Dumaguete Relief Operation

PART 1 OF 3

Our team, composing of Pastor Jonie Antinero, Pastor John Basiwa and myself, arrived in Bacolod just before noon time of February 19.  As per Pastor Jonie’s advice, we chose to land in Bacolod instead of Dumaguete City because many roads from the airport of Dumaguete City to La Libertad are still being fixed, making land travel almost impossible. 

ARRIVING AT BACOLOD SILAY DOMESTIC AIRPORT

We immediately searched for Jonie’s brother, who lived majority of his life in Bacolod.  He will be the one accompanying us to Dumaguete since he knows the ins and outs of the area, especially where the earthquake struck the worst.

In the afternoon, we finalized mapping out the plan for the relief operation, pin-pointing strategic locations.  Our main objective is to help 40 of Pastor Jonie’s relatives who are cut off from vital food supply due to the landslides and damaged roads and bridges.  Since it will take another 5 hours to reach Guihulngan, Dumaguete, we decided to spend the night in Bacolod.

OUR 5-HOUR BUS RIDE TO DUMAGUETE - BACOLOD TO SAN CARLOS, 

THEN SAN CARLOS TO GUIHULNGAN, DUMAGUETE 

First thing in the morning the next day, February 20, at 5, we bought grocery items for the relief operation and then boarded a bus that will take us to our destination.  Actually, 2 bus rides were needed.  One to San Carlos City that lasted for two hours, and then another one that took us to Guihulngan that lasted for three hours.  We reached Guihulngan at 11 am.  As soon as we entered the city limits, we saw a lot of people congregating near the local government office.  Most likely, they are waiting for any help they can get from the government.  We saw also signs and placards saying “SOS, we need food and water!”

ONE OF THE "TENT CITIES" IN GUIHULNGAN, DUMAGUETE

We were met by Jonie’s cousin who helped us buy and transport 10 sacks of rice and additional grocery items we didn’t buy in Bacolod such as sugar and corned beef.  We bought water also for ourselves.

 PASTOR JONIE'S COUSIN PROVIDED US WITH A VEHICLE TO CARRY RELIEF GOODS

 THE INITIAL 10 SACKS OF RICE WE BOUGHT FOR THE EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

THE CONTENTS OF EACH RELIEF BAG

Right after eating lunch, we immediately proceeded with the repacking of the relief bags.  Each bag contains crackers, rice noodles, instant noodles, soy sauce, sardines, corned beef, powdered juice, coffee, sugar and 10 kilos of rice.  Then, we boarded everything to our designated vehicle (Jonie’s cousin let us use their vehicle for the relief operation) and headed for the locations we mapped out earlier.  That’s when we saw the horrifying effects of the earthquake.  Houses, old and new, were totally destroyed.  Some are simple nipa huts, while others are newly constructed concrete houses probably costing in millions.  They all didn’t make it, proving true the saying, “In calamity, there’s no rich nor poor.”

TO BE CONTINUED...