THEOSOPHICAL ORDER OF SERVICE PHILIPPINES
Haiyan (Yolanda) Relief Operation Update April 29, 2014
(For earlier updates, see below)
Additional 20-foot container shipments of construction materials were made to various provinces and towns to help the victims of the super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda). Cash amounts were also given to individuals through the lodges or local groups of the Theosophical Society. Below are highlights of the latest shipments:
LEYTE (Ormoc and Palompon)
The TOS in the Philippines donated construction materials and cash to victims in Ormoc and Palompon, Leyte, including members of the Theosophical Society. Below are some photos of the extent of the damage of members of the TS, including some photos of the materials and money given to them. The funds and materials were given through Bro. Arnold Lumangtad of the Ormoc Lodge, Leyte, and Bro. Rey Olorvida of the Palompon Study Group, Leyte (7th & 8th photos below).
SAMAR
After much delay, goods were finally shipped to Samar province by the Theosophical Order of Service. This goods distribution were done in cooperation with the local Knights of Columbus in Borongan, Eastern Samar, managed by Bro. Teofrido Lagria. The reliefs consisted of plyboards, chainsaw, tarpaulins, and other construction materials. They have reported that the goods were distributed to typhoon-Yolanda affected communities in both Samar and Leyte, such as Guiuan, Eastern Samar, Barangays Garawon and Batang, Hernani, Eastern Samar. In Leyte the goods were distributed in San Juaqin, Palo, Leyte.
Guiuan was one of the worst hit during the typhoon because it was the first town where the typhoon made its landfall.
Bro. Victor Penaranda, Vice President of the Theosophical Society in the Philippines, visited Samar and Leyte
ILOILO
Through the efforts of Dr. Penny Bundoc, the Theosophical Order of Service was asked to assist households of people with disabilities (PWD) who were affected by typhoon Yolanda by providing them with rice, which was their basic need at this time. These are disabled people in the 5th district of Iloilo on the northernmost part of Panay, specifically the towns of Carles, Balasan, San Rafael, Duenas, Lemery, and Ajuy.
They requested for 103 sacks of rice which they repacked in 5-kilo bags and distributed to 1,030 households of the disabled. Victor Lo, President of the Iloilo Lodge of the Theosophical Society, arranged for the needed endorsement of DSWD and applied for approval to purchase from NFA.
The rice bags were distributed by the Iloilo Provincial Federation of Associations of People with Disabilities, through its president Mr. Bonifacio Castigador, president of , and coordinator, Mr. Mario Abaygar.
ORMOC, LEYTE
Another 20-foot container of construction materials was shipped to Leyte through the Rotary Club of Omoc, consisting plyboards, tarpaulin, nails, hammers, plastic mat, etc. This was arranged by Atty. Coeli Fiel, sister in law of Dr. Roselmo Doval-Santos, President of the Theosophical Society in the Philippines.
TACLOBAN, LEYTE
A shipment of construction materials was also made to Tacloban, Leyte, and was distributed in coordination with the Leyte Metropolitan Water District, in Barangay Nula-Tula, Tacloban City. In a letter addressed to the Theosophical Order of Service, the General Manager of the Water District Office, Mr. Nestor Villasin, wrote: "I would like to express my heartfelt thanks for the relief goods you sent in order to help us rebuild our homes after Super Typhoon Yolanda hit our place. Your assistance in these difficult times has done a lot of ease their burdens brought about by the said typhoon."
The linkage with the Leyte Water District was made by Victor Penaranda, Vice President of the TS in the Philippines. Below are some photos of the plyboard materials which were already used in the repair of their houses:
Haiyan (Yolanda) Relief Operation Update Jan. 8, 2014
Below are photos of the shipment and distribution of one 20-foot container load of construction materials delivered to the town of Carles, the northernmost town of Iloilo which was severely hit by super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda). Because of the national focus on Samar and Leyte, little aid reached Carles and surrounding towns. The Theosophical Society and Theosophical Order of Service shipped several waves of relief goods (food, clothing and construction materials) to Carles and Sara of northern Iloilo province. The goods were loaded in four dump trucks of the provincial government. The cost of shipping was assumed by the office of Senator Franklin Drilon. The shipment was received on December 1, 2013 by Victor Lo, president of the Iloilo Lodge of the Theosophical Society. He accompanied the cargo to the town of Carles. The distribution of the goods was organized in Carles by the President of the Association of Barangay Chairmen of the town of Carles, Mr. Jose Miane.
The gathering, loading, unloading and shipment of the goods were arranged by Tessie Hao Chin, in coordination with Dr. Josephine Bundoc and Edgar Bellosillos. The donated goods consisted of Lawanit fiberboard, handsaw, nails, hammer, mats, tarpaulin, nylon ropes and other relief goods. The Lawanit fiberboards were donated by New South Star Manufacturing.
The construction materials being transferred from the container van to four trucks of the Iloilo provincial government.
The goods unloaded in Carles, Iloilo province.
One of the victims of the typhoon in Carles who received construction materials.
Group of volunteers who assisted in the unloading and distribution of the donated goods. The third person from the left (in green t-shirt) is Victor Lo, president of the Iloilo Lodge of the Theosophical Society in the Philippines.
Above: Mr. Jose Miane, President of the Association of Barangay Chairmen of Carles, supervised the orderly distribution of goods to those who were affected.
Below: The following are more pictures during the distribution of goods.
Below are pictures of several houses which have been repaired using the fiberboard, tarpaulin and other construction materials distributed to the various families.
To all those who donated and helped in gathering and distribution of the relief goods, we would like to express our sincere gratitude for your concern and action to help victims of super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda). We like to particularly express our deep thanks to foreign donors who spontaneously sent funds through the Theosophical Order of Service Philippines.
