During this past five weeks, the Philippines has witnessed the PGCAG in action. Starting with the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that shook and destroyed most of our church buildings primarily in Bohol province. Then just a few days after the quake was the super typhoon Yolanda or Haian, which hit most of the Visayas with typhoon signal number 5. A couple of weeks prior to the quake and typhoon was the siege in Zamboanga City. In less than six weeks, we had FEW – floods, earthquake and war. Are we talking about Matthew 24 coming to reality? It can be.
Somebody said, that crisis either make us or break us. Somehow we have seen the truth to it.
These most recent calamities solicited varying reactions from people. Some were talking about a divine judgment, some were saying that ‘people’s reckless disregard of the environment has caused the super typhoon, etc. However some may classify it, the truth remains that – it is not the opportune time to point our finger to anyone – who’s got to be blamed – who’s responsible, etc. – but it is that whenever calamity strikes, we are each responsible to extend our helping hands to ease the pain of the myriad who have suffered loss either property or loved ones.
As an immediate response our General Council officials have acted in faith. We began with barely half a million pesos – and what is that compared to the enormity of the need. But the prayers of the righteous avails much, as the Bible declares.
Right after the calamity, our District Leaders in the affected provinces being right in the first line of defense –personally made an ocular visit to the affected areas, disregarding the difficulties of travel to make immediate assessment and provide pastoral guidance and encouragement to the people especially those in the household of faith.
The national PGCAG Damayan Program, with Operation Hope, PGCAG saw how crises have brought us all together. Close to 7,000 ‘Family packs’ (few kilos of uncooked rice, canned goods, noodles, coffee, milk and easy to cook breakfast cereals) were brought and immediately distributed to the people. Every week truckloads either repacked from Cebu or in Manila were brought to Eastern Samar, Northeastern Leyte, Northern Leyte, Biliran, Northern Cebu, Capiz, Aklan and Northern Iloilo provinces. For two consecutive weeks now, Operation Hope not only brought in goods but doctors and hundreds of thousands of medicines for Medical Clinic primarily in Palo, Leyte and surrounding cities and municipalities. In Northeastern Leyte alone, about 1,831 patients were given medical attention resulting to 1,630 decisions to receive Christ.
Right now, we are on the third phase in our Disaster Response and we are earnestly helping repair the damaged church buildings. A total of 4,300 GI Sheets (Galvanized Iron, corrugated 3’ by 12’ gauge 24 or .5mm) have been ordered and are being distributed to the above-mentioned areas in an effort to restore roof on our church buildings. The challenge is we cannot get the whole order at once – due to the bigger demand.
Some districts like CVLL, their men with the District Executives have done the ‘Bayanihan’ – that they came to the area with their tools and building materials and put up the church building themselves.
Other PGCAG districts surrounding Visayas, like the Southern Mindanao District Council, the North Central Mindanao District Council, Northeastern Mindanao District Council formerly CRDC did the extra mile of going to Leyte and Samar bringing their monetary help, relief goods and building materials, while the rest of the districts enabled PGCAG Damayan through their generous financial assistance. CVLL though affected did not take it sitting down. A CVLL Section purchased eight generator sets for the purpose of providing power that relief and rehabilitation efforts will not be hampered.
PGCAG extends our gratitude to Word of Hope, all our District Executives and individual pastors and churches, our friends and partners overseas for the extra efforts extended. What a joy to see God’s people in action – motivated by nothing but God’s love.
I am glad that when those series of calamities struck, it saw us strong and everyone counted how much still they can do their share in helping. That is the strength of PGCAG. For certain, those who have been badly hit cannot say that they faced their tragedy alone. We are ONE.
