00:00When one has nearly nothing or nothing at all, what more could he or she possibly lose?
00:06Hence, in one of the largest inner-city and informal settlement communities in Medgar, Manila,
00:12most of those living in makeshift dwellings are sharing a smile and shots of moonshine
00:18and soaking in the festiveness of the season and the air of hope after losing all they had in a massive fire last month.
00:26Our Benji Duranco narrates how Filipinos cope with hardship and face uphill challenges in this report.
00:45The early Noche Buena celebration of these neighbors in Tondo, Manila was filled with laughter and joy.
00:50But behind the laughter lies the hardships endured and the challenges up ahead.
00:54These are the evacuees from Isla Puting Bato whose dwellings afire last November raced to the ground.
01:00Because the two major evacuation centers in Tondo remain full,
01:03they've been living for nearly a month in the makeshift shelters made of sacks and tarps along the roadside.
01:09It's here where they are celebrating Noche Buena.
01:17The government continues to provide aid, helping them slowly rebuild their flame-ravaged homes.
01:22Despite the hard trials they face, they can't let this important day for Christians pass without celebration.
01:27The only question now is...
01:29Can you still do it?
01:30I can still do it.
01:32How do you do it?
01:36I'm embarrassed.
01:39My husband was disgraced.
01:44He's having a hard time now.
01:46But as they say, Filipinos are resilient when it comes to challenges.
01:50As long as there's good company and a shot to share, they believe any trial can be overcome.
01:56From PTV, Benji Durango, Balitang Pambansa.
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