84 – Our visit to Baguio to oversee relief operations
By August 1990 Salvation Army Relief Operations were still continuing in Baguio and nearby districts severely affected by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, earthquake and landslides. Many residents were still not able to return to their homes for fear that their dwelling units might totally collapse with after-shocks of intensity 4-5.
At the Baguio Park and in other open spaces, families put up tents made of blankets and whatever material they could find to protect themselves from the rain and cold climate at night time. It was not surprising that many especially children and elderly suffered from cough and colds. They did not have enough to keep themselves warm and quite a number succumbed to death.
In other towns in the Pangasinang area, families were staying in temporary shelters made up of old plastic sheets, blankets, old cartons and anything they could lay their hands on. And when rains came the make-shift shelters were often destroyed.
With more funds flowing in from overseas territories, The Salvation Army was able to provide tents, blankets, utensils and other essential things. Clothing and food parcels were distributed.
Every where our relief teams went, they were swarmed by crowds; some had walked miles to get to our distributing centres. It was most pitiful to see the elderly sick, mothers with babies struggling to get to us. Some places were inaccessible to vehicles carrying relief items for the people and our workers had to use whatever transport they could get, like bicycles, tricycles, trishaws to ferry the relief items to areas of need.
As more funds became available, The Army was able to acquire farming tools, fishing nets and even boats for the people; plus medicine for the sick. By August The Army had assisted three to four thousand families, thanks to the international support coming from far and near.
One hot dusty day in Manila found us heading north by plane and in forty minutes we arrived in Baguio where it was lovely and cool. It was our first visit to this resort city fully ‘air conditioned.’ Normally by car it would take about eight hours but due to the conditions prevailing at that time, we enjoyed the luxury of flying there. In our subsequent visits we always travelled by road so that we could visit more than one centre. We always tried to maximise our time in our visits to the various centres. Most of the time we travelled by road for economic reasons. In any case many of the roads to Baguio were inaccessible because of landslides.
We were met by the Corps Officer Captain Jessie Barayoga and taken by taxi to the Hostel where we were billeted. Next to the Corps (church) in the same compound was the Students’ Hostel. (Baguio is a University City).
Fortunately our properties suffered relatively little damage and there were no casualties among our officers and staff. One reason was that our buildings were well built and maintained.
The Army’s Advisory Board comprised some very prominent people. The Chairman at that time was none other than the Governor of Baguio City Dr. Bugnosan, a very humble man who arrived in a taxi to welcome us. He had loaned his car to a friend. There was no fanfare and escorts and security guards as was the custom with dignitaries who needed to travel. When I welcomed him to The Salvation Army, his response was “Delighted to be here; we are part of the family.” After the meal he went round chatting with the students. He even obliged the students when they requested him to sing a solo. He was a good soloist.
We give thanks to God for the many people who are great supporters of The Salvation Army. We certainly have a great responsibility to do our best with God’s help to live up to the peoples’ trust in us.
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