A Dark Christmas for Typhoon Victims

There is only one week left. Everyone’s rushing to Malls, buying their Christmas gifts for their friends and loved ones. Some are busy wrapping their presents, while some gifts were all neatly placed under the Christmas tree. 

Everyone’s busy doing these things, but another part of the Philippines is mourning. Crying because they have lost not only their houses and properties. They have as well lost their loved ones. Typhoon “Sendong” came in the dead of the night last December 17 at around 2AM while everyone in Cagayan De Oro is sleeping. I was relieved to know that my friend’s family, although flooded, was safe and a bit far from the town that was greatly affected by the storm. 

As I was writing this, I have just heard that the death toll reached 927. I could not help but shed tears whenever I see the news on TV. The residents were said to have been warned about the risk of flooding but it was just ignored. Many of the families refused to leave as they were convinced no such tragedy will happen. The situation was said to have worsened when the floods started rising.

What happened was an event that will definitely haunts them every year. A dark Christmas which no one expect would happen. To help them out, I feel that the money we all are planning to spend for Christmas and New Year can be cut off a little. I do hope that a lot of people will donate at least a small amount to help those who are in desperate need right now. In times of crisis, Filipinos will surely help each other, no matter how different every one is.

Now is the best time to give and share. After all, Christmas is about sharing.