RISING FROM THE FLOOD WATERS AS GOD’S FAMILY:
                                    CHJ-Iloilo’s Experience from Typhoon Frank’s Disaster by Mr. Gil Alba, President, CHJ PTA

As soon as classes resumed on Wednesday, June 25, 2008, the CHJ community started to mobilize resources to help the typhoon victims.  Class hours were spent to help the students process their traumatic experiences, share of students’ personal insights and experiences from the calamity, students gave part of their allowance to share with the hardest-hit families. Some brought clothes for teachers and friends whose homes and belongings were washed away by the flood.  The faculty and administration came up with the project “Utod ko, buligan Ko” (In Pilipino, “Kapatid Ko, Tulungan Ko” or in English “My Brother, I’LL HELP.”)  The CHJ Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) prepared a letter asking the families what they needed (if victimized by the Typhoon), and what they could share (if spared).  The letter, sent out the next day, recalled the greatest commandment:  “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, with all your strength.”  (Matthew 22:37). 

It reminded families of Jesus’ parable on how we will be measured in the end:
Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me. . . .  Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.' (Matthew 25:34-36, 40)

Clearly, there is no way to love Him, except by loving the least of our neighbours, the letter pointed out. That (Thursday) afternoon, the CHJ-PTA Board met to determine how the CHJ Family could respond to the most pressing needs of typhoon victims among its member-families, and the community-at-large. 

On Friday, June 27, 2008, more donations started pouring in with the reply slips.  Families victimized by the flood also gave back the letters expressing their need for clothes, food, books, and prayers.  The PTA sent out another letter asking parents to join the “Kamustahan [“How are you?”] Visitation” the following day, and the Emergency General Membership Meeting on Tuesday, July 1, 2008.
This second letter addressed the questions being asked in the aftermath of Typhoon Frank:  Why did so many perish?  Why is there so much suffering?  Why was I spared? Is it not because we are called to help each other out in this time of mutual need?  Is it not because I may still have something to share—even if I have lost everything, perhaps I still have my faith to share?  Is it not so that we may together live out—PROCLAIM BY our actions—the coming of God’s kingdom among us, in the midst of all the devastation?

On Saturday, June 28, 2008, volunteers from the faculty and the parents (with some bringing their children along) assembled at CHJ for “KAMUSTAHAN Visitation”.  The visitation focused on CHJ families whose children have not yet come back to school—because, most likely, these families were the hardest-hit. As survival was obviously the foremost concern, the object was to see how these families were, to determine their most IMMEDIATE NEEDS, and to bring them the initial help raised by the CHJ Family.

The volunteers broke up into several teams, and went to the worst-hit and out-of-the way areas of Jaro and Mandurriao in Iloilo City.  Boots and masks were handy in reaching areas made inaccessible to vehicles by mud that was still quite deep.
 The teams went outside the city, too, reaching as far as Sta. Barbara, Pavia, Tigbauan, and Guimbal.  To bring food, water and some clothes to a CHJ family (2 students) in Barangay Nahapay (literally meaning “Wiped Out”), Guimbal, Iloilo, a team had to cross a hanging foot-bridge, made up of wooden planks, some of which were no longer nailed to their support.  It was perhaps a hundred meters long, and about a meter wide.  The rushing waters of the river below reminded one of t.v.’s “extreme sport” of kayaking—only this time, the waters were muddy, with so much debris.

The community across the river had most of their wooden houses washed away by the flood waters.  An old man there had a makeshift hut without walls—much like a waiting shed—and a can containing his clothes.  As he was lame, he just sat there, without a bed, in this hut beside the river.  The team could not stay long, because it was getting late, and the residents observed that the river’s waters were starting to rise.  “Nagabaha naman [It’s flooding again],” the team was told. 

After giving the victimized CHJ family their share of the relief goods, the team turned over a few more sacks of clothes, food, mosquito nets, etc. to the Barangay Captain, because it was not likely that other outreach programs had reached this place. 
As a last stop, the team passed by the barangay hall in Barangay Napnapan Sur, Tigbauan.  There, they turned over some more relief goods to families who could not go home.  The Barangay Captain said these families were already instructed by the local government to leave, because they could not be supported any longer.  But the Barangay Captain said these families that remained had nowhere to go, which is why he still kept them there:  They lived along the river-banks, and their houses had all been washed away.

On Tuesday, July 1, 2008, the CHJ-PTA held an Emergency General Membership Meeting to brainstorm how the CHJ Family can further help its members and other victims of Typhoon Frank.  Recipients of CHJ’s aid expressed how touching it was to be visited by members of the CHJ Family in their time of need—and to receive the little aid offered by fellow members. Engr. Bobby Escoto (a CHJ parent and faculty member) shared information from a briefing held by Manila Observatory (of Ateneo de Manila University) and Pag-asa (the government weather agency):  Iloilo is mostly flat-land, and already 6 inches below sea level.  Recently, the high tide caused flooding in the city’s streets, even if it was a sunny day. About 10 more typhoons are expected to hit the country until the end of October—with at least 2 more before end of July. 
With the rainy season upon us, and climatic changes making typhoon paths unpredictable, it is very likely that there would be another flood to hit Iloilo soon.  But this time it will be worse:  The mud in the rivers, waterways, sewers, and streets would most certainly aggravate the problem.

On Friday, July 4, 2008, the PTA Board met to evaluate the experiences, feedback, and insights from the Kamustahan Visitation and the Emergency Meeting.  We will come up with a pamphlet containing survival tips—e.g., a checklist to help the families prepare an “Emergency Kit” (containing clothes, water, canned food, blankets, flashlight, etc.) to bring in case another natural calamity strikes, etc.).
To have a support system in place, the CHJ member-families shall be grouped into “Clusters” or “Cells”—people living near each other shall look out for each other (e.g., telephone/prayer brigade, car pool, etc.), in case of emergencies/ calamities/ disasters.  In such situations, the Clusters/Cells who are not victimized can be mobilized to help those groups that are badly hit. 
Perhaps it is good to recall, at this point, Jesus’ comment about that the poor widow who shared her two coins. (Luke 21: 1-4)  He pointed out that she gave more than the rest—because she gave out of her need.  What matters is not the amount of what we give, but the meaning of what we share.
We may not do much by ourselves.  But certainly, Jesus is with us now, just as he was with his disciples during that storm at the Sea of Galilee. (Mark 4:35-41)   He tells us now, as he told them then:  Do not be afraid!
The CHJ Family is learning that the strength of Christ’s followers flows from bonding and living out our values as Christ’s family.