Taytay, Rizal, Philippines: 14 October 2009 – QuestNet Executive Chairperson and RYTHM Foundation Trustee Ms Donna Imson led a small group of QuestNet Staff in conducting a Relief Mission in partnership with International NGO World Vision in Taytay, a municipality of Rizal Province located east of Manila.
The Relief Mission delegation brought five hundred sets of Relief Goods for distribution among the families of Sitio Bangyiad. This small village suffered massive flooding on 26 September wrought by Typhoon Ondoy (Int’l Name-Ketsana). A month’s worth of rain poured non-stop for six hours causing the water levels of lakes, rivers and dams to rise and overflow. Sitio Bangyiad is close to the shoreline of the largest lake in the Philippines called Laguna de Bay. Because of the extraordinarily heavy deluge, the lake overflowed and submerged villages situated around its shores. Sitio Bangyiad today is still underwater and the water is not expected to subside until the first quarter of next year.
As the village is still underwater, the distribution had to be done in the narrow and muddy entrance to the village. The community leaders organised the queues of the beneficiaries to make a fast and efficient relief distribution system. Ms Imson and Mr Joaquin led the handing out of relief bundles composed of a half sack of rice, a gallon of drinking water, a big bucket of biscuits, a pack of Vegetarian food and kitchen items, a survival kit and a hygiene kit.
Three weeks ago, these people lost a lot of their possessions and are now living in damaged homes in what has become a water world. But from their eyes, smiles, laughter and gestures exude the most quintessential Filipino character- Resilience. Lining up for a bit of help is hurtful enough to their sense of pride but these they were smiling in the rain, helping each other out and saying the words “Maraming Salamat! (Thanks a lot!).” They personified the exemplary human spirit, the combination of hope, faith, patience and the related qualities which give them the strength to get themselves out of or through hard times. On 16 October, World Vision embarked on another Relief Mission and distributed one thousand and twenty-eight more packs of relief goods among families in Barangay Dolores, Taytay, Rizal.
To date, QuestNet Pays Forward Typhoon Ondoy 5-5-5 Fund has reached out to and helped a total of one thousand five hundred and twenty-eight families.
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About World Vision International World Vision is a development, relief and advocacy organisation dedicated to working with children, families and communities worldwide to reach their full potential by addressing the causes of poverty and injustice. “Our vision for every child, life in all its fullness. Our prayer for every heart, the will to make it so.” To know more about World Vision International, visit www.worldvision.org
