austraLasia #2192


Don't forget 'Frank' - the cyclone, that is

DUMANGAS (Iloilo Philippines): 9th July 2008 -- Remember 'Frank', which caused devastating floods in the Philippines, and then moved on to China? We wondered at the time how various Salesian establishments in remote areas in the Philippines might be faring.  Well, today, one of those managed to re-connect with the world and send us a report (Don Bosco Boys' Home and Training Centre PD Montfort South, Dumangas).....
    "Panya Island, to which the province of Iloilo belongs, bore the brunt of the storm. It rained heavily for two days, accompanied by strong and gusty winds powerful enough to cause destruction for anything along its path. Electricity posts weredown, trees too as well as houses...you know very well that houses here are not made of strong and sturdy materials.
    "The accompanying floods produced by the heavy rain completed the destruction to properties and even lives. Had the rain continued for another day the effects would have been disastrous.
    "Here in Don Bosco we were also badly affected. The compound has become a lake with only our buildings, though a bit damaged, remaining standing.  A thousand banana trees as well as papayas, and our first crop of corn and rice, were all washed away.  On the first night people sought refuge in our compound because they were forced to abandon their homes with the rising level of flood waters. We were also completely cut off from Iloilo City because the roads had become impassable.  Electricity came back only after nine days, so we have had to content ourselves with moonlit evenings without potable water and other amenities of healthy living.  We were fortunate that a few days back we received several packages of HIPP milk from Hilfe zur selbthilfe dritte welt e.v. We gave this nutritious milk to the boys almost every day and I think it made a difference.
    "Things are getting back to normal...classes have resumed and we are grateful to God that we are still alive and kicking. We had losses to our structures and facilities but these can be recovered....Life goes on".
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Title: australasia 2192
Subject and key words: EAO Provinces FIS Cyclone Frank
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2192