Dear Everyone,
Metro Manila and nearby areas like Bulacan are still struggling to cope with the massive flooding that took place last Saturday.
Typhoon Ondoy’s wrath was more powerful than Katrina that hit New Orleans a couple of years ago. In 12 hours, Ondoy poured out water that was usually measured to be one month’s worth of rain here in the Philippines. 455mm of rainfall was dropped last Saturday – a lot more than what Katrina poured in New Orleans.
CASUALTIES:
As of this morning – 300 people have been confirmed dead and more than 17 evacuation centers in Pasig City alone.
SPREAD OF SICKNESS
Due to the thousands of people affected by the flood and are now temporarily staying at the evacuation centers (total of 600 evacuation centers), many people are starting to get sick with diarrhea. The small children and the elderly people are the most vulnerable. They need to have immediate medical treatment in the coming days. It is feared that an epidemic would follow if the floodwater do not recede in the coming days.
HARDEST HIT AREAS:
Marikina, Antipolo, Cainta, San Mateo, Pasig and Sta Maria in Bulacan and 16 towns in Laguna are still submerged at this time. We have GCI members badly affected by typhoon Ondoy. Our Church in Sta Maria meets on the 3rd flr yet the church hall was inundated with water and mud. 4 families from GCI Sta Maria lost their houses when the water from the nearby river swelled and the current swept their houses. Many of the small children at the evacuation centers in Sta Maria are starting to get sick with vomitting and diarrhea. The food in these evacuation centers are severely lacking.
CHURCHES in METRO MANILA
The churches and members in Metro Manila are generally safe and are now recovering from the flooding that took place last saturday. There will be a small work party to pack some of the donated clothes and food items for the victims in those areas identified.
Ministerial trainee Aron Tolentino who lives in Pasig had to find a temporary housing for his family because the roads leading to Pasig are still impassable at this time (water level is still very high)
Paradise Congregation in Bulacan is also requesting help for the children who are getting afflicted by various diseases common in evacuation centers.
ANOTHER THREAT
Another typhoon called PEPENG has entered the Philippines’ area of responsibility. It is now 96Kms east of Surigao in Mindanao.
PLEASE REMEMBER THE FILIPINO PEOPLE AT THIS TIME
1. Please pray for the thousands of people severely affected by Typhoon Ondoy.
2. Please give for the relief efforts. Clothing, blankets, bottled water, canned goods, bread and medicines are urgently needed.
3. Please look at the things inside your pantry that you could give to the relief efforts.
4. Sending cash through NGOs (faith-based and service oriented organizations aside from the Red Cross) would be greatly appreciated.
Grace Communion International is soliciting your help as well. In the coming weeks, we wish to be able to conduct medical missions in selected areas – but right now, we are gathering the urgent supplies for the flood victims in those affected areas.
Please pray for us in the Philippines.
Please give.
Please help alleviate the suffering of the thousands now dis-possessed because of typhoon Ondoy.
May God bless you as you show compassion for those who are helpless at this time.
Sincerely,
Rex Dela Pena
Area Superintendent – Metro Manila and nearby provinces
Grace Communion International
I am just like you
Trying to find my way
Helping others find theirs…
www.compassionateconsiderations.com
