Flooding in The Philippines puts thousands of Star of Hope Kids at risk!
The flooding has inundated our school at TayTay. Star of Hope staff have also learned that other Star of Hope schools are in use as shelters. Check back often to get updates. Please contibute to our Recovery Fund. Read the first hand account of Pastor Gani Coruna
Gani Coruna - Director of Star of Hope Philippines writes -
According to the Weather Bureau, this unusual rainfall measured 410 millimeters which is equivalent to a month of average rainfall. But this rainfall was just in over a day! This situation was aggravated by the release of the authorities of spillover waters from a nearby dam.
We were unable to go to church the following morning which was Sunday due to the high flood waters outside our house. According to the news, cities and towns of Pasig, Quezon City and Cainta were already engulfed by floodwaters as deep as two meters and in some areas as deep as 3 meters. Thousands of people were atop the roofs of their houses pleading to be rescued in these areas though the texting messages they sent to their relatives and radio station. They were also asking for food and water since most of them have not eaten since the previous day. Scores of casualties were reported due to drowning, being swept away by strong current of water and in some areas by landslides. As of this writing, 240 people are already confirmed dead and more than 61 are still missing.
Liling’s sister and friends who live in Pasig were begging for help for food water, and some clothes. They have not eaten for two days. We decided to embark of a dangerous mission. Liling prepared the relief goods which include food, water, clothes and some can goods and a cell phone battery charger (electric power was cut off). There were four of us in the team, Liling, Gani, Jayjay and his girlfriend “Weng”. We walked three kilometers of breast deep water putting our relief goods on an inflated plastic as we pulled it while walking towards our relief destination. Jayjay and I swam and float for another kilometer to the place where we were to deliver the relief goods. The girls stayed behind in the shallower waters because it was dangerous for them to go along with us. It was easier and quicker for us to reach our destination because we were swimming with the floodwater current. When we reach the house, the roof was almost covered and there were no people there. We rested at the roof which was almost at the water level and too our relief goods. We called for them aloud and they responded at the second floor of the school building which is about five meters at the back of the house. So, we went back to the waters again and delivered to them the relief goods. They were so grateful the we risk our lives bringing them those badly needed relief goods.
As we went back to Ortigas Avenue which has shallower water, our inflated plastic which we use to keep us afloat got punctured beneath the waters. We just got away about a hundred meters and the water current was very strong. We held on to a side street post to rest. After an hour, a rubber boat by the rescue team passed by and we begged to be picked up. They said that they can only take one and I have to push Jay my son to go ahead first while I stayed behind.
I attempted to swim closer to the main street but it was difficult and people atop the houses were yelling at me not to continue because they say that such an attempt was suicide. I rested atop a submerged tricycle hoping that another rescue team will pass by. It was already past four o’clock in the afternoon according to the people there. I stood and sometimes sat there for more than two hours, shivering in cold, tired and hungry. People across the street were kind enough to offer me shelter on the second floor of their house. But finally, thank God! Another rescue team pass by and the people around yelled at the coast guard to have mercy on the poor old man (they called me old man) and take me on their rubber boat. I finally reached Ortigas avenue and Jayjay my son was waiting for me there and it was past six in the evening. When we reached home after another three kilometers of walking on the floodwaters, Liling and the rest of the family cried for joy that we reached home safe.
Pastor Ben in Infanta reported also the same situation. The housing area was also covered with floodwater caused by sudden flash floods. The floodwaters were up to a meter and half and they have to tie a rope in one of the posts of our school building so they can hold on to it while going to our elementary school for evacuation. About 80 families are evacuated there and they were also requesting for help through relief efforts.
The same situation happened in our school in Taytay where many flood victims were also evacuated. The flood water in our Taytay School was waist deep. The floodwaters however destroyed our school properties including books chairs and brought so much mud in the classrooms.
Flood victims are still trapped in the evacuation centers mostly in the higher floors of school buildings needing food, water and blankets. It will still take few days before the floodwaters subside and these calamity victims can go back to their palace of dwelling. Whatever relief assistance we can provide them will surely be welcomed and appreciated.