any last minute changes, may well be on its way out of the country in the next few hours.
The barrage of reports from media about the plight of the families hard hit by “Pablo” excluding those whose loved ones perished in the devastation wrought by the super-typhoon may prove numbing to those who’ve either experienced the brunt of past typhoons or were exposed to too much of these reports to the point of revulsion, despair or worse, apathy and indifference.
Thus it was refreshing to see those victims of Pablo such as the battered area of New Bataan in Luzon proclaim in big, bold, colorful letters painted on a wall that “Babangon Tayo (We Will Rise).
As if reading the sentiments of fellow countrymen who’ve either despaired or felt helpless that all their assistance, however big or small, isn’t making an immediate difference in alleviating their plight, the painted, wall message showed to all and sundry that these affected families will recover in due time, even stronger than before.
That message also applies to the rest of the country as they celebrated Christmas Eve last Tuesday and will make similar preparations for the coming New Year festivities, however grand and simple it may be.
We need not be reminded that others who’ve experienced tougher times like the families hit by “Pablo” and other natural or man-made calamities have less to celebrate but still continue to do so because they believed that there’s more to the holidays than sumptuous food, expensive gifts and fat bank accounts.
In fact people gain a better appreciation of the meaning of the holiday season sans the attendant luxury and abundance of the food spread on the table and presents under the tree. “Pablo” survivors enjoyed for once, free tickets given to them by one cinema in Davao in order to forget for once the misery caused by the tropical storm.
This sparseness of material wealth doesn’t equate with mediocrity for sure but we strive not for mere material glory but to make lives better for others. That our generosity of spirit, of giving without any thought of returns should continue beyond the season and well into the next year.