Report on Typhoon Lando in the Philippines

Last Sunday, a very strong typhoon (known by the international name of “Koppu,” but called “Lando” in the Philippines), began to hit the Philippines on the northern island of Luzon. It took three days for the storm to go across the island from east to west and then turned north to bring flooding to the northern half of Luzon. Initial reports from the media and our Philippine brethren suggest much of the island’s northern half was badly damaged.

The central provinces of Aurora and Nueva Ecija took the greatest impact from strong winds as the storm came ashore, but the provinces of Quirino, Bulacan, Tarlac and Pangasinan bore very bad floods. The following report is taken from the CNN website:

Manila, Philippines (CNN) Typhoon Koppu killed at least 43 people as it slowly moved across the northern Philippines this week, the country's disaster management agency said late Thursday. Another 78 were injured, and five people remained missing as of Thursday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

Koppu battered Luzon, the Philippines' largest and most populous island, on Sunday and Monday, driving tens of thousands from their homes. The storm, known as Lando in the Philippines, directly affected more than 1.2 million people, with more than 109,000 taking refuge in shelters as of Thursday, the council said.

The storm came ashore early Sunday at super-typhoon strength, ripping roofs off buildings and uprooting trees in the coastal province of Aurora. It lumbered around Luzon at an excruciatingly slow pace, setting off floods and landslides across the rugged terrain. Officials reported dozens of flight cancellations, thousands of people stranded in ports and many municipalities without power.

The cost of the storm's damage to the country's agriculture and infrastructure is estimated at close to $160 million, according to the council.

Brother Jhun Bautista is a faithful gospel preacher in Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija, the closest larger city to the area of the worst devastation. He was able to send me a report today detailing the need that exists in his area:

Almost 95% of Cabanatuan City was flooded with muddy water from the eroded mountains of Sierra Madre down from Aurora province and flowed down to lower ground of town and municipalities and plenty of rice plant and vegetables were devastated and sad to say that many houses as well were totally and partially damaged. Right now we are under the state of calamity proclaimed by our government. I am attaching pictures and news from reliable sources regarding this calamity and believing that through your reading and seeing this news you may visualize and feel the moment we were suffering this and our present situation.[Some of those pictures are included in this post - HRO.]

We did not have Sunday meeting and services on October 18 because on October 17 in the evening until Sunday morning of October 18 we bumped by strong wind and big rains, and in the afternoon rain flood was started to rise in some area, having electric power black-out and reached to about head and house roof level of flood to many areas in the evening of October 19. On October 20 the rain flood has been subsiding very slow and totally dwindling on October 21 in the afternoon. The clearing operation of muds was commenced October 22, Thursday and until now. Still until today some areas are no electric power due to extent of electrical lines damaged.

We are very glad because there was no reported brethren died in the congregations where I am working and assisting though some had injuries that did not need to hospitalize them. We are thanking and praising God for we protected us by this calamity and only the material possessions were damaged and the source of living of rice plants and vegetables were devastated. Our newly made wooden roof ceiling of our church building here in Cabanatuan was saturated by rains due to the strong wind that came into ceiling.
From our estimation the damages of this typhoon to the brethren affected from the 7 congregations here in our area where I am assisting and working is about 950, 000 pesos that includes house and rice plant and vegetables devastation. This excludes brethren who are depending their source of income by working in rice fields in the daily wage basis in the season of harvesting rice. Almost 90 percent of about to harvest rice in Nueva Ecija were destroyed and our government is feared because Nueva Ecija is the rice granary of the Philippines.

The brethren emergency needs here are of course foods and medicines and especially expenses for the repair-materials of houses that were damaged. We believe that the total costs of this emergency needs to 7 congregations here is about 210, 000 pesos (equivalent to about $ 4, 700).

I am sending you this report to ask assistance. Any amount will be highly appreciated. I will prioritize brethren to give assistance based on the urgency and needs.

Willie Pastor, who preaches in Quirino province, detailed much damage of both winds and floods in his area. He also provided this account of the destruction he has witnessed while going in his area to check on affected brethren:

I made a call to Brother Esteban Nicolas, Brother Lorenzo Lazaro both in San Agustin, Isabela and Brother Robert Domingo in Maddela. Brother Reneboy Maranion visited Brother Roel Arcalas in Diffun, Quirino and promise to see Brother Domingo's place as soon as possible. Almost all places are devastated with the typhoon. The rice and corn are destroyed and as well the fruit bearing trees which are the common source of income of our Brethren here in the province. They said that after harvesting the last fruits of the bananas we will wait 2 years for the next harvest. Also according to Brother Maranion two Christian families in Kilometer 18 Church of Christ, Nagtipunan lost there houses. With the lost of crops we hope for a high prices of commodities this coming months but most of it is that no job offers especially for the farm works which is also one of the common source of income. We need help and we appreciate any thing from the hearts.

While the strength of this storm was far less than the typhoon devastating the central part of the country several years ago, this one hit an area where many more faithful brethren live. Congregations in the Philippines that have the ability to help some are doing so, but the need far exceeds their ability to meet it.

If you or the church where you are is able to help meet the needs of our brethren in this disaster, that help would be greatly appreciated. There are several ways of getting relief to brethren affected by the typhoon.

First, information can be given to send a MoneyGram or Western Union wire directly to brethren in the area for distribution to faithful members of those congregations.

Second, Chip Foster (txchipper@windstream.net) and I will be leaving on November 3 traveling to the Philippines. Both of us are willing to act as messengers for individuals or churches desiring to help in this need. I would like to get funds to Jhun Bautista upon my arrival so he can carry them back to his area immediately. I will be going to Cebu after my arrival, but Chip Foster will be going to northern Luzon and will be in one of the areas affected. He is already carrying some funds and still has ability to take some additional amount with him to distribute in affected areas.

Third, due to a sister in Christ at Cebu City working in a place of influence with a large bank in the Philippines, it is also possible to send MoneyGrams to me as late as November 11 if the destination will be designated as the Philippines, not the U.S., and I can get them converted to pesos and wired to brethren in need. Before sending any amount to Chip or me, please contact both of us via joint email to inform us of your plan and give any instructions about the intended use of the funds. We want to provide “for things honorable in the sight of all men,” being fully transparent about funds received and the accountability for them. Since it is too late for funds sent by check to clear and be converted to cash, they can be sent most efficiently by a “Walmart-to-Walmart” exchange or MoneyGram.

Fourth, individuals seeking a legal tax deduction can write checks to Help A Neighbor and mail them to Ron Halbrook at 3505 Horse Run Ct., Shepherdsville, KY 40165-6954. He is also willing also to serve as the messenger for any congregation, but the check should be made to Ron Halbrook and instructions should be included.

Thank you very much for your consideration of this request. Since I am in the last stages of preparation for the coming trip, I am sorry to be rushed in putting this report together. Since many have asked about the situation, I have tried to get the best information I could and get it out in a timely fashion. Please remember these brethren in your prayers! God bless.

Brotherly,

Harry Osborne

303 S Czech Hall Rd

Tuttle, OK 73089

P.S. Excerpts from earlier reports of other Filipino brethren sent out by Ron Halbrook are included below for added information:

October 19: “At around 12:00 A.M - 2:00 A.M (Sunday) when typhoon Lando hit our Province and we experiences storm signal no. 3 while Aurora province was experienced storm signal no.4. We experience strong wind and heavy rains while the typhoon is very slow to move with 6 Km. per hour....This typhoon is one of the strongest but longest typhoon I experienced. Yesterday morning when rains and wind was totally weakened, I get the opportunity to go around and visit our brethren here at Dumabato Sur Church of Christ. I was so thankful because no one of our brethren was physically harmed but some houses of brethren here are affected including my parents' house. Before lunch, I and my wife travelled to Aurora to visit our brethren there. In our way, we saw the damages that were left by the typhoon. Some Electric post was destroyed, 98% of bananas, 100% of corn and rice that are in vegetative state were destroyed also. Water levels get high and many houses were affected, we saw also some landslide on the road that hardened our travel to Aurora....Even road to Aurora is very hard, I and my wife were very thankful to arrive safe to the said place. Our brethren there are not physically harm but there houses are also affected. Some G.I sheet of their houses flew and they can't find no more....our brethren are crying because their source of income was destroyed. Many of our brethren are Farmers and they are depending with their plants.” (Reneboy Maranion, Dumabato Sur, Maddela Quirrino)

October 21: “Brethren, I would like to informed you that a very strong typhoon devastated the whole Northern & Central Luzon for four days in the Philippines.  La Union & Pangasinan Province was one of the most affected areas, this is where Gumot Church of Christ in La Union & Guesang Church of Christ in Pangasinan located....Most of our brethren's houses & crops were totally & heavily damaged. Until now some of our brethren's  houses  are still under water & some of them are still staying in the evacuation center  provided by our local officials. Brethren, we are appealing for your help. Any help/amount you can provide is a very big help to our brethren & highly appreciated.  We really need your help, please brethren help us. We need most of all brethren, your prayers.” (Art dela Cruz, Rosario, La Union)

October 21-22: “Brother Ron and Brethren, for the past three nights I was awakened with CALLS and Text messages from brethren in different places/Regions who were severely affected by the Typhoon and floods! I told them that I cannot help but can pray for them! Truly, bro. Ron and Brethren, the URGENT NEED of many affected brethren is growing bigger as days passing by! Most are in need of funds is for rice/foods, for medicines, for materials to rebuild or reconstruct their destroyed houses, to replant their fields! The Government is always saying that they are ready to help but it is frustrating to see that when the funds or the supplies are already on the hands of the lower officers then they will only attend to the needs of their own relatives or their religious mates!....At this time of terrible needs, even a single centavo that a brother or sister can afford to share will be a great help to our needy victim brethren here at this time (Gal. 6:9-10)! Tuguegarao City has been declared as in the 'State Of Calamity' as almost all agricultural plants were totally destroyed!...I also continue getting calls and text messages from brethren in different places/regions (Like from Cagayan, Isabela, Kalinga, La Union, Ilocos, Aurora and even in Manila area, Bulacan, and many more) asking urgent assistance! I told them that we have no refuge this time than the Rock of our soul, Jesus Christ, who promised not to leave nor forsake us! May God help us all!” (Rody Gumpad, Tuguegarao, Cagayan)

October 21: “The super typhoon has hit us since Friday night and is so strong and regional wide. The damages is so great and still adding more damages and deaths in the northern provinces .  At this time the evacuation continues because the water level is still rising in many towns. Many houses were blown out and under water and 19 million people are greatly affected right now. This month is the beginning of harvest season  for rice and corn but it was threshed to the ground by the strong wind and heavy rains that caused sudden flood. The Dams are still releasing big volume of waters and it adds the rising level below and thousands of hectares of agricultural land are still under water and mud at this time. Many people and  brethren in my area are now relying from the relief goods from the government. They can do nothing at this point of time. The sources of their living is destroyed and some brethren who are studying in the cities are now going home because their parents could no longer send  money to pay for their tuition fees and other needed in school. Another thing that adds the suffering of the people here is after the typhoon no new seeds or planting materials to be used because everything is gone and they do not know how to start again. Right now, the brethren here are badly in need of food and your prayers. May I request brethren and my supporters that this great calamity and need that befall to the saints here in our area be known to those brethren there who are blessed and in the position to help and the full account of distribution would be send it back for the Glory of Father in heaven. Thank you very much.”  (Danny Danggalan, Roxas, Isabela).