A gloomy Christmas for the working class?

With a series of natural disasters having hit our country in rapid succession, it is now the common projection and chances are very strong indeed, that many of our countrymen will have a Christmas of gloom. The most vulnerable components in our society, who largely belong to the poorest of the poor, especially from the agricultural and fishing sectors, had been hit by devastating earthquakes, a super typhoon, a rebellion that killed many and destroyed communities, and a series of floods and tropical depressions, which inundated crops and agricultural farms.

The regions that were hit were already the most economically depressed areas in the country, where poverty incidences are at the highest levels and the unemployment rates are at double digits. Samar is a very rich countryside with tremendous natural resources and high potentials for tourism and economic development. But decades of patronage politics and other political aberrations have delayed its development. Both the government and its civil society leaders have failed to move the province to its proper place in national development.

The provinces of Leyte, Southern Leyte and Biliran have very sound fundamentals for progress. They have a rich deposit of geothermal resources in Tongonan. Its industrial development in Isabel, in phosphate and copper manufacturing, and many related industries, have afforded a lot of employment opportunities to the locals. Business was booming in Tacloban and Ormoc. Tourism was in bloom. But then, again, the traditional politicians have been stunting the growth of the economy and have compelled many of its young human capital to seek employment abroad. The same is true with some places in the Western Visayas.

Zamboanga was hit by a rebellion that brought its economy at least a decade backward. Hundreds of thousands have lost their homes, Small and medium-scale industries had been adversely affected. Manufacturing and trading halted for almost two months and many have lost their means of livelihood. A lot of Zamboangueños will spend Christmas in tent communities, with nothing special to eat for Noche Buena. The same is true with the homeless people in Samar, Leyte and Bohol. The people in Cebu are better off, except for those who were badly hit in Bantayan and other northern towns.

And so, as we face the Advent season with hope, we should remember that many of our countrymen are mired in hopelessness. Thousands of them have lost some loved ones, young children and parents, siblings and close relatives. Their homes have been destroyed. Their farms have been flooded, their rice and corn crops inundated and their coconut, mango and other fruit trees have all been uprooted. Relief goods are good only for days. They need to stand up and struggle again. The working class will not have a peaceful and serene yuletide. There will be a lot of turbulence in their minds and anguish in their hearts.

And so, we, who had been spared from all their disasters and calamities, should continue to share our blessings with them, in whatever way we can. In a way, our celebration will never be completely happy when we very well know that many of our fellow Christians and compatriots are suffering in want and in pain. After all, that is precisely the spirit of Christmas, to remember those who most need our help. I do not know what you, dear readers will do. As for me, I would love to spend Christmas with a family of orphans in Kabalawan, Tacloban City. I'm sure that if I won't come, they will be spending Christmas alone and forgotten. I will then feel the spirit of Christmas from the smiles that I will see from each of them. That to me, would be my best Christmas gift ever.