More than a week after super typhoon
Yolanda (international code name Haiyan) battered eastern Philippines,
thousands continue to suffer the loss of loved ones and properties including
their homes.
Photo: Blessed Sacrament. Sisters, girls at Euphrasian residence and Heart of Mary Villa joined the Adoration, and prayer for the victims of the recent calamity on November 16.
Yolanda destroyed Leyte and neighboring provinces with sustained winds of
around 315 kilometres (195 miles) on Friday, November 8 and generated waves up
to three metres (10 feet) high that surged deep inland. The storm surge destroyed
properties in Tacloban City and swept fishing villages in Leyte. Yolanda's path included Leyte, Cebu,
Iloilo, Negros, Mindoro, Surigao. Typhoon Yolanda is the 25th typhoon in the
Philippines this 2013 and had its landfall five times-- in Guiuan, Eastern
Samar, Tolosa Leyte, Daanbantayan Cebu, Bantayan Island, Cebu and Concepcion,
Iloilo. Typhoons in the country
are named in alphabetical order.
In an earlier report, families of several sisters
and staff were not contacted. Four days after the supertyphoon, the family of Sr. Regina Pil was given good news that her two sisters, Soledad
and Teresita, already in their 90s
were safe in their family home in Tacloban City. They were evacuated to their
hometown Hinundayan, Leyte while Sr. Suzanne Sinense’s brother and family were
safe in their family home in Estancia, Iloilo. Communication lines have not yet
been restored in many areas affected by the typhoon. (Related Article)
In Cebu City, the apostolic sisters, welcomed into the convent, 17 families
from the neighborhood whose houses were made of light materials while the
contemplative sisters allowed the use of their basement for the families of
their “Altar Bread” staff. They returned to their homes when the typhoon left
Cebu City which did not suffer much this time. On October 15, many buildings,
including our Good Shepherd Training Center, Maria Droste Training Center in
Cebu City, were damaged by the earthquake.
Ms. Emy Enfermo of the Provincialate reported that her relatives in Leyte, said
their house was also swept away by the storm surge.
Though prepared with food in their homes for signal # 4 typhoon Yolanda, the
people were caught off by the storm surge, so powerful that it claimed lives, destroyed buildings, bridges,
houses and churches, raging waters swept away cars and strong winds felled
trees that blocked roads in affected areas. Roads and highways were impassable
and delivery of food and supplies were slow.
Sr. M. Cecilia Torres, province leader, received
emails from Good Shepherd Sisters worldwide offering prayers and assuring the
province of help for the victims. Sr. Brigid Lawlor wrote to express her solidarity in prayers to the sisters, their families and the victims of the supertyphoon. She was glad to know that families were able to find shelter in the convents at the height of the typhoon in Cebu.
Sr. Elaine Basinger, former link councillor, said, “My thoughts and prayers are
with you after such a devastating storm…”
During the November 12 meeting of delegates
to the 2014 Province Chapter, participants called for a meeting of Good
Shepherd Sisters to share information on how best to address the issue and how
to be effective in the relief and rehabilitation of victims. Sr. Carmelita Arenas and Sr. Juliet Abrigo of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan shared their experiences on how to attend to the needs of families, especially women and children who were victims of typhoon Sendong that struck Mindanao on December 17, 2011. Before typhoon Yolanda
struck, Sr. Felicidad Maningo was in Bohol to attend to the needs of those
affected by the October 15, 2013 earthquake. She and a group of Good Shepherd Sisters
will plan to help the victims, especially in stress-debriefing sessions.
At present, Good Shepherd Sisters help in repacking of goods to be distributed to the victims of the typhoon and other calamities, in coordination with church, non governmental organizations and government organizations.
The Philippine Province is grateful to the international community for the prayers and the financial support being given to the victims.