I know this plan sounds weird but doing it would answer the curiosities I have on my mind. The curiosities of how it is for people who don’t have the choice but to spend Christmas season alone, just like prisoners sleeping behind the cold bars and Overseas Filipino Workers who are tied up with their contracts abroad.

I want to be in the shoes of the prisoners and/or   OFWs who are spending the anticipated Christmas celebration without their loved ones.

After two months, December came, a killer Typhoon Sendong (International name: Washi) hit my hometown of Cagayan de Oro and the town of Iligan.

Typhoon Sendong left us with devastation. It left us thousands of homeless, thousands of missing and killed thousands of people. Even my relatives and friends were affected- my grandparents were missing for more than ten hours, my friend's family member died and my neighbor  including her children are  missing until know.

With the devastation, my Christmas getaway plan was totally shifted and twisted. It is a time to mourn and a time to respond.

No one can argue. It is a call of duty. The organization is having a relief operation in time for Christmas season. 

I cancelled my Christmas getaway plan and preferred to be in relief operation mode. My entire Christmas season was spent in  a relief operations. I was hooked with a busy schedule capturing stories and do media engagements. The deadlines, early morning wake up calls, late night sleeps and  travels around the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan made me so exhausted but I never regret of doing it as I find fulfillment in doing community service.

And since, my plan is to spend a lonesome and painful Christmas season, I decided to spend my Christmas and New's Eve countdowns at the evacuation center to complete the experience and to clear the curiosities I have on my mind.

I can never forget my experience of spending my Christmas Eve in the evacuation center of Macasandig. I was with my photographer friend Dustein Sibug at the evacuation center starting at 11:00 evening. up until 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning.

Just like Jesus who born in the manger, Typhoon Sendong affected children and families celebrated Christmas at a congested evacuation center, it is for me a new version of a manger.

There were no foods on the tables, as they don’t even have tables, All of them are just sleeping in the cold floor using recycled karton (boxes).  Most don't even have blankets and pillow. It was not a comfortable sleep. It was not an ordinary Christmas that Filipinos traditionally celebrate.

Christmas Eve in Macasandig evacuation center

What I saw broke my heart.  I can even notice and observe with my five senses how painful it is to celebrate Christmas when you were left with nothing.

If I am on the shoes of these evacuees, forbid it to happen, the feeling  is  more than spending Christmas season behind the cold bars of the jail and OFWs who are tied up with their contracts abroad. It was much more than the pain I anticipated to experience.

Dustein  and I were walking around, then we saw children playing with firecrackers. We went near them and listened to their stories.

Everyone, Dustein, me and the children, were standing at the tennis court. And there was a silent boy who caught our attention. He was Almir.  The 12-year-old  Almir survived from the strong flood waters that swept him away but he unfortunately his 6-years-old brother Axel is still missing until now.

Armil lives in Cala-cala, the hardest hit place where all houses in their neighborhood were literally washed out and where most people died and still missing. Armil’s narration is heartbreaking and painful that I can even hardly take.

Here is Almir’s story:

“I lost my brother at the fourth bridge (in Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City) while were struggling to survive. My brother was holding me tightly, with his shoulders around my neck, but unfortunately my brother drifted because of the big waves, as big as the houses hit us.

 The last word I heard from my brother was when I asked him if he is still fine. Then he answered that he was already tired,” Almir narrates.

Almir was teary-eyed narrating his story. I can totally feel the guilt and helplessness that he is going thru. Almir is confused. He is trying to convince himself that he won't be able to see his younger brother anymore and the thought that what if his brother survived and is now safe from what they went through.  Almir, as the eldest, takes care of his other brother Alexander, 9, who fortunately survived from the devastation. Both live with their Aunties since their parents broke up.

Spending my Christmas Eve at the evacuation center is unforgettable. The pain is much more than what I anticipated to experience. Seeing and hearing those I just shared is I guess, more than the prisoners and OFWs feeling of spending Christmas alone.  

And New Year’s Eve came. 

Spending the anticipated special nights - Christmas and New Year's Eve- with the affected children and families is heartbreaking, painful and priceless.  What I witnessed were one of the most painful I ever experienced last year.


For me, Princess and Almir's experiences were to much for them to take considering their age, especially for Almir who is until now grieving for his missing brother Axel. But these children are taking things with high hopes.  I see hope in these children and their braveness is admirable.


My experience made me feel and understand how cruel life can be. But these children I met gave me priceless lesson and taught me that life must go on despite cruelty it may  bring us.  These children made me realize that our God has better has plans for us. They give me reason to hold on to God's promise written in Jeremiah 29:11

" For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."


My curiosities were answered! I felt the pain that I've been wanting to experience and I had been  curious of. What I felt was actually more than what I anticipated for. (Take note: Friends, I am reminding you to be careful with what you wish for.) But more than the experience, it taught me a lot of lessons.

My Christmas season last year was 'not-the-usual'  but it was one of the best  I  ever experienced. It was a sad season especially for Kagay-anons but definitely one of the best and memorable one for me and for everyone.