Yolanda victims will still celebrate Christmas - bishop

MANILA, Philippines - The tens of thousands of families in Eastern Samar affected by supertyphoon Yolanda will still be celebrating Christmas, a Church official said on Thursday.

Borongan Bishop Crispin Varquez said that with the help of the donors and benefactors, the Yolanda survivors will be able to have some revelry even in these trying times.

In fact, the bishop said the residents have already put up a makeshift Church using a donated tent in preparation for the traditional Simbang Gabi.

"Tuloy pa rin ang Pasko but [we have a]  new way of celebrating. Una ako ay nagpapasalamat sa nagbigay ng tulong. Sa mga badly hit areas, malaking tulong po ang naibigay nyo, sa mga institusyon na nangako ng patuloy na tulong lalu na sa pagpapatayo ng mga simbahan na nasira.

"Ngayon po kami ay nasa gitna ng kapighatian ay patuloy kaming kumakapit sa pananampalataya sa Diyos na hindi kami papabayaan. Basta nandyan kayo kami ay babangon at sa biyaya ng Diyos ay makatayo muli at makapagsimula ng bagong buhay," Bishop Varquez told Church-run Radyo Veritas.

In Eastern Samar alone, there are more than 60,000 families in 23 towns affected by the powerful storm that also flattened several regions of the country.

As this developed, the prelate has called on more tarpaulins to be used as roofing for the 18 parishes and more than 100 chapels in each of the barangays devastated by Yolanda in Borongan, Samar.

"Kaya yung mga tarpaulin na temporary i-cover sa mga simbahan, magtayo ng temporary tent sa simbang gabi celebration of Christmas and New Year.  'Yun po ang kailangan namin ngayon pang malakihang pang cover sa simbahan," the bishop added.