AP FILE PHOTO
PILI, Camarines Sur, Philippines—Albay’s humanitarian responders to communities ravaged by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” have returned, this time to spend Christmas Eve with survivors in Samar.
Dr. Nathaniel Rempillo, mission commander of the Team Albay disaster response unit sent to Leyte province, said the team had pulled out from its mission in Tacloban City a month ago. Its members arrived in Leyte a day after the storm struck on Nov. 8.
Rempillo said the returning team would give gifts, such as clothes, food packs, and children’s toys, to residents of Marabut and Basey towns.
A press release from the office of Albay Gov. Joey Salceda also said Team Albay and the governor himself would dine with the residents during noche buena, or the traditional Filipino midnight meal.
Rempillo said the team, along with personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, had prepared entertainment to enliven the celebration. They want to share the spirit of Christmas to those who lost so much, he said.
The first batch of Team Albay arrived in Samar province over the weekend to prepare the venues and participants. The second was expected to reach the province on Tuesday. Shiena M. Barrameda, Inquirer Southern Luzon
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