Inspirations from "Sendong" Victims

 First published on Monday, December 26, 2011 at 7:21pm

More than the resiliency which we Filipinos are known for, I would like to believe that the statements below are one of the answers to millions of prayers uttered/whispered for residents of CDO and Iligan cities. I am sharing them to you (in case you haven't read them yet) to get inspiration from. I was in tears while reading this, particularly the last paragraph, made me shout "Amen!"

Let us continue to pray for rehabilitation and restoration of shelters and infrastructures; that financial aids will be managed well and protected from any selfish gains. Likewise, pray for healing of lives from trauma and shock; that they will respond positively to medical volunteers. 

Read on and be inspired:

In six evacuation centers crammed with 20,000 people in Cagayan de Oro, a mix of desperation and a subdued Christmas spirit was in the air on Friday.

For single-mother Nova Lopena, there was so much to thank for. "We lost our house, our little shelter, but he is the greatest gift for this year," the 17-year-old said of her 2-week-old baby Hadji Rey.

At West City Central School, Josefa Mandula, 66, was waiting for her son to arrive with food packs from the relief line. Mandula's house was swept away by the rampaging flood, but nothing could stop her from celebrating with her family intact in the evacuation center.

"We can prepare sardines, pancit or misua so that we can have something to eat," Mandula said.

Said Imelda Lantawan, whose family was sharing a room in the school with 25 other families: "It would be a great Christmas after all, with new friends we can share experiences with."

In one corner, Cesar Legazpi said that despite the tragedy, there was reason to be thankful for the second chance in life.

"While others perished, we need to go on and smile and honor their memories. We must be thankful for the chance we are given because many did not have that chance," Legazpi said.

Bleak Christmas

Flora Abellanosa, 65, said celebrating Christmas at the evacuation center would give survivors a chance to "reflect on their lives, their blessings and losses, and the chances we are given and the changes we are going to make."

Vilma Laturino, an evacuee at Xavier Heights in Upper Balulang, said she was thankful that her husband and her five children survived Friday's disaster. "Our Christmas celebration will be sad because we lost our home. It is really painful to be celebrating it in an evacuation center, but at least my family is safe," she said.

Reminder of Christ

At the flood-stricken village of Balulang, Teresita Palacio was still clearing debris in front of her house. She still could not say where and how her family would spend Christmas. "But it will come. It serves to remind us of the sufferings of Jesus, whose birthday we are celebrating," Palacio said.

At Villa Angela Subdivision, Carmelita Sabinay could only stare at the Christmas gifts she had wrapped last week. They were now scattered on the mud-splattered floor. The Christmas tree was in the garbage dump outside. But the lantern still hangs in the garage. "The Christmas tree was beyond repair, so it has to go, but not the spirit it represents," Sabinay said.   COPYRIGHT: ASIA NEWS NETWORK

Excerpts from the news taken from: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/sendong-death-toll-philippines-may-reach-3-000-084006851.html