AS THE calendar shifts to the ‘ber’ months, Christmas celebrations in the Philippines begin with the shuffling of popular carols, decorations adorning the aisles of shopping malls, and supermarkets curating gift packages across store shelves. Such traditions mark the start of the uniquely Filipino anticipation for the holidays that only escalates as the last month of the year nears.

Around the same time, however, the country braces for another coming season—the late-year tropical cyclones that pick up in July and last until the end of December. In many regions of the country, carols are engulfed by typhoon alerts, decorations are blown away by strong winds, and Christmas-themed relief packages are prepared by local governments for typhoon victims.

The most wonderful time of the year

For many, Christmas is a season of festivals, reunions, and religious celebrations after months of separation. However, these cheery emotions of the Filipino holidays are often cut short between the celebrations due to “Christmas typhoons,” which have only become more frequent in recent years—with a 210% increase since 2012.

Some of the most destructive typhoons—like Typhoons Nina, Odette, and Yolanda—made landfall around December, unraveling a stark reality of the holiday season for thousands of Filipinos across the archipelago.

Subsequently, relief operators also struggle with work especially during the holiday hazards. Tanging Yaman Foundation (TYF) Senior Manager for Programs & Communications Herold Pelonio cited the conflict of sudden typhoons and rising product prices during Christmas as a heavy factor in planning relief operations.

Alongside this, the organization plans additional Christmas donation drives that are equally affected by sudden storms. “So imagine-ine mo, nagpre-prepare kami ng mga noche buena packs tapos biglang bumagyo, so you have to double the effort kasi meron ring relief packs na kailangan sagutin,” Pelonio laments.

A merry risk management

For immediate typhoon response efficiency, Pelonio shared that TYF has always aimed to deliver assistance to the first-hit communities who are flooded within 48 to 72 hours since the typhoon’s landfall in the area. “The first ayuda [is] usually hot meals. Kasi gutom na eh, nasa evacuation center [yung mga victims], [kaya] nagre-respond agad tayo sa mga ganun,” Pelonio said.

Pelonio further stated that, along with other NGOs and local parishes of affected communities, they request assistance from the Philippine Navy, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and occasionally the Philippine National Police for their relief operations, specifically for logistical needs.

According to Pelonio, the reservist personnel are quick to react and coordinate with the organization whenever necessary for donation drives. However, he pointed out that there could possibly be bigger issues that the government also needs to address, such as the increasing water levels and trash accumulation during floods.

Following this, Pelonio urged the government to continuously strengthen disaster mitigation and preparedness efforts, hoping for a more effective disaster risk management system that would prevent families from spending Christmas in evacuation centers.

Dashing through the storm

With the increasing effects of climate change, Republic Act (RA) 10121 altered the country’s disaster management system to respond toward Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) rather than aftermath relief efforts. 

In previous years, Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) also served as the primary DRRM system in the country, warning communities of hazards up to 6 hours in advance. However, it was scrapped in 2017 due to the “lack of funds” but later adopted by the University of the Philippines.

Amid the government’s efforts, Pelonio also stressed the responsibility that people bear in maintaining proper discipline with environmental mindfulness. “Kailangan mag back-to-basic na paalala sa mga tao na to reduce the use of plastic and all,” he says, stressing the importance of reminding people to take an active role in community participation.

Ultimately, worsening weather conditions remain a challenge for both policymakers and citizens across the country, often overshadowing the festive mood of the holiday season.

As communities move forward with disaster response, collaboration among government units, external organizations, and fellow residents is all the more crucial to managing the collective wrath of the local Christmas typhoons.