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Typhoon Fengshen In The First Person, June 26, 2008

Father Gilles Blouin, a member of the Assumptionist community in the Philippines, was in Iloilo when typhoon Fengshen damaged the region.

This is his witness.

What was the situation in Iloilo and Antique?

" Usually, Iloilo and Antique are not devastated by typhoons. So for 50 years it didn’t happen that those areas were damaged so strongly. Both in Antique and Iloilo, all land and houses were flooded.

Because of mud and landslides, Antique was inaccessible. Even radio contact was cut. Only ‘texting’ (sms) was working to receive some news."

How were the Religious of the Assumption able to assist people?

"In Antique, the Religious of the Assumption welcomed many sick people from the neighboring hospital on the second floor of their school.

In Iloilo, the sisters welcomed the retired priests of the diocese in their retreat house, and then we went and provided drinking water and noodles to the refugees who had taken shelter in the cathedral compound (around 500).

Today, the sisters continue to be close and provide first assistance at the cathedral. "

How do people react and adapt?

"The strongest floods were from Saturday to Sunday. As early as Sunday afternoon, families went back to have a look of their damaged houses; sometimes discovering that they had lost everything. Today it’s difficult to know precisely how many families lost all their goods. But we can be assured of a sad reality: the poor will be the most affected, because they live in the most vulnerable areas (near the river).

I could see solidarity and many acts of mutual aid among victims of the calamity. And at the same time, I could see the anxiety, of course about the future, but moreover about close relatives or friends from whom they had no news. When there is no more load to send a text (sms), the unknown begins and the worst is imagined. "

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If you would like to send a donation to help the Sisters help the typhoon victims, you may send it to:

Religious of the Assumption

Attention: Sr. Mary Ann Azanza, RA

11 Old English Road

Worcester, MA 01609

Please make checks payable to Religious of the Assumption and write "Philippine Typhoon Fund" in the memo line. Your donation will be acknowledged and is tax deductible.

Let us keep the people of the Philippines and all victims of natural disasters in our prayer.

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