Relief Operations and Clean Up Team
Last October 3, 2009, a group of bank employees volunteered for 2 separate missions together with the staff/team of Institute for Foundational Learning. Their main objective was to provide relief goods in Barangay Butong Cabuyao Laguna and also to give help in cleaning up the houses of the victims affected by the typhoon Ondoy in Marikina and Pasig.
Typhoon Ondoy has affected all levels of society, from the poor, middle class to rich. We basically focused on the poor while helping the middle class get back to their feet and return to normality.
IFL (Institute for Foundational Learning), a non profit organization, teamed up with volunteers from the community and Security Bank to help flooded homes that reached over 10 feet street level. Some houses do not have electricity or water in their houses. As such, we needed to go in as quick as possible to clean houses during the day when there is still light outside.
Consisting of 55 volunteers, the group met at around 7:30 am last Saturday to provide help to families affected by the typhoon. They set off prepared with their cleaning materials (i.e. power hose, generator, scrubbing materials and several drums of water). Cleaning assistance for these devastated families took around 2-3 hours per family and the victims were very grateful for the help that they received from our volunteers.
The volunteers were all ready to help. They scraped mud inside by using a shovel, use the power hose to remove the mud, used a mop to remove more dirt, power hosed again and used a mop to wipe away the final dirt. Next, they cleaned the walls and the ceiling, removed the mud and scrubbed the walls. In one of the houses, they even had to remove the ceiling which was filled with layers and layers of mud.
They cleaned the windows, cleaned damaged cabinets and washed muddy bed sheets, curtains, clothes and shoes. They also washed and rearranged furniture. Their adrenaline was up and everybody was just there to help. The final work was to clean the backyard and front yard. There were so many debris and mud all over the place - - - more raking, shoveling and power washing again. Tears of joy were more than enough to thank the volunteers. They were privileged to be able to help.
As you can see from the pictures, the houses and streets are still full of mud. Before the clean up team got to their homes, the people were desperate and estimated it would take them one or two months before they could normalize their lives. Our main goal was to clean their houses so they could get back to a normal life even if there were still no power and water. We noticed how families were still willing to stay in their own home despite the inconveniences because for them, there is really no place like home. It was with joy and tears that they thanked the volunteers, for in a week’s time; somehow, they are able to go on with their lives.
2nd Team – Relief Good Operation
Location: Barangay Butong, Cabuyao Laguna
A group of volunteers from a bank together with the staff (around 15 people) of Institute for Foundational Learning (IFL) gathered last Saturday to provide food/relief goods to one of the most affected barangays situated in Cabuyao, Laguna. They also assisted in repacking the relief bags in the Institute for Foundational Learning Center, finishing around 12 noon. A total of 520 relief bags (consisting of canned goods, noodles, milk, water, rice, dried fish, salt, monggo, medicines) were distributed to several families in need.
The barangay (town area) consists of 800 families who were still flooded and there was a shortage of the relief goods to accommodate the needs. Stubs were distributed but there were just not enough stubs/goods for distribution, since the demand and need for the food is overwhelming. They distributed the relief goods in the dry area since some of the areas still have flood water that are waist deep. A group of staff workers also performed medical mission to those who are in need of health check/ assistance. Here are several pictures that show in detail the relief efforts conducted last Saturday. With Typhoon Ondoy wrecking havoc to the country last 2 weeks, a lot of people lost loved ones, property, and their sense of security. The destruction left by the typhoon Ondoy is so severe that thousands of families greatly rely on the help and food relief that were being provided to them by the volunteers.
Let us continue to help the victims, in any way we can. There is still much that has to be done, as most families cannot provide themselves with even the basic necessities until now. Let us help them rebuild their damaged homes and return to normalcy. You help is still needed and we are grateful for any assistance that you may bestow upon them. With your donations, we can purchase building materials needed for rebuilding their homes.
Let’s show people we care!
Account for donations
Swiss-Asian Chamber of Commerce
Glückskette / Task Force Asia
Postfinance Account
87-612054-5
IBAN CH32 0900 0000 87612054 5
