(The following is an account of Sr. Carmelita Arenas RGS and Sr. Basilides "Daisy" Superable, about the Bohol trip that they took recently to respond to the needs of the people affected by the earthquake on October 15.)
Welcome Earth
Healing Mission
This
was what greeted us in Maribojoc & Tubigon ( two coastal towns) impacted by the earthquake in Bohol. We arrived on Nov. 28, 2013. Dina, our liaison leader introduced us to Dr.
Lim and Capitana Karaan. After a hasty lunch in Tagbilaran, we proceeded to
Maribojoc where the teachers, barangay health workers, barangay nutrition
staff, the local government members, midwives& survivorswaited for us in
the covered court. Dr. Malou introduced
the healing of the earth mission in its integrated health approach and its
relation to western and traditional Chinese medicine.
Dr. Tess
presented the Psychological First Aid, deemed more appropriate now rather than
the psychological stress debriefing for survivors of calamity or trauma. The
participants balked at the orientation to the acupuncture treatment. The initial fear was overcome; more
participants underwent the treatment. Sr. Carmelita gave the basic
movements in Shibashi to help in the breathing exercise. Herbal
medicine samples were shown to encourage them to know the healing plants in
their areas. Evaluation was made with
the following positive feedback: knowledge of the PFA or psychological first aid, confidence to help
others, awareness of the need to heal the earth, not to panic, how to handle
calamity, etc. Difficulty in sleeping, and stomach
disorder were the common complaints in the aftermath of the earthquake.
The ruins & the
people’s supplication for the restoration of their church:
Early
morning, we trekked to the ruined church, careful on the zigzagged cracks on the path.
As
the sun rose to light the tragedy of the ruins, we blessed the four elements of
air, water, fire, earth. The women/men
in tears prayed before the giant mound of rubble that was their church. But
Mary’s statue stood while Christ’s figure still towered above.Stories abound of
miracles: The couple said they were
eating their breakfast when the earthquake lifted the whole kitchen dumping
them 10 meters away.
A fisherman saw from his boat thechurch exploding dust and debris. Seconds
later, the hill nearby ripped from top to bottom, thunderously shaking the
ground. The people said they ran to the nearby hill upon hearing “tsunami”.
They ran, they fell, they crawled. Crouching, they shook in fear & in the
cold. When someone yelled landslide;
they ran again. Many more poured out
their stories. ..the death of 19 people, the swaying andpounding vertical
thrusts of the earthquake, the fear of fissure in the swamp & on the road.
Thus, the team listened to their stories while waiting for their turn for
acupuncture.
More people came in after the
82 participants told their neighbors of the new treatment. The staff at the
mayors’ office, who took the brunt of continuous service to their constituents,
was encouraged to have acupuncture.
Two
team members went down to the shore & saw the lifted shoreline which caused
the receding of the sea. It was not a
tsunami. It was the upward thrust of
the earthquake that baffled the people
A well organized
local team: Despite the absence of the mayor who was in
Davao, the Quezon City team witnessed
the smooth running of the one & a half day mission. Snacks & lunch
boxes were given to the participants. The team saw the arrival of sacks of
rice. Next day, these would be distributed to the barangays. When interviewed,
the people appreciated and thanked their mayor & local officials for the
orderly/equitable distribution of goods. At the airport that Sunday, the mayor caught up with the team to thank
them. He shared his experiences: To
prevent the spread of disease; he immediately ordered the vaccination of the
children & adults. He saw to it that
water berestoredimmediately; the peop0le could survive with water& could
forego for some time the lackof electricity. He had scouted forbuilding
materials, much needed by the people, who now preferred sawali (bamboo slats) rather
than concrete. He articulated to DSWD
head Dinky Soliman that housing fund be prioritized not temporary shelter &
the townleaders could work out the
livelihood plans. The mayor had a demo
farm or integrated farming. .
Travel to Tubigon:
We
passed by Antiquera, Loon, and Calape. We saw the mangrove on the right &
the left of the road, the rice fields, the lopsided concrete houses, the narrow
broken bridge (being repaired), the ruined churches & chapels. At Tubigon
Cultural Center; we had a brief meeting with the mayor & proceeded to the 110
audience of teachers, barangay health workers, nutrition staff and LGU’s. They
were introduced to the psychological first aid; followed by the creation
spirituality & physical exercise. It
was surprising to note that participants, though initially fearful did go for
the acupuncture treatment. This was
continued again for the next day, with the venue moved to the community
hospital open grounds. There were about
100 people more, the elderly and mothers with children. Sr. Daisy was assigned to have the children
for drawing & storytellingwhile the acupuncturists Cristy and Dr. Malou
continued with acupuncture till late afternoon.
Dialogue with the Mayor:
At
dinner hosted by the Mayor, the team introduced the availability of training for
local health workers toward integrative health, using alternative healing,
acupuncture, nature’s medicines and spiritual interconnectedness. This would include research on the
indigenous plants used for healing,
confirming the wealth of nature’s resources in Bohol.
Blessing the ruins
of the church:
The
staff woke up early & from the view deck of the pension house saw the sleeping
quiet town by the sea. They heard mass
at the patio, in front of the grotto, on wet benches. Fr. Toto Labis showed the ruined front &
side of the church; one wall crushed his jeep & carved the tabernacle hole.
Placing the candles on the broken
concrete & wooden slabs, the small group blessed the earth & prayed for
the restoration of the church and the healing of the spiritsof so many. Beside the church, the huge concrete house
of a Filipino expatriate geared on one side.
People at the
tents:
While
the team continued with the acupuncture, two staff, guided by a participant,
took the tricycle to see one community who lived in tents. They passed by the
pier& saw the boats that plied to 3-4 islands. Passing through the rice paddies, the ruined
chapels, the tilted houses, life went on as usual, with the cooking on
makeshift stoves, the washing by the pump, the kids playing, the men talking. .
Mostly, they stayed outside since the trees provided the cool shelter. Inside one tent, a bedridden woman who had a
stroked & got hit by the falling debris, tried to talk with the
visitors. She was well attended by the
relatives, who said she had a daughter nun somewhere in Massachusetts.
First Sunday of
Advent: Usheringthe Christmas season of hope
At
Tagbilaran Cathedral, the two side altars were enclosed, ruined by the
earthquake. But the bells rang to
celebrate the first Sunday of Advent. People prayed more fervently. In their
tremendous loss, their faith brimmed over with hope, as they prayed for the
rebuilding of their church & their communities. . Can something good come out of this
devastation? Whydid so many churches,
chapels and concrete houses turn to rubble?WhatIs God’s message here? As we prayed under the open dome of the universe... the sea, the sky,
the earth…seemed to invite us…. this is the temple to care for…and the people to unify and rebuild.
As the mayor of Maribojoc said… the earthquake calamity hit all, the poor and
the rich alike. All are one in need of help and healing. What is the message of
Bohol earthquake and of Yolanda’s visit of Central Visayas to the Filipinos… to
the world?
May
this outpouring of compassion from the local and international groups be a call
to more equitable and just sharing of world’s resources. May all be united in the care and
conservation of our nurturingllife
giving blue planet. . May the painful struggle of our people inspire the
individual, the families and our leaders to envision planned communities
inclusive of the poor. May the reconstruction
not only of lives but of communities touch all work humbly, to live simply and share justly
to build a new world. Let people of good will go and live Christ…
Our gratitude to DraSharleen Lim
and Capitana Arlene Karaan who welcomed us in Tagbilaran, mobilized vehicles
for our use &treated us to a wonderful break. Thanks to the people of Maribojoc,especially
Mayor Leoncio Evasco Jr who lent us his house and showed us the great work
being done to rebuild his town, to Dr. Rey Belderol and Virginia Medequisowho
ably orchestrated the smooth running of the day. Thanks to the young mayor
Marlon of Tubigon for his generosity and availability to access this help for hispeople,
to his staff and to the administrator of the community hospital for the
wonderful sea food lunch and accommodation for the sessions. Most of all, our admiration to the people of these towns for their warm welcome, for
their openness to learn new things, for their resiliency and deep faith to help
each other. Bohol will not only survive;
Bohol will thrive.
The Team:
Dr. Malou Pagubas, Mrs. Malou Tinga,
Mrs. Christina Magno,
Dr. MarieTherese Galang, Dina Ayi
Almodal
Sr.Carmelita Arenas, RGS, Sr. Daisy
Superable, RGS
Note:
In the circle blessing of nature, we followed
the call of St. John Eudes to prayer: Adoration of God, Thanksgiving, Atonement
and Solidarity in Action.
In
gratitude to all our friends both local and abroad, we praise you in the heart
of the Good Shepherd:
- Sr.
Carmelita Arenas, RGS and Sr. Daisy Superable, RGS