we were supposed to leave early yesterday for our relief mission but our dumptruck didn't arrive on time so we settled for leaving midday. i was with the SINAG Foundation crew. a group of highschool batchmates who have so much time on their hands (wink wink). myself (crazy development worker working for world peace), Doc Ben ( a real life Mcgyver type doctor), Hadj (the quack doctor with ammo), Doc Ivan (gung-ho young bagets doctor) and Abu Sammy (our driver).
(Doc Ben, moi, Hadj)
in Poblacion Pikit (along the highway), i saw a LOT of agencies bringing with them trucks filled with relief goods. i saw the Red Cross, USAid, Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), Save the Children Foundation. on our way in we passed by the Pikit Gym and it was filled to the brim with evacuees, mostly women and children. lots of aid was being given to them since theirs was an evac center which was very accesible.
we, on the other hand, pressed into internal Pikit and treaded on to Paidu Pulangi which had around 400 families scattered around 3 evac centers (Datu Bitol Mangansakan Elementary School-170 families, Basak Area-60 families, Paidu Pulangi Barangay Evac Center-150 families) who were unreached by aid and relief. donors wanting to go into the Paidu area are discouraged to go in by the military due to unstable security. don't ask me how we got clearance.. that's another entry altogether.
going in we saw shanties, makeshift homes, caritons covered with tarp and used as sleeping areas, bangkas in water, children taking baths in the overflowing irrigation water. desperate as they were we didn't see sad faces. they were still smiling, happy to see us and hopeful to be recipients of any sort of aid that come their way.
we, on the other hand, pressed into internal Pikit and treaded on to Paidu Pulangi which had around 400 families scattered around 3 evac centers (Datu Bitol Mangansakan Elementary School-170 families, Basak Area-60 families, Paidu Pulangi Barangay Evac Center-150 families) who were unreached by aid and relief. donors wanting to go into the Paidu area are discouraged to go in by the military due to unstable security. don't ask me how we got clearance.. that's another entry altogether.
going in we saw shanties, makeshift homes, caritons covered with tarp and used as sleeping areas, bangkas in water, children taking baths in the overflowing irrigation water. desperate as they were we didn't see sad faces. they were still smiling, happy to see us and hopeful to be recipients of any sort of aid that come their way.
we got to Paidu Pulangi (45 minutes from the Poblacion Proper)in Pikit after lunch and proceeded to unload the goods into the Datu Bitol Mangansakan School (a big evac center which houses 170 families) principal's office for proper division and repacking then distribution.
(rice from IBP.)
(unloading. that's me in white. no, not the one in the dumptruck dummy)
(me and my thugs hehe)
on our way out of Paidu we dropped by the Pikit Barangay Hall and met with the Sagip Kapamilya crew, met with Bernadette Sembrano, drank a few cokes and headed home with big smiles on our faces.
(our good doctors)
we're going back in a few days to bring more aid and relief goods and maybe conduct a medical dental mission again. what is it that they say.... helping can be addictive.
so for now.. it's my drug.
a million salaams to the following and may Allah bless you for your kindness:
- Paring Bert for the spiritual guidance and the Mindanawon Foundation for the 400 water containers, rolls and rolls of tarpauline;
- SINAG Foundation. To the El Presidente (aka Boy T.-please ask Hadji for the details) who is never tired and to the batchmates who personally sent their old clothes, relief goods, money, time and effort.. DAGHANG SALAMAT. May part two pa so you guys need to come with us.
- Maharlika Charity Foundation for the transportation and relief goods;
- Integrated Bar of the Philippines Davao Chapter for donating 500 kilos of rice (big shout outs to Atty. Caloy Zarate, Atty. Chin Talaver, Atty. Manny Quibod and everyone there);
- Casa Leticia (Christian Dela Paz) for the linen and towels;
- Lamoiyan Corporation (Jun Morales) for donating hundreds of toothbrushes and toothpastes;
- St. Scholastica Manila (Flor Abando);
- Ogie Braga (dear friend);
- Ateneo University;
- Cris Cayon (for the coffee and relaxed chikka)
- Councilor Mabel Sunga-Acosta for the medicines;
- Rey Ang;
- Dominic Cimafranca; and
- Bing Alcala
photo credits: Hadji Allado of Sinag FOundation, Ateneo de Davao University Batch 87
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