Pamela Mantuac writes of the effects of recent natural disasters in the Philippines and how some school canceled Christmas parties so they cold donate to relief of victims.27 December, 2006
Dear friends,
Season’s Greetings from Cebu, Philippines!
It has been quite a while since I’ve communicated with you. Not out of want but because of circumstances which were not quite favorable on my part. These include limited access to the internet, tight work schedules and an uncooperative health condition (this month my vertigo and the ever famous culprit named “flu” caught me) leaving me with the need to double time with everything.
Perhaps you’ve heard the news about my country which has been hit by two strong typhoons. These led to the cancellation of the ASEAN Summit which was supposed to be held here in Cebu, as well as the landslide in Albay (Bicol Region.) The latter was worse since thousands were left homeless and orphaned. Praise God we were not directly affected here in my island! Yet we are very much concerned about what happened to our brothers and sisters in Bicol especially this Christmas.
Then, two days ago, Taiwan was also hit twice with a 7.2 magnitude earthquake. A few minutes later, a 5.8 magnitude tremor was experienced in some parts of my country too. These then resulted to the disruption of three of the biggest communication networks in the Philippines as underwater cables have been affected. Now many of our peoples especially those living along the coastline are dreading a possible tidal wave, though this was denied by the authorities.
I know that we are not alone in this situation, and this was the same feeling that prevailed in Thailand and Indonesia late 2004 when the killer Tsunami devastated them. But, one feels the stronger impact when he/she is immersed or is within the proximity of the situation. We are truly feeling the impact now! I mean we just could not allow ourselves to be celebrating and feasting knowing that some of us are still searching for food. As such, the school where I am presently working, together with the rest of the Vincentian Institutions in the Eastern Visayas, decided to forego our Christmas Party and donate instead the budget to the DC school in Albay which has become a shelter for the homeless. Also, during the reunion of my family, the Mantuhac Clan, we offered some goods and cash for the same purpose. This may mean so little a contribution that we can offer yet, at least we do not remain deaf to the desperate pleas of our fellow Filipinos.
This circumstance led me to reflect on the first Christmas experience. I believe Mary and Joseph were almost desperate too in search for a suitable place to give birth to Jesus. A humble stable was all that they could find as no one who was comfortably staying in the inn responded to them. Yet, in the midst of this simplicity, the “greatest” among men was born. The little and insignificant place where they stayed is now transformed into something truly valuable if we consider the thousands of pilgrims from all over the world who travel just to visit the place of Jesus’ birth.
I am hopeful that my countrymen could still pull through even after this devastation. If Thailand and Indonesia are slowly recovering, I too believe that with God’s grace, the Bicolanos can also stand up little by little. If they were able to do so many years after the whole village was wiped out by eruption of the same Mt. Mayon (the active volcano that was the source of the landslide,) I have the conviction that they can hurdle even this difficulty.
Nonetheless, inasmuch as Jesus gave us the real reason to celebrate and to keep the hope burning, allow me to express my sincere wish and prayer for you this yuletide season. I may not be able to offer you much, but I would like you to know that I never fail to include people whom I value and care for in my prayers… and you definitely are one of them. May the love and peace of the newborn babe reign in our hearts always! A blessed and prosperous 2007 to you and your family!
Affectionately,
Pamsoy
PAMELA B. MANTUHAC
Curva, San Vicente
Lilo-an, Cebu
Philippines 6002
E-mail : pamsoy7@hotmail.com
Tel. No. : (00) 63-32-424-8965
Mobile No. : (00) 63-919-476-8050
Tags: Disasters
