As more communication is available, the degree of devastation left in the wake of the two typhoons and floods in the Philippines becomes more apparent. I will give a brief update of what I know about several sections of the country on the main, northern island of Luzon.Manila Area
The Manila area is still largely without power in residential areas that are home to most of our brethren. Some areas are still waiting for flood waters to recede before cleanup can be started. Since the flood water is filled with disease-causing organisms, illness will be a great problem. The most immediate needs are for foods and medicine. Brother Ben Cruz reports that the needs for the Kapitbahayan church have been met from their own treasury plus some additional amount already received from brethren in the US. Others brethren in the area continue to have needs that have not yet been met. We are trying to come up with specific ways to get funds to those in need and will post that information as it becomes available.
Cagayan Valley Area
Parts of the Cagayan and Kalinga provinces were badly damaged by Pepeng and numerous brethren are in immediate need here is also for foods and medicine. I have been able to contact several brethren in this area who report the situation is very bad. As of this morning (my time), the storm was moving back towards the northern shores of Luzon bringing more heavy rain to this area. Tuguegarao is the largest city in this area, but much destruction has also taken place in the more rural areas. Crops have been washed away meaning a recovery to sustainable, local food production will take some time. Since I have worked a great deal in this area over the past 8 years or so, I know many of these brethren very well and can testify to their faithfulness and dedication.
Laoag City & Ilocos Norte
Though I have not been able to reach brethren in this area, I have talked with brethren who are in contact with some from this area. Laoag City and surrounding areas continue to be greatly damaged by Pepeng as it is closest to the storm’s movement back towards Luzon. Though Rody Gumpad is in Tuguegarao, he wrote this morning urging help for these brethren. He said: “After I talked with you, I called brethren in Ilocos and I was able to get information from Mat,Jr. [Sibayan], Redentor, and Bro. Vic [Domingo]. They all said that the damage there is also great because of the high waters up to chest! Mat, Jr. said that many houses there are still underwater while rain is still going! They said that some of the brethren lost their belongings when water had suddenly swept them! Many of their working animals were drowned and rice/food is also scarce now there! They further confirmed that the church building at Subec, Pagudpud where bro. Abraham Aguete is the local preacher, was totally destroyed by the landslide! I just want to let you know that they also need assistance in that area and they are ready to administer also for a fair distribution when there is an opportunity!”
What small amounts of government help that was available seems to have gone almost exclusively to the capital region around Manila. Thus, the Cagayan Valley and Ilocos Norte regions are going to be in a great deal of need.
Below are some links to paste in YouTube for videos about the typhoons and floodingShows Devastation from Ondoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pAwx6gPF54
CNN report on Pepeng: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAI6YtYs8kM
Homemade video on Pepeng or Parma: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeWJvkIabYM
Report in Tagalog on Pepeng: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4n-bAwfQCc
