Residents build makeshift shelters following the destruction of their houses due to by typhoon Rai, in Surigao City, Surigao del Norte, Philippines, December 21, 2021. (Reuters)Father Ricardo Virtudazo stands in a pool of water in his typhoon-hit church in the southern Philippines delivering Christmas Day mass to dozens of devotees whose wishes this year were for new roofs, food and fine weather. Devotees wore masks as they gathered inside the church festooned with Christmas decorations and prayed for a better year. But the widespread destruction caused by Rai in the southern and central regions of the country has dampened celebrations as many survivors plead for drinking water and food. "Our only request is that there's fine weather on Christmas Day to give us some cheer," she told AFP.

Source: The Standard December 25, 2021 10:15 UTC