Still in tents after eight months

Francisco, a father of 2 and a 3rd on the way, is just one of still many families who are still living in tents after Typhoon Ketsana hit the country eight months ago. His wife narrated that their shack along the lake was destroyed during the height of the typhoon by strong wind and rising water level due to heavy rain.

OM Philippines partnered with PHILRADS (Philippine Relief and Development Services) to help provide housing construction materials to families badly hit by the typhoon. 100 families to be helped were pledged to PHILRADS. 55 families were initially helped in Tanay, Rizal last April. Construction materials were given to recipient families identified by the local Social Welfare Office and the local church leaders in the area - construction materials like corrugated iron sheets, lumbers, plywood, nails and other items as long as it can be covered by the amount pledged.

Last Monday, Ronnie, Ruel and Social Worker Amor who are all from PHILRADS picked me up at 6am to witness the distribution of construction materials to 45 families in Victoria, Laguna. For over 2 hours we drove and finally got to the place where delighted recipient families were already waiting. I looked around to see where the construction materials were but I could find nothing, only to be told that they were still on their way. The time of waiting was used to have a short program with the families. Rev. Joel shared an encouragement from the Word through the life of Job. For a few minutes, I was also given an opportunity to share and explain the project.

Then 2 truck loads containing construction materials arrived and all eyes lit up. Full of hope and a future simple folk desire. Contrary to many distributions where chaos is a sight to behold, this one is one of a kind. All 45 sets of construction materials were laid out on the ground containing 10 sheets of plywood, 15 pieces of 2”x2”x10’ and 2”x3”x10’ lumber, 6 pieces of corrugated Iron sheets and wood and roofing nails. This was made possible by recipient families helping out to put the distribution in order. I had the opportunity to help carry and unload these materials. Once everything was laid out in sets, each family was called out and would go to their set, one by one. After all were called, each family with hopeful and happy faces began to haul their materials.

Initially, I thought only 45 families would receive materials as decided but I was told that 28 families were willing to give half of their share to another family. So all in all, 73 families became recipients that blessed morning. Again, the good side of people was evident that day.

Francisco and his family were so thankful that finally, they could rebuild their house soon and could be out from the tent they had been living in for over 8 months. In this regard, we want to once again, say thank you from the bottom of our hearts to all of you who made this project possible. We see beyond those iron sheets, lumbers and plywood. We see people given hope and a future. Thank you.

Written by: Jun Diaz, OM Philippines National Director

OM’s role in the Church is to mobilise people to share the knowledge of Jesus and His love with every generation in every nation. OM pioneers and leads initiatives to redeem lives, rebuild communities and restore hope in over 110 countries.