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My Visit with the VIctims
by Jun Patricio

I had the opportunity to join Medical Action Relief Counseling and Healiing for Christ, (MARCH for Christ) a non-profit organization, last Dec.15-17, 2004. Our mission was to visit the victims of two typhoons and a flashflood in Dingalan, Aurora, particularly in Paltik, the barangay which was hardly hit by the calamity.By the time we arrived there, the vicitms were already in rooms of an elementary school which serves as the evacuation center.Chito Cusi, MARCH president, and the team leader, assigned me to go from room to room together with a doctor, an attendant, and a record keeper.

At first I didn't realize how these people were affected until I made some interviews.My job was to do some counselling. And so, we started with a prayer, thanking God that He has preserved their lives even if they had suffered the probably worst experience they had in their lifetime.Afterwhich, the doctor starts checking their health after a blood pressure is done by the assistant. Then I start conversing with the one nearest me,trying to find out how they were affected and try to say words that would probably ease their feelings. I tried to help them realize that it's not the end of the world yet and that their is hope for them to live a normal life.I can relate to their feelings for I also survived a shipwrecked caused by a typhoon.

After talking to these vicitims ,I realized, that behind the smiles they hesitantly showed us, deep inside they are hurting. A father, told me he was so thankful he is still alive. During the flashflood, he was totally covered by water and mud but was able to breath because his jacket was over his head and that gives him an air to breath. His son-in-law was not that "lucky", he died during the ordeal. Two mothers were telling me how they survived the flood. One of them with her children climbed to their roof top and stayed there till rescued the following day.(Flood was at night). The other mother had a more exciting climb with her children into a mango tree.She said she can feel the logs and other objects hitting the mango tree and was so thankful that the tree remained standing until the morning. I was introduced to a man. I was told he was carried by the water far enough for him to suffer bruises. He showed me the scars all over his body, he didn't have to tell his story for me to picture in my mind what had happened to him.I also had visited with a family who told me they had moved seven times since the beginning of the tytphoon trying to find the higher ground for their family.Tales of how the evacuees scaped the flood, goes on and on. This people have one thing in common though, they are all thankful to have survived the typhoon and the flashflood and to pick up whatever is left for them to go on living.

My prayer in every room where we've been,is for God to touch other peoples' heart as He has touched ours, and that He will send them to Dingalan and help our countrymen.I even prayeed that if God wills, that He will restore the houses of those who lost theirs.I also prayed that the victims will come closer to God and be thankful to HIm despite the calamity.