By Camelia Rodriguez
PINOY Associate Editor
On Sept. 26, Filipino forecasters reported that there would be some rain across the Metro Manila area. They did not expect that “some rain” would actually be a month’s worth pouring down in just nine hours.
Fr. Gregorio L. Bañaga, Jr., C.M., president of Adamson University and Dr. Marco Tavanti, Chairperson of the International Public Service Graduate Program and directs the Manila-Philippines Program on urban poverty reduction. (Photo by Camelia Rodriguez)
“The rain started around 8 o’clock in the morning and by the time I left my house at 9 it was already pouring heavily,” said Fr. Gregorio L. Bañaga, Jr., C.M., president of Adamson University (DePaul University’s sister school in the Philippines). “The problem in the Philippines is that the forecasting system is not sophisticated so they didn’t know how much rainfall would actually accumulate.”
Fr. Bañaga said that the Philippine weather bureau was aware of the typhoon, but underestimated it.
“In the Philippines when you talk about a typhoon it usually means strong winds and less rain,” he said. “But this time it was the opposite. There was hardly any wind and just strong rain.”
Sections of the Philippines remain under flood water, including Adamson University, a Vincentian university. (Photo by Mar Bustamante)
Adamson University is located in Manila; the region hardest hit by Typhoon Ondoy (international codename: Ketsana). According to Fr. Bañaga, every building of the school was flooded with water. Many of Adamson’s equipment were damaged including laptop computers. The gymnasium floor (made of wood imported from the United States) was submerged in water and completely ruined. The floodwaters eventually receded within a few days.
Fr. Bañaga said that Adamson students, reflecting true Vincentian values, immediately went into action to help people affected by the massive flooding. Fr. Nonong Fajardo, C.M., director of the Integrated Community Extension Services (ICES) at Adamson University, called an emergency meeting that many faculty and students attended. Fr. Fajardo organized three main activities for the volunteers to undertake: “Relief Goods Distribution” (giving out food, water, blankets, etc.) , “Operation Linis” (cleaning up the homes damaged by floodwater), and “Medical Missions” (treatment of skin diseases and injuries by Adamson nursing and medical students).
Adamson University grief counselors have also made themselves available to speak with the typhoon victims who may be experiencing trauma. They are especially concerned with the mental state of the young children. “Two days after the typhoon hit it began to rain again, but only lightly. Many of the children were scared because they thought another typhoon would be coming.”
The devastation caused by Typhoon Ondoy in Northville, Marilao, Bulacan. (Photo by Mar Bustamante)
As of right now, Adamson is focusing on giving aid to the residents of the community known as Northville 4-B in Marilao, Bulacan. The families living in this community were formerly inhabitants of homes along the railway track in Tondo, Manila. “When there are disasters like typhoon Ondoy, a lot of aid comes from international agencies. But after that, people are left on their own. This is when they need a lot of help,” Fr. Bañaga said. “We want to be sure that at least in this community that we are helping that we will be there for them way after the relief services are over.”
Fr. Bañaga said that he hopes the people of the Philippines will not turn a blind eye to the lessons that can be learned from this ordeal. He especially hopes that the government will insure that every town and city will be equipped with lifeboats and machines to lift heavy objects.
“We cannot fool around with what we call climate change. People must realize that this is a reality,” said Fr. Bañaga. “The big lesson here is that you must always be prepared for anything.”
Fr. Bañaga expressed his gratitude to the Chicago Filipino American community and the DePaul University community for showing their support for the typhoon victims in the Philippines. “I just want to thank everyone for helping and for Rev. Holtschneider’s [DePaul president] kind gesture of writing to the DePaul community. It is a great example of St. Vincentian solidarity.”•
For those who would like to contribute to Adamson’s relief and rehabilitation services, monetary donations can be sent to: Ayala Foundation USA, 255 Shoreline Drive, Suite 428, Redwood City, CA 94065 (Memo: Adamson University Rehabilitation Efforts).
Clothing donations, relief goods, supplies, etc. can be sent to Fr. Bañaga’s office: 900 San Marcelino Street, Ermita, 1000 Manila.
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