Tabang Leyte, Tabang Culion

I am grateful to Atty. Meong Cabarde, the members of the University Community Engagement and Advocacy Council (UCEAC,) and all the faculty, staff and student volunteers who are helping with our Tabang Leyte relief operation.  Tacloban, Leyte is not as close to us as Comval, Davao del Norte, and Agusan, that we assisted after the devastation of Typhoon Pablo.  But the suffering caused by Typhoon Yolanda is no less severe, and our assistance is needed.

Tacloban has received a lot of local and international publicity, even though there are still desperate pleas from residents that relief reach the people who are cold, shivering and hungry. From within our community, some have reminded me that there were other centers of population – like Ormoc – that were also severely hit and deserving of assistance.

Because stores are not functioning, it is meaningful to donate old clothes, medicine, bottled water and foodstuff to our Drop Center in the Jacinto Annex. (across from Holy Child)..  Those who would like to contribute cash for the relief work are invited to use the dedicated account:  ADDU – Tabang Leyte Account; Account Number: 2513-0018-89;  BPI Davao Roxas Branch; Swift Code:  BOPIPHMM.

Hardly noticed in the media was the devastation wrought in the Calamian Group of Islands in northern Palawan.  Favorite tourist destinations like Busuanga and Coron were badly it.  In Culion, from where we have some fifteen scholars studying to teach eventually at Loyola College of Culion, the roof has been ripped away from the school, the tourism laboratory, Hotel Maya, is severely damaged, and the Parish’s retreat center similarly destroyed.  Actual reports coming from Culion are very sparse, since communications are down.  What we know comes from people who have travelled from Culion Island to  Coron or Busuanga to make a phone call.

To Tabang Leyte, perhaps we can add a Tabang Culion!