Why Not by Leah Puyat: Tacloban celebrates sari-saring happiness

I can’t believe it has already been a year since Typhoon Yolanda hit Eastern Visayas, most especially Tacloban in Leyte, and left thousands of people homeless. The aftermath of that super typhoon was one of the most devastating things I have ever seen, but also the most inspiring. Every Filipino in and out of the country, and even other nations, joined hands to help rebuild Eastern Visayas. Our combined efforts helped our fellow Filipinos stand up and smile again.

Last Saturday, November 8, exactly a year after that fateful day in 2013, Tacloban remembered its fallen heroes through a candle-lighting ceremony, which was led by Coca-Cola Vice President for Public Affairs and Communications Adel Tamano. It was really magical seeing the people come together again, with their hearts almost healed. Instead of being sad, the people of Tacloban commemorated Typhoon Yolanda by celebrating life, and sharing sari-saring happiness.

Candles were not the only things they lit up on this night. An entire street glowed with multi-colored lights as Tacloban officially welcomed Christmas through a simultaneous parol-lighting which was also done in five other areas across the country – Taguig, Pampanga, Batangas, Davao, and Bacolod! I saw it all play out on ABS-CBN’s live broadcast and I must say, I had goose bumps! I also followed the Coca-Cola parol lighting in the country’s three leading broadsheets – Philippine Star, Philippine Daily Inquirer, and Manila Bulletin – which all featured the story on their front pages last Monday. The pictures were both powerful and beautiful, I almost cried again!

As I watched the people of Tacloban light up their parols, I couldn’t help but admire them for their resilience and determination to go back to their old beautiful lives, despite everything that the super typhoon has taken away from them. And I really do pray that they not only recover what they have lost, but even live life better than they used to.

I would just like to give a shout out to my favorite leading man Joseph Marco who was also in Tacloban last Saturday.

Now that I can see parols everywhere I go, I can officially say that Christmas is finally here! And I am so so excited to also share happiness in my own ways! After all, ‘tis the season to be jolly! So I say, let’s all light up our parols and Christmas trees and get on with the celebrations! Soon it will be Christmas day!