In times of disasters, we become like guardian angels to affected families when we share what we have to help them rebuild their lives. Sometimes though, we tend to forget the equally important kind of assistance that people need which is spiritual assistance. With this premise in mind, Pampanga prelate Bp. Pablo “Ambo” S. David led hundreds of evacuees at the Mt. Arayat National Park in celebrating the Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels on Friday (October 2, 2009).
The evacuees were among the 256 families affected by the floods and the landslide that occurred at the height of Typhoon Ondoy’s onslaught last Saturday, September 26 which claimed the lives of twelve (12) residents of Brgy. San Juan Baño, Arayat among whom were a pregnant woman and several children. Most of them lost their homes and material belongings as boulders and mud came rampaging down the slopes of Mt. Arayat noontime of September 26. The event was reminiscent of the lahar flows from Mt. Pinatubo which wiped out entire barangays in the early ‘90s.
Fr. Rey Cruz, Parish Priest of St. Catherine Parish and newly-ordained deacon Rev. Francis Mallari, who both concelebrated with Bp. Ambo organized the gathering with the help of parish lay leaders and in coordination with the Holy Rosary Parish – Social Action Center (HRP-SAC). Members of the Holy Name Society of the Holy Rosary Parish came all the way from Angeles to donate “sweet monay” bread and candies for the children. The said parish also delivered the second batch of relief goods (canned goods, rice, clothes, bottled water, juice, etc.) donated by generous Angeleños/as through HRP-SAC. The Angeles contingent was joined by volunteers from the Inocencio Magtoto Memorial Foundation, Inc. (IMMFI).
After the mass, Bp. Ambo and the HRP-SAC volunteers visited the site where the landslide occurred. The sight of mangled remains of nipa houses and personal effects such as muddied clothes and shoes strewn all over the place greeted the group. Signs warning people to stay away from the “Danger Zone” were posted at the entrance to the area. The warnings came too late for the residents who continue to wonder what could have caused the landslide. Was it illegal mining or did Mt. Arayat, which is believed to be a dead volcano erupt? Arayat residents have been requesting for an independent investigation on the matter, even as the Mines and Geosciences Bureau claimed that it was the high volume of rainwater that caused the landslide.
The evacuees are expected to stay for at least a month more at the evacuation center after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-III, on Thursday (October 1) declared a 700-m danger zone from the slopes of Mt. Arayat, where they had established their residences. Still unable to grasp how this disaster could happen at all, old residents swear that it was their first time to witness such a dreadful event in the area. A week into their evacuation, health and sanitation has become a problem due the lack of necessary facilities such as toilets and bathrooms with source of clean water. Toiletries (e.g. soap, toothbrush, toothpaste and alcohol) and medicines for common ailments (e.g. coughs and colds, diarrhea, skin disease, etc.) are among the more pressing needs of the evacuees at this period.
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