The celebration goes on

Thursday, December 15, 2011

IT IS nine days to Christmas! Joyous celebrations have begun to fill the city air. Amidst the things that have happened in our city, the spirit of Christmas can never be set aside.

Our country has been experiencing the hoopla of politics, natural disasters and tragic events and Davao has been a part of some of these natural and man-made calamities.

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No one can forget the flooding that happened last June 29 that took toll on the lives of 31 hapless victims and destroyed thousands of houses and millions worth of properties.

Fire also destroyed several houses in Bucana and Tibungco and 522 families in Riverside, Barangay 1-A Poblacion last December 8, just days before Christmas.

One cannot help but ask? How are they going to spend their Christmas after losing some material possessions in a fire or during the flood devastation?

"Well, despite of all the difficulties, 2011 is still full of blessings for me," said Ivy Tejano, Sun.Star Davao reporter who was a victim of the June 29 flooding incident.

She added that material things are the least of her priorities.
"I am blessed because God is always there and without those people whom he used as instrument to help and comfort us, perhaps we could not have surpassed the challenges in life," Tejano said.

Her family will still be celebrating Christmas and all she hopes for is for all who experienced the same tragic event to have more strength and courage to face another chapter of their lives.

Jojie Alcantara, a Sun.Star Lifestyle columnist, said she lost most of her material possessions like family albums, book collection, clothes, furniture, gears and files, she still feels blessed that she did not lose her precious family.

"I am blessed that we came out safe and complete. We bonded more because of what has happened to us and learned not to take each other for granted.
So we are spending a quiet Christmas of thanksgiving and appreciating the new life and home given to us," Alcantara said.

She added that they did not feel the need to replace the material things they have lost and that she feels the Christmas spirit of giving even more now after losing everything.

"But what can I give?" she jokingly said.

"This is also my opportunity to thank each one who rushed in to help and offered support emotionally, materially and spiritually. It means a lot to my family," Alcantara said.

Arianne Marie Casas, also a Sun.Star reporter, still cannot picture how they will be celebrating Christmas because they recently lost all their property in a fire that affected more than 500 families in Riverside, Barangay 1-A Poblacion.

"I lost an important part of my family, my papa and our house this year. I am very sad but despite what happened, we need to accept these things," Casas said.

Her fervent faith in God is what she holds dear to her heart and she urges those who have experienced the same tragedies still pray to God and never lose faith in Him.

“I just hope God will give us strength to face everyday challenges that despite how huge our problems may be, we can make it and solve it. I also pray that may God give my mother good health always for she is my strength,” Casas said.

For Allan Abais, of ABS-CBN's dxAB, said, "There's a big difference after the flooding incident, now we have a reason to double our celebration, double our recollection and prayer why God allowed this to happen and after all it is he who give us mere comfort, so it is easy for us to accept things and look at it into a perspective manner."

"As I see this coming year is very challenging, the flood really taught us a lesson on how to face and accept challenges in life," said Abais, who is also columnist of Sun.Star Superbalita.

The Christmas spirit transforms everyone, something makes people more selfless, friendlier, more kind, and generally much nicer people but there was this kind of spirit that took over after the sad events that happened, the spirit of Christmas was felt.

It is a fact that it does not have to be Christmas to feel the spirit of giving and love to others. We all can do it this Christmas and everyday of our lives.