Super Typhoon Yolanda’s impact

As of this writing, it has been over two weeks now since Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) made landfall and devastated several provinces in central Philippines. On the second Sunday after the super typhoon, we made an appeal for donations to our Sunday mass goers at our chapel of Our Lady of Manaoag in Gen. Santos City. Whatever amount we will be able to gather will be sent to members of the Dominican Family affected by this recent calamity. So far, there has been a generous response from our small community of faithful in Gensan.

Images of the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda were simply heart breaking. I can’t help but shed tears every time I see news reports of the situation of our fellow Filipinos. I got worried when I found out that one of my volunteers in our missions, AG Saṅo, was in Palo, Leyte when the super typhoon struck. I sent a text message to his girlfriend in Manila to find out if he was okay. I was relieved when I accidentally saw AG in one of the TV news reports, trying to comfort a father with his lifeless child in his arms. AG, a mural artist, was the one who painted a wall in New Bataan with the words “Babangon Tayo” when we went there a few weeks after typhoon Pablo. AG was also with me when the war between MNLF rebels and the government troops broke out in Zamboanga City. He also painted a wall there with the words “We Want Peace”.
In my own little way, I thought of raising funds by selling t-shirts. I asked help from a friend of mine from Manila for the design and supply of t-shirts. I told him that I want an image of the Philippine flag, a bit tattered on the edge, with the words “Babangon Tayo” and #yolandaPH. I wanted the design to give an impression that it can withstand and overcome the strong winds of a super typhoon. After a few exchanges of e-mails with samples of the design that he made, I made an initial order of 100 t-shirts.

I posted a picture of the t-shirt design on my Facebook account, hoping that my circle of friends will support this fund raising project. The t-shirts are being sold for P250.00 each. For every t-shirt sold, P100.00 will go to the survivors of typhoon Yolanda in Coron, Palawan. Orders are placed by leaving a message on my Facebook account or through SMS. It was in Coron, Palawan that I spent many summer vacations in the past. It was also in Coron that I took up my PADI Open Water Diver certification in 2006. I have friends from Coron who have been supportive of our Dominican missions. Most of the people’s livelihood in Coron depends on fishing and tourism and it has many beautiful dive sites. According to reports, 90% of the structures in Coron were destroyed.

Just after one week since I posted the picture of the t-shirt design with the rationale for raising funds on my Facebook account, all of the 100 t-shirts that I first ordered have already been sold. For every 100 t-shirts sold, it is able to raise P10, 000.00. Whatever amount this fund raising project will be able to raise, will be sent to the survivors of typhoon Yolanda in Coron, Palawan sometime between Christmas and New Year.

To see the t-shirt design and for orders please go to www.facebook.com/jmsibug. This fund raising project is on going until Christmas. Orders may be picked up at Sto. Domingo Convent (information desk), Simbahayan Office at University of Santo Tomas, Center for Community Development at Letran Manila, Letran Calamba and Letran Abucay, Spirituality Center at San Pedro College of Davao, Dominican Mission House in Bajada, Davao City and St. Antoninus House in Gen. Santos City.