Christmas spirit in a ravaged home

TRADITION. It has been a yearly tradition for this simple family in one northern Cebu town to hang a lantern on their little house's window. “We're poor, yes, but we don't want our children to feel that - at least for Christmas,” the mother said.

CHRISTMAS LANTERN. On the day classes in Yolanda-stricken towns resumed, the mother decided to keep the tradition. While her children were at school, she made a Christmas lantern out of sticks and ornamented it with colorful paper left by the storm. She then tied it up on their window. When her children arrived, they immediately noticed the lantern. “Madayon pa diay ang Pasko, Ma?” they asked. “O uy!”  the mother replied.