“On my first visit to one of our schools badly hit by the super typhoon, very strong emotions flooded me. A pall of uncertainty and desperation gripped me over the grave destruction all over the campus. (...) Now, several weeks and visits later, the situation has changed little and slowly,” shared the Provincial of the Southern Philippines (FIS), Fr Fidel Orendain.

In one of his last visits Fr Orendain was able to observe the difficulties and the desire of the Salesians and their collaborators to commit themselves: “Since face-to-face lessons were banned in schools for almost two years, Teachers are required to come to the campus to print lessons in module packs so parents could pick them up for their kids to work on. Faculty members line up to use the printers that survived getting wet or being blown away by the typhoon.”

“Half of their concern is focused on making and printing lessons,” the Provincial continues, “The other half is to rush back home to repair their houses. A little over one-third of the teachers and staff of the institution had their roofs blown away ... Not to mention the possibility of getting sick or picking up COVID is yet another layer hanging above their head.”

That said, in the Salesian context, they have been working tirelessly to help the most needy. On 29 January, for example, 44 days after the passage of the super typhoon, Fr Godofredo Atienza, former FIS Provincial and current Head of the FIS Salesian Family Secretariat, represented Fr Orendain on a charitable visit to some needy families residing on the group of islands of Olango, which are also part of the Salesian Family as members of the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA).

“Many of the houses in Olango have yet to be rebuilt and the electricity has yet to be restored ... These families truly suffer now, whether it is dry or it is raining, because most of their homes were totally flattened,” testified some members of the local Planning Office and Development (PDO), who took part in the solidarity expedition.

Just reaching these families was challenging, requiring a journey first by car and then by boat. But the Salesian team is committed to bringing the aid made available by the generous support of "Misean Cara" - a movement for international missionary development based in Ireland - and the Salesian Irish Province.

 “Despite these challenges, people still have a genuine smile on their face and offer their warm hospitality. Their resilience and hope are very much in evidence. We shall overcome!” conclude the members of the PDO with optimism and gratitude.

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