The LORD hears the cry of the poor; he delivers them from all their troubles. Psalm 34:17

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1 1 Feast of Our Lady of Presentation Rome, Italy November 21, 2013 Dear Sisters, Peace and Hope! The LORD hears the cry of the poor; he delivers them from all their troubles. Psalm 34:17 All of us are concerned of the super typhoon that hit several places in the Philippines. There are more than 200,000 people who lost their houses, properties and loved ones. There are still many members of the families missing and survivors never losing hope that one day they will see them again. There are about more than 10,000 reported as dead. Survivors have no homes and in need of food and clean supplies for their basic necessities. I received a letter from Zeta with some photos of how our Filipina sisters did their part in responding to this most catastrophic event that hit the Philippines. The priority of the Philippine Province right after Yolanda struck, was to determine the communities that were affected and if the Sisters were safe. Thanks be to God the Sisters were safe and they have become the haven for the populace who were accommodated and fed. The first day the typhoon struck, our sisters were able to receive messages and were able to communicate with some sisters assigned in the places badly hit by the super typhoon. After which there was a total blackout and they could no longer be reached. The communities who are nearby who took care of our sisters in Barotac Viejo and provided for their needs are our Sisters from Barotac Nuevo, St. Paul s Hospital Iloilo and St Paul University Iloilo. Perpetual Succour Hospital took care of the needs of our Sisters in Medellin in Cebu. Communication with our Sisters in Culion Island (Palawan) was entirely cut off from our sisters in Manila. However, Sr. Zeta was able to receive a message from Sr. Nilda Caparanga, one of our sisters in Culion, that the typhoon was very strong but they were alright. The following communities were affected with minimal damages to infrastructures: 1. Culion Palawan The newly renovated convent was unroofed. Trees in the convent and the farm were uprooted. There was no water supply so they are boiling water for drinking. Lighting was provided by the generator of ARSD construction. Communication was restored only on Nov. 17 th. As of now repairs are already on going especially restoring the detached roof. 2. Barotac Viejo They housed and fed 70 families in their gymnasium. Communication with them resumed only a few days ago because there was a break down in the cell site. As of now, classes had started. There was no major damage because the school buildings are new. Classes resumed Nov. 18, 2013, even without electricity. 3. Medellin Cebu The school buildings were unroofed, including the newly built covered court. Repairs had been started with 2 architects and construction workers of Engr. Arnold Dupit. Classes will resume November 19, Electricity will also be restored in a few days time.

2 2 4. Antique Medical Center though with no major damage distributed relief and tents to the survivors. All these communities were given initial cash by the Provincial House to take care of their needs. The next move of the province was to reach out to the families of our sisters as well as the families of our sister missionaries, whose houses were destroyed and suffered loss of properties. Cash donations were given to the Sisters for their families needs. Sisters who expressed their needs were also given assistance. The Disaster Management Team of the Province are pulling all efforts to provide relief, medical services, and counselling. Our communities in St. Paul University Quezon City, St. Paul College of Makati, Our Lady of Peace School, St. Paul College of Paranaque, Iba - Zambales, De La Salle Uinveristy Hospital, St. Paul Hospital - Cavite, Vigil House are generously donating foods, water, canned goods, clothing, medicines, blankets, tents, etc. These will all be transported to places where the poor are waiting through our conduits and partners. The Sisters of St Paul College Pasig, (the center of relief goods) their faculty, and students helped in the repacking of these goods. Relief goods are already flown by Air Asia to Cebu where Perpetual Succour Hospital (PSH) is the staging area. Since Oct. 20, relief goods were sent by PSH 3 times to Bohol and twice to Tacloban. Feeding of the evacuees from Leyte who are now in Cebu was also done. Our hospitals in the Visayas had already been conducting medical surgical services to the survivors in Cebu and Iloilo and this will continue until there is need for such. St. Paul University Manila and St. Paul University Surigao (they housed and fed many families) responded on their own to the survivors of the super typhoon. Time is of the essence so and their quick response matter so much. They were also able to establish linkages with other agencies like Don Bosco who delivered the foodstuffs to badly hit areas through their choppers. Our sisters from different communities, formators, formands, lay pschologists took part of the Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) of the adult and children evacuees from Tacloban, Leyte who were transported to Manila. Our Sisters helped the survivors young and old get over their trauma from their horrible experience not only from the super typhoon but also from the earthquake whose magnitude is 7.2. All the beneficiaries of the relief operations, medical services and Critical Incident Stress Debriefing expressed their deep gratitude and appreciation. Sr. Zeta and the Sisters expressed also their gratitude and appreciation to the Generalate and the Major Superiors of the different Provinces, Districts and Regions for our solidarity in prayers with them and pledges of financial assistance. She is also thanking everyone for their whole-hearted cooperation and collaboration. The Philippine Province in solidarity with the people during these hard times opted to have a simple and sober but meaningful celebration this Christmas. Sisters, let us pray continually for our Sisters and the people in the Philippines. God bless us all! Sr. Maria Goretti Lee, SPC Superior General

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