Counting blessings despite Yolanda's destruction

NAVAL, BILIRAN, Philippines — Every year, residents from Talustusan, a community 20 minutes away from this town, gather on Christmas eve at their community center to welcome the birth of Christ.

It was no different even after typhoon Yolanda hit the province over a month ago, but a sudden decrease in attendance was obvious in what used to be a jam-packed venue.

With a small generator lighting up the community center, residents from its seven different zones celebrated with a feast: They brought rice cakes like biko and suman, and other delicacies and shared them with other residents.

Others brought menudo and native chicken adobo to complement root crops like camote and cassava. Pancit was also common in all tables.

Barangay Talustusan chief Arturo Saclolo said in his speech that there was no reason to suspend the Christmas party even after Yolanda. "Although there were houses that were damaged, we have no casualty, and no one was injured. That's something we should be thankful for," he said.

A total of 79 houses in the agricultural barangay were destroyed by Yolanda. Most of the houses here were built under trees or in coconut plantations.

The island-province of Biliran was one of the areas put under signal No. 4 PAGASA, but it sustained less damage compared to Leyte and Eastern Samar.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council recorded five casualties in the province, over 5,000 families were left homeless in eight towns, and over P700 million were recorded as damage to properties, such as housing, school buildings, infrastructure, agriculture and fisheries.

The community's electricity has yet to be restored after Yolanda destroyed Biliran's electrification system. Energy has been restored in areas along the backbone line since December 15 but several communities remained in the dark last Christmas day. As of December 27, a total of 19 barangays in the province were still without electricity.

The lack of electricity however did not prevent village officials of Talustusan from holding their annual Christmas party. They rented a generator, enough to light up the center and operate the sound system.

Some residents flocked to Manila before Christmas to celebrate the holiday season to avoid bad memories brought by Yolanda, but Saclolo told his constituents: "Even if we're left with nothing, what's important is the entire neighborhood is together," he added.

The community Christmas party has been religiously held since 2008, to promote camaraderie among residents, and for it to be a venue for thanksgiving. (FREEMAN)