By Sr. Elnora Marie, RA– January 3, 2012

December 17 - The day Typhoon Sendong caught CDO unaware

          I was preparing to go to Manila for the pre-chapter meeting when I happened to open the TV for the late night news last December 15. I knew that there was going to be a typhoon entering Surigao the following day. My flight for Manila was on December 16 at 10am. The plane took off just when the rains came. I thought it was just the usual typhoon that comes and goes, I felt safe when the plane left CDO. When we met on Saturday afternoon, December 17, SMarjo brought the news that there was serious flooding in CDO. We checked the news on line and received SMS. Then it dawned on me that the typhoon changed course and hit CDO badly.

December 19 - Ocular Visit
          As soon as I arrived from Manila, we lost no time to go for an ocular visit. With Srs.Josefa and Cres, we went as far as we could. We could not go to all the places that were affected since some were still not passable. But, with what we saw, we were able to situate what Sr.Josefa heard from the evacuees who sought refuge in the XU Covered Courts, as they started to do some trauma counseling.
          Sr. Josefa continues to be involved in the trauma debriefing of flood survivors at the XU Covered Courts.

December 20 - Aid started coming in
          At the relief center of the Social Action Office, there was so much need. Goods were running out. But Aid started to come in. PPRA immediately sent in donations to the Archdiocese.
In the evening, Mark Labuntog. Jong Pimentel and I went around the different funeral parlors to condole with the bereaved families of XU personnel who perished in the floods. Mass cards were prepared by the Chaplaincy for the bereaved families.

December 21 - Assumption-San Lorenzo sent goods through LBC
          We were told that LBC was offering free freight service for all goods coming from all parts of the country for Sendong survivors and that these goods would be delivered to the Red Cross Office. Although we have not seen these boxes since the Red Cross took care of these as LBC Donations, we thank all donors and trust that those who need them most have put these to good use.

December 22 - 24 Triduum Retreat
          Our triduum retreat, in preparation for our renewal of vows was facilitated by Bishop Honesto Pacana, Bishop Emeritus of Malaybalay. This was marked by our involvements with the relief operations at XU.

December 23 - Prayer for XU personnel who died in the flood
          Mr. Mark Labuntog prepared a prayer module for all the dead XU personnel who were victims of the floods. Archbishop Antonio Ledesma came to join us in prayer.

December 24 - the day before Christmas
          The Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, upon the suggestion of Fr. Eric Velandria, SJ, Acting XU Chaplain, started the 8 o'clock habit prayer for the dead victims of typhoon Sendong. Fr. Boy Salvador, Archdiocesan Liturgist, prepared the text for the whole diocese to pray every evening until January 8, Epiphany Sunday.
          As part of the Chaplaincy Council, we planned to have a meditation concert an hour before the Christmas mass to situate the Sendong experience in the context of the mystery of the incarnation, in the here and now. Boyet Vasquez, former AMA who is a classical guitarist, and Anna dela Fuente, CDO-based pianist played some pieces.
          During the mass, with Fr. Eric Velandria, SJ as mass presider, the Sisters renewed their vows. This was a new experience for many since the Sisters have not really done any public renewal in the University Chapel.
          As customary, we joined the Jesuit community for the media noche after the mass. The family of Boyet Vasquez was invited too. Boyet played several pieces to the delight of the elderly Jesuits.

December 25 - Christmas Day
          I went to SM City for the 9am Christmas Mass presided by Archbishop Antonio Ledesma and assisted by Fr. Boy Salvador. After the mass, it was decided that the complete list of the dead victims from all the affected areas will be compiled and on the eve of the Solemnity of the Epiphany, January 7 at 6:30 pm, at the Cathedral, the names of all the dead victims will be read and a sharing of one of the survivors will take place before the mass.

December 26 - Relief Operations
          The Assumpta Technical High School of San Simon sent a cash donation of Php 50,000.00 directly to us for the flood victims. We in turn, turned over the amount to Balaiglobal, an NGO under the leadership of Sol Paeste-Mosqueda (former AMA), engaged in relief operations to affected victims who are not at the evacuation centers. They help the victims directly where they are. One of their major operations was the clean-up of a covered court. For three days, the volunteers (100 students and 100 army trainees) were busy removing the mud in the covered court of Brgy.Consolation, a badly hit area, for the affected residents to occupy.

          In the afternoon, Sr. Cres and I went to visit the place of the janitor of the XU chapel whose house was swept away by the flood. He, his wife and his child climbed the steel frame of the billboard directly above them. They held on to it for 5 hours until the waters subsided. After that, we proceeded to the house of Sr. Mary Ignatius' parents, passing through Carmen and Macanhan areas where the floodwaters rose to 30 feet.

December 27 - Sharing from Assumption Iloilo / Arrival of Sr. Marjo
          Assumption-Iloilo informed us that they would be sending assorted items for typhoon Sendong victims through Negros Navigation. Thanks to Gonzalo and Trining Go, friends of Sr. Ma. Estela, we were able to arrange for the truck to pick up the goods.
          In the afternoon, after picking - up Sr. Marjo from the airport and after a quick lunch at SM, we went to visit the parents of Sr. Mary Ignatius, then passed by the Macanhan and Carmen areas. We then went to see Dra. Letty Bautista in her clinic, then proceeded to visit her badly damaged house in Macasandig.

December 28 - RA Mindanao Regional Assembly with Sr. Marjo
          The RA Sisters in Mindanao came together to share on their Advent/Christmas experiences, the Kibangay Discernment as well as the recent events that have devastated Northern Mindanao.
          In the evening, while Sr. Marjo and some sisters went to have dinner at the Archbishop's House, the Namaste came for a prayer session, especially to pray with, Amor de Torres, Dra. Letty Bautista, Lucit Gonzales and Irene Demafelis who were all badly affected by the floods.

December 30 - Iloilo Relief Goods Distribution
          With the goods coming from Iloilo, relief distribution took place, conducted by Sol Paeste-Mosqueda's group.
          Joseph Cruz, former music teacher of Assumption College-BED who now works in the US, is in the country for his vacation. He was invited by a team of counselors from various colleges in Manila to join them in the debriefing sessions of flood victims in different community centers here in CDO. He was able to join this relief distribution.

December 31 - Healing of the River
          Fr. Eric Velandria, SJ suggested to a team of student volunteers to organize a prayer service to heal the Cagayan River and float lighted candles along its banks. Student volunteers stayed up the whole night preparing 800 paper candle holders made from the relief boxes to be used for the ceremony. A group of rafters were invited to bring the floaters to the middle of the river, a local band was requested to sing, Boyet Vasquez was again asked to play Christmas carols while ShoeMart provided the sound system. This was to awaken the survivors' hope to begin anew with the closing of the year 2011 and look forward to a new beginning in 2012.

January 1, New Year 2012
          The campus was quiet with the volunteers home, for a break.
          Sr. Josefa was able to organize a mass baptism for all the children who stayed in the XU Covered Courts. There were 21 of them. Fr. Eric Velandria, SY officiated the rite.
          Classes have been postponed to January 9 to give time for the schools to prepare for serous debriefing sessions before resumption of normal classroom instruction.

          In all this, God remains Emmanuel.
                        He has come and is with us.
                                    With hope and courage, CDO will rise again.

          The outpouring of concern and support for all has been truly life giving!


                                  A BLESSED NEW YEAR TO ALL!