Filipinos gather for Christmas mass as they heal from Tai Po fire
發佈日期: 2025-12-25 22:23
TVB News
A Christmas mass was held for the Filipino community this morning in Admiralty.
The event also acts as an initiative to help the community heal from the Tai Po fire.
On the morning of Christmas day, a group of Filipinos gathered for a mass under the theme of "Hope and Healing," organised by the Consulate General of the Philippines.
Unlike the previous Christmas mass, this year's event held extra significance as the community came together after the deadly Tai Po fire, which happened almost a month ago.
Among the worshippers, 29 of them were survivors of the fire.
Some became emotional during the mass. Although the tragedy has left a scar on the community, a survivor said some of them are ready to move on.
"Because there are people behind us, supporting us," said fire survivor Mercy O Martinez. "We are thankful. We are celebrating Christmas even though the tragedy is there. We cannot control everything, but we must, we must get out of our shell. We must, we must continue living."
The Philippine Consul General hopes the Christmas season can serve as a means to heal the community.
"We thought of having this special event, precisely, to give them space and time to help them return to normalcy because this is a very festive time of the year," said Romulo Victor M Israel.
Apart from scars, the Consul General said the fire would strengthen the bond between the Filipino and Hong Kong communities.
"After this incident, I'm very sure, on both sides, Filipinos and Hong Kongers, we would all realise the value of what we do for each other," he said.
The Consulate General said it will continue to remind foreign domestic helpers about survival skills when facing a calamity. For instance, taking an emergency bag and their important documents.
