As we prepare to celebrate Christmas in the warmth and comfort of our homes, it is crucial to turn our attention to a corner of the country where the season’s joy is tempered by uncertainty and displacement.
In Canlaon City, about 169 kilometers north of Dumaguete, over 6,000 individuals have been forced to evacuate due to the risks posed by volcanic activity of Mt. Kanlaon.
This number of people, including women and children, could swell if authorities decide to expand the current six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone to a 10-kilometer radius, further displacing more families.
For these evacuees, Christmas will not be spent under twinkling lights or beside decorated trees but in unfamiliar surroundings of evacuation centers.
Their plight echoes the story of the first Christmas when Mary and Joseph found no room at the inn, and sought shelter in a humble manger.
In their temporary public quarters, the evacuees, too, face the challenge of making do with limited resources, longing for the comfort of home and community.
While the government has mobilized to provide essential assistance with the assistance of P60 million from the national government—in terms of canned food, rice, water, sleeping areas, and some basic necessities—these efforts alone cannot address the deeper emotional and psychological toll of displacement.
This is where the spirit of civil society must step in, filling the gaps that bureaucracy often leaves behind.
Imagine the joy of a child in an evacuation center receiving a toy, or the relief of a parent given the resources and the means to prepare a warm, home-cooked meal. Safe drinking water, laundry soap, or a holiday treat could provide a moment of normalcy to lives upended by disaster.
These small gestures remind the evacuees that they are not forgotten by their brethren, and that the broader community stands with them during their time of difficulty.
As we gather with our families this Christmas, let us reflect on how fortunate we are to celebrate in safety and comfort. Let this realization inspire us to extend a hand to those who cannot say the same. Whether through donations in cash or kind, volunteer work, or simply raising awareness of their plight, each of us has a role to play in bringing hope and dignity to the evacuees in Canlaon City.
This Christmas, let us be reminded that the true essence of the season lies in compassion and generosity to people other than family. Just as the first Christmas brought light and hope in a humble manger, so, too, can our collective efforts bring warmth and joy to the displaced families of Canlaon. After all, the spirit of Christmas shines brightest when shared with those who need it most.
