Relief efforts for victims of Super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan)
Leyte, the Philippines
Couples for Christ Thailand organized relief efforts in Leyte island from 19 November to 24 May 2014, with support and generous contributions from many individuals and organizations, including:
In the Philippines, critical coordination and logistical support has been provided by the young and dynamic couple, Idyll Ann (Kling) and David Lacson in Cebu City, staff of Baybay City local government unit (Jingay and Tsaki Mojado), and members of CFC Ormoc, Agusan and Surigao (Jude Abenoje, Atoy Franco, Eddie Cabanban, Leo Montante & William Lim).
First Relief Operation, 18-20 November 2013
The relief team comprised Kling and David Lacson, EDante, Jinggay Mojado and Taski Mojado. Relief goods were purchased in Cebu City on 18 November and shipped in a truck to Baybay, Leyte the following day. On 20 November, distribution of goods was undertaken in 5 interior villages of Dulag and Tanauan towns . Approximately 2,500 individuals or 800 households/families were reached out with the basic needs of food, water and shelter and other small stuff, sleepers for children and some under garments for infants. Police escorts from Baybay City provided security during the delivery. The relief content included:
Second Relief Operation, 27 November 2013
The relief team comprised Kling and David Lacson, Jinggay Mojado and Taski Mojado.Relief goods were purchased in Cebu City and shipped in a truck to Baybay, Leyte. Actual delivery happened on 27 November in Opong, Tolosa, Barangay Tunga, Dagami, Barangay Julita, Barangay San Vicente, Dulag. The relief content included:
Third Relief Operation, November-December 2013
The relief team comprised members of CFC Ormoc led by Jude Abenoje. Relief goods using our funds were purchased in Surigao City through the help of CFC community in Surigao and shipped to Southern Leyte by ferry and transported all the way to Ormoc City in Leyte. Packing and distribution was done by the CFC community in Ormoc City and relief goods delivered in affected areas of Tanauan, Palo and Dulag Leyte. The relief content included:
Fourth and Fifth Operations, December 2013/February 2014
30 Dec 2013 (Fourth operation): The team comprised Kling and David Lacson with Jinggay and Tsaki Mojado. The group went Palo, Tanuan and Dulag Leyte with fleece blankets for the cold weather on the holiday season and about 500 packs of children goodies and some boxes of bread c/o Trisha Torres. On the photos, you would see how the children from Dulag have patiently falling in line just to get a little gift goodie pack, you would notice also that these children looked muddy as they literally jumped off from the rice paddies.
9 Feb 2014 (Fifth operation): The team went back again to Dulag leyte to deliver 1,200 GI sheets that would help about 287 households in Brgy. Cabatoan, Dulag Leyte.
See photos of 4th and 5th Operations
Final Relief Operation, 25 May 2014
Kling and David Lacson made the final relief operation on 25 May 2014 with a theme "BACK TO SCHOOL". Here is Kling's short report: "It's back to School time and we thought giving kids backpacks, notebooks, crayons and pencils would encourage them and give them hope to going back to school after going through a difficult time. Covered 3 barangay schools in Dulag Leyte, 1. Cabatoan Elementary School 2. Marcum Primary School 3. Paaralang Primarya ng Arado. A total of 500 students from daycare to HS. It's amazing as we thought that we can only cover 1 barangay with our supplies. 1 student = 1 back-pack, 5 pcs. composition notebook, 1 pack of Mongol pencil (3 pcs. per pack), 1 pack of Crayola crayon.
See photos of the final relief operation
Overall Financial Report of the Relief Operation
This report records all contributions and detailed expenses, including copy of official receipts of purchases. As of 31 May 2014, there is a balance of Pesos 12,912.83, which will be utilized for the same purpose. Click here to access the detailed financial report.
- Members of the Couples for Christ Thailand and its Family Ministries in Bangkok, Chiangmai, Laguna, Phuket & the Thai mission areas. Special thanks go to the members of the CFC Family Ministry for organizing special fund raising events;
- Staff & friends of United Nations agencies (ESCAP, UN-Women, UNEP, UNFPA, UNDP, OHCHR, CCOP, etc.);
- Teachers & students of Bangkok Bilingual School, Wells International School, Anuban Samutsongkhram School, Sarasas Witaed Rangsit School, Keerapat International School, Kasertsart University, Anuban Kanlayaprasit School (Prakhonchai District., Buriram) and Asian Institute of Technology (AIT);
- Staff of Carpet International (Thailand) Co. Ltd. and HANA Company;
- Parishioners of the AIT Catholic Community, Mary Help of Christian Church, Mary the Mother of God Church in Rangsit and the catholic community in Laguna Phuket;
- Friends from overseas.
In the Philippines, critical coordination and logistical support has been provided by the young and dynamic couple, Idyll Ann (Kling) and David Lacson in Cebu City, staff of Baybay City local government unit (Jingay and Tsaki Mojado), and members of CFC Ormoc, Agusan and Surigao (Jude Abenoje, Atoy Franco, Eddie Cabanban, Leo Montante & William Lim).
First Relief Operation, 18-20 November 2013
The relief team comprised Kling and David Lacson, EDante, Jinggay Mojado and Taski Mojado. Relief goods were purchased in Cebu City on 18 November and shipped in a truck to Baybay, Leyte the following day. On 20 November, distribution of goods was undertaken in 5 interior villages of Dulag and Tanauan towns . Approximately 2,500 individuals or 800 households/families were reached out with the basic needs of food, water and shelter and other small stuff, sleepers for children and some under garments for infants. Police escorts from Baybay City provided security during the delivery. The relief content included:
- 7,000 bottles of 1 li water
- 12 boxes of canned beef loaves
- 3 boxes of canned litson paksiw
- 4 boxes of canned mechado
- Roofing material (8 rolls 3 m x 400 m long per roll)
- Overall: 10 tons of relief goods
Second Relief Operation, 27 November 2013
The relief team comprised Kling and David Lacson, Jinggay Mojado and Taski Mojado.Relief goods were purchased in Cebu City and shipped in a truck to Baybay, Leyte. Actual delivery happened on 27 November in Opong, Tolosa, Barangay Tunga, Dagami, Barangay Julita, Barangay San Vicente, Dulag. The relief content included:
- 8,100 bottles of 1 li water
- 140 boxes of canned beef loaves, paksiw, mechado and others
- Other relief goods provided through other sources
- Overall: 10 tons of relief goods
Third Relief Operation, November-December 2013
The relief team comprised members of CFC Ormoc led by Jude Abenoje. Relief goods using our funds were purchased in Surigao City through the help of CFC community in Surigao and shipped to Southern Leyte by ferry and transported all the way to Ormoc City in Leyte. Packing and distribution was done by the CFC community in Ormoc City and relief goods delivered in affected areas of Tanauan, Palo and Dulag Leyte. The relief content included:
- 72 sacks (50 kg per sack) of rice
- 50 boxes of canned food
- 50 boxes of noodles
- 20 boxes 3-in-1 hot drink
Fourth and Fifth Operations, December 2013/February 2014
30 Dec 2013 (Fourth operation): The team comprised Kling and David Lacson with Jinggay and Tsaki Mojado. The group went Palo, Tanuan and Dulag Leyte with fleece blankets for the cold weather on the holiday season and about 500 packs of children goodies and some boxes of bread c/o Trisha Torres. On the photos, you would see how the children from Dulag have patiently falling in line just to get a little gift goodie pack, you would notice also that these children looked muddy as they literally jumped off from the rice paddies.
9 Feb 2014 (Fifth operation): The team went back again to Dulag leyte to deliver 1,200 GI sheets that would help about 287 households in Brgy. Cabatoan, Dulag Leyte.
See photos of 4th and 5th Operations
Final Relief Operation, 25 May 2014
Kling and David Lacson made the final relief operation on 25 May 2014 with a theme "BACK TO SCHOOL". Here is Kling's short report: "It's back to School time and we thought giving kids backpacks, notebooks, crayons and pencils would encourage them and give them hope to going back to school after going through a difficult time. Covered 3 barangay schools in Dulag Leyte, 1. Cabatoan Elementary School 2. Marcum Primary School 3. Paaralang Primarya ng Arado. A total of 500 students from daycare to HS. It's amazing as we thought that we can only cover 1 barangay with our supplies. 1 student = 1 back-pack, 5 pcs. composition notebook, 1 pack of Mongol pencil (3 pcs. per pack), 1 pack of Crayola crayon.
See photos of the final relief operation
Overall Financial Report of the Relief Operation
This report records all contributions and detailed expenses, including copy of official receipts of purchases. As of 31 May 2014, there is a balance of Pesos 12,912.83, which will be utilized for the same purpose. Click here to access the detailed financial report.
Random stories of super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda)
Memoirs of the relief efforts on 20 November 2013 (EDante, 20 November 2013)
Defying hunger
A middle-aged woman from Tanauan town in Leyte told her story: At about 7:00 am on that fateful day of 8 November 2013, a sudden surge of sea water overwhelmed our house and pushed us up to the ceiling. My sister and I swam out of the house to escape, tied ourselves with a rope to the house, and waited for several hours until the water subsided. When the weather calmed down at about noon, we were shocked to see complete chaos and devastation, buildings flattened, huge amount of debris, and dead bodies scattered everywhere. It was a miracle we survived.
We did not eat and drink for two days. The typhoon destroyed everything. We just waited for help. Our minds were too frightened to feel the need to eat. After two days, the first sign of help came – relatives and friends arrived town by motorcycle. We tasted food for the first time. A few days after, more relief goods from aid agencies and government came but were not enough to feed thousands of hungry people in our town. She related to us that the day prior to the typhoon there was a public announcement urging people to prepare and evacuate. It wasn’t compelling enough so most people ignored the appeal. Besides, these people were used to strong typhoons in the past. In another town, we heard that the mayor herself made an emotional plea for urgent evacuation and warned people of impending disaster. Many people were obliged to evacuate and thus were saved.
Dark cloud descended
A business man from Tanauan town related his story. His house was located next to a large coconut oil processing plant located close to the seashore. He said he was closely monitoring the development of the typhoon from the news and made preparations for it. He cut down all the trees near his house. He became an object of ridicule from neighbors. At around 6:00 am that day, incredibly strong and gusty wind descended his town. Visibility was almost zero. Lightning strikes were seen behind the dark clouds covering the entire town. Then an unrelenting wall of sea water hit his town and almost drowned him. Somehow, he managed to escape and stayed alive until the water subsided. The official government estimate of close to 5,000 deaths was unbelievably conservative, he said. In Tanauan town alone, he believed over 1,000 people died.
“Storm surge”
A group of six working men, taking a break from removing a large amount of debris surrounding the Catholic Church in Tanauan town, were overheard talking about “storm surge”. One man said, “now I understood what a storm surge is”. Few days prior to the disaster, the government warned people of a storm surge but the people did not know what exactly that term meant. Had they been told that it was like a tsunami or perhaps a tidal wave, they would have escaped to the mountains without hesitation.
Weeing, weeing, weeing!
The day after the relief operation, three close friends drove all the way from Mindanao to join me. We got up early on Thursday, 21 November, and began a tour around the devastated areas in Leyte starting from Baybay in the eastern side of the island and proceeding to the western towns of Dulag, Tanauan, Palo and Tacloban City. As darkness began, and with no electricity in the entire island with at least half a million people, we located a common friend who lived in Albuera town. With his three young children, all boys, beside him, he told his story in a half-lit candle light. He was never been so scared, he said. The storm gushed out with incredible noise and hissing, “weeing, weeing, weeing”. It seemed that the wind burst out from the ground, destroying everything it touched. The first instance lasted for one hour and then there was a brief pause. They all went out of the house much relieved as they thought the storm was over. But it returned with vengeance and continued until around 10:00 am. He was stunned to see his town completely destroyed. He said he would not wait to escape the island when the next storm comes. With no money and limited food, they were barely surviving. Before leaving, we gave him all our remaining provisions for that day (canned food, bottles of water and some cash).
100 big trucks
As my boat was arriving at Ormoc port, I was stunned with what I saw. What used to be a progressive city, with backdrops of a lush green tropical mountain at the back and beautiful beaches, had turned into a war zone. Buildings destroyed and debris covered the streets. The mountain appeared denuded and brown. Coconut trees seen in the horizon turned into protruding dead sticks. That scene caused a strange feeling in me. So I asked my brother-in-law who picked me up at the port how he felt during that day. He said it was an incredible and frightening noise. It was like 100 big trucks chasing next to your house or like a 747 jet plane landing on top of your roof.
Heavy downpour
Over 100 thousand families became homeless. We saw families setting up temporary dwellings made of coconut leaves, rubber sheets or salvaged GI sheets, with no or very little walls to protect them. During our stay in Leyte, unrelenting downpour was a daily occurrence, especially in the evenings. It was so depressing to think that so many people, including children and elderly, had to stay up all night soaked in the rain.
Raining girl
The last barangay (village) we visited was inaccessible to our truck as one fallen tree blocked the narrow and only road to the village. We asked the villagers to come to the truck. One of them was a little spirited girl. When she got her pack of relief good, it started to rain. She smiled, carried the pack on her back, started to walk towards the village and then sang cheerfully, “It’s raining men, alleluia, it’s raining men”. I said to myself, “that’s the Filipino spirit, inspiringly resilient and adaptable, and with a great sense of humour”.
A middle-aged woman from Tanauan town in Leyte told her story: At about 7:00 am on that fateful day of 8 November 2013, a sudden surge of sea water overwhelmed our house and pushed us up to the ceiling. My sister and I swam out of the house to escape, tied ourselves with a rope to the house, and waited for several hours until the water subsided. When the weather calmed down at about noon, we were shocked to see complete chaos and devastation, buildings flattened, huge amount of debris, and dead bodies scattered everywhere. It was a miracle we survived.
We did not eat and drink for two days. The typhoon destroyed everything. We just waited for help. Our minds were too frightened to feel the need to eat. After two days, the first sign of help came – relatives and friends arrived town by motorcycle. We tasted food for the first time. A few days after, more relief goods from aid agencies and government came but were not enough to feed thousands of hungry people in our town. She related to us that the day prior to the typhoon there was a public announcement urging people to prepare and evacuate. It wasn’t compelling enough so most people ignored the appeal. Besides, these people were used to strong typhoons in the past. In another town, we heard that the mayor herself made an emotional plea for urgent evacuation and warned people of impending disaster. Many people were obliged to evacuate and thus were saved.
Dark cloud descended
A business man from Tanauan town related his story. His house was located next to a large coconut oil processing plant located close to the seashore. He said he was closely monitoring the development of the typhoon from the news and made preparations for it. He cut down all the trees near his house. He became an object of ridicule from neighbors. At around 6:00 am that day, incredibly strong and gusty wind descended his town. Visibility was almost zero. Lightning strikes were seen behind the dark clouds covering the entire town. Then an unrelenting wall of sea water hit his town and almost drowned him. Somehow, he managed to escape and stayed alive until the water subsided. The official government estimate of close to 5,000 deaths was unbelievably conservative, he said. In Tanauan town alone, he believed over 1,000 people died.
“Storm surge”
A group of six working men, taking a break from removing a large amount of debris surrounding the Catholic Church in Tanauan town, were overheard talking about “storm surge”. One man said, “now I understood what a storm surge is”. Few days prior to the disaster, the government warned people of a storm surge but the people did not know what exactly that term meant. Had they been told that it was like a tsunami or perhaps a tidal wave, they would have escaped to the mountains without hesitation.
Weeing, weeing, weeing!
The day after the relief operation, three close friends drove all the way from Mindanao to join me. We got up early on Thursday, 21 November, and began a tour around the devastated areas in Leyte starting from Baybay in the eastern side of the island and proceeding to the western towns of Dulag, Tanauan, Palo and Tacloban City. As darkness began, and with no electricity in the entire island with at least half a million people, we located a common friend who lived in Albuera town. With his three young children, all boys, beside him, he told his story in a half-lit candle light. He was never been so scared, he said. The storm gushed out with incredible noise and hissing, “weeing, weeing, weeing”. It seemed that the wind burst out from the ground, destroying everything it touched. The first instance lasted for one hour and then there was a brief pause. They all went out of the house much relieved as they thought the storm was over. But it returned with vengeance and continued until around 10:00 am. He was stunned to see his town completely destroyed. He said he would not wait to escape the island when the next storm comes. With no money and limited food, they were barely surviving. Before leaving, we gave him all our remaining provisions for that day (canned food, bottles of water and some cash).
100 big trucks
As my boat was arriving at Ormoc port, I was stunned with what I saw. What used to be a progressive city, with backdrops of a lush green tropical mountain at the back and beautiful beaches, had turned into a war zone. Buildings destroyed and debris covered the streets. The mountain appeared denuded and brown. Coconut trees seen in the horizon turned into protruding dead sticks. That scene caused a strange feeling in me. So I asked my brother-in-law who picked me up at the port how he felt during that day. He said it was an incredible and frightening noise. It was like 100 big trucks chasing next to your house or like a 747 jet plane landing on top of your roof.
Heavy downpour
Over 100 thousand families became homeless. We saw families setting up temporary dwellings made of coconut leaves, rubber sheets or salvaged GI sheets, with no or very little walls to protect them. During our stay in Leyte, unrelenting downpour was a daily occurrence, especially in the evenings. It was so depressing to think that so many people, including children and elderly, had to stay up all night soaked in the rain.
Raining girl
The last barangay (village) we visited was inaccessible to our truck as one fallen tree blocked the narrow and only road to the village. We asked the villagers to come to the truck. One of them was a little spirited girl. When she got her pack of relief good, it started to rain. She smiled, carried the pack on her back, started to walk towards the village and then sang cheerfully, “It’s raining men, alleluia, it’s raining men”. I said to myself, “that’s the Filipino spirit, inspiringly resilient and adaptable, and with a great sense of humour”.
Proudly powered by Weebly