After Flood, There's War

After Flood, There's War

The floodwaters in most parts of the Archdiocese of Cotabato have barely subsided since July this year and most families are still in the evacuation centers, yet there's another major problem looming the archdiocese – armed conflict.  Reports from the Social Action Ministries of the different parishes show that until today thousands of families are still struggling to recover from the damages brought about by the natural disaster yet another disaster threatens not only properties but also and most importantly lives of people.

Santo Niño Parish in Midsayap, North Cotabato, reported that since July farmers in the low-lying areas suffered so much in the flood.  Most of them lost their livestock and their newly planted rice fields as everything went underwater.  Rev. Fr. Hilario Asilo, OMI, parish priest of Midsayap said, it was already disheartening to see people suffer their losses in the flood and armed conflict is now added to their suffering.  "Our people already suffered so much trauma and confusion.  Now they are desperately mustering hope safeguarding their salvaged properties and their lives."  The Archdiocesan Social Action Ministry also noted "it is [indeed] demoralizing to see how the same people who struggled from the flood now fall victims to the raging war in most parts of the archdiocese." 

 "When one visits the evacuation centers, he/she will immediately see so much anguish in the faces of the victims," a diocesan Social Action volunteer said.  Misery, pain and hopelessness envelope the victims as they wrestle to survive.  Once one sees the plight of the people he/she can readily say, without a doubt there's so much to be done to respond to the needs of the people.  This is especially true up to today for skirmishes and bombardments between the military and the rebel groups still make people seek refuge in the evacuation centers.  Most of them obviously have doubts whether there's still hope that awaits them.

The archdiocese in an effort to keep the people's hope alive took action by calling on all the faithful of the archdiocese to help by donating money or goods for the immediate needs of the victims.  The Archdiocesan Social Action Ministry and the parish based Social Action Apostolates spearheaded the said endeavor.  The response of the faithful undeniably radiated God's providence as donations overwhelmed both the archdiocesan as well as the parish based Social Action centers.

The Midsayap Parish for example appealed to the different Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's) who generously helped.  Among these NGO's were the Aboitiz Foundation, NASSA-CARITAS, Assisi Development Foundation as well as the local government of Midsayap and the provincial government of Cotabato.  Volunteers also swarmed Santo Niño parish, showing their desire to help especially in the preparation and distribution of goods to the different evacuation centers not only in Midsayap but also in the neighboring towns of Aleosan and Pikit.  They also organized feeding programs for children in the evacuation centers.  Medical Missions, in partnership with the Notre Dame of Midsayap College Nursing Students and the Barangay Health Workers, were also conducted especially in the barangays of Patindeguen, Namangkilan, Upper Labas and Sitio Tawi-tawi.

There may be a lot of dispiriting disasters that come our way in the archdiocese but the overwhelming goodness of people continues to radiate God's abiding presence and compassion.


Sr. Luchie, OND