Activity Update Oct 5
It is Day 8 of Operation Walang Iwanan, and we’d like to share with you two articles written about the relief efforts here in the Philippines. One is written by our very own Tito Tony Meloto (Philippine Star article that came out today, October 5) and the other is by Mayenne Carmona (Philippine Star article last October 3).
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=511295&publicationSubCategoryId=63
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=510655&publicationSubCategoryId=85
What is truly amazing is to see so many groups within government and the private sector, doing their share to help alleviate the suffering of so many victims. Yesterday, hundreds of volunteers from all walks of life flocked to Brgy. Nangka in Marikina, Brgy. Napindan in Taguig and in our various command centers in Quezon City, armed with their gloves, boots and shovels and personally helped families clean up their homes and surroundings and gave out food and Selecta ice cream to children.
This week, we have seen heartbreaking devastation but it has been matched by the indomitable spirit of the Filipino, and the heroism of our people who have tirelessly given of themselves without counting the cost.
GK is privileged to be counted among the many who have tried to make a difference and bring hope in this time of suffering and need. We thank all our partners, volunteers, the GK residents and the thousands of people, here and abroad who have made “Walang Iwanan” not just a slogan but a real expression of being our brothers keeper.
We thank the Lord who is the source of our strength – it is only by His grace that we become co-creators of little miracles through our service in GK.
And as we shift from relief operations to clean up and rehabilitation, we are counting on you to help intensify the work and for us not to stop until these families are able to rise from this tragedy and live with dignity. Bawat Pilipino Bayani!
Walang Iwanan!
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Issa Cuevas-Santos
Wife, Mom and Missionary
Gawad Kalinga
Activity Updates
October 4, 2009
OPERATION GK WALANG IWANAN: DAY 7
Many hands make light work. Bayanihan spirit is thriving this week in the Philippines.
About 6,000 volunteers have registered to GK Operation Walang Iwanan since operations began 7 days ago on September 28, 2009. Even at the threat of Typhoon Pepeng yesterday, volunteers continued to flock to the RFM Gym in Pioneer, Mandaluyong city. The response of the volunteers all wanting to help in any way they can has brought out the best of the recent tragedy.
Today (October 4, 2009), relief operations continue at the RFM Headquarters assuring that hungry families continue to have food and water among many other needs in the aftermath of Typhoon Ondoy.
The nation has responded to the call to leave no one behind in these trying times. Some of these quiet heroes have even come a long way. Residents from nearby provinces in Luzon came to the relief center to help.
Filipino communities are also uniting their efforts to help their countrymen. In the United States, the UC Berkeley Filipino community worked to raise $2,500 for Ondoy Relief in 5 days. The group was able to collect in-kind donations approximately 15 boxes to be sent for free through shipping company Alpha Cargo. In San Diego, a GK Fil-Am Festival was held to raise funds for the victims of Typhoon Ondoy.
Walang Iwanan!
October 3, 2009
Despite the rainy weather and threat of Typhoon Pepeng, GK Operation Walang Iwanan continues its relief operations today at the RFM Gym, assuring that the communities in need will not go hungry.
Early this morning, Luis Oquinena (Executive Director of GK) led a team of volunteers to Barangay Nangka in Marikina for a possible evacuation. You can read more by visiting his Executive Blog at www.gk1world.com.
As of 3:40 pm today, 15, 737 cooked and uncooked food have be re-packed. We have distributed a total of 177, 331 assorted food packs since September 28 when GK Operation Walang Iwanan began.
About 421 new volunteers have registered, for a total of 5,634 volunteers who have responded to the call of heroism since the beginning of relief operations.
Please join us at the RFM Gym today to help with the re-packing and distribution of the relief goods. Please share this message to your network. Bawat Pilipino Bayani!
Let us all pray in thanksgiving that Typhoon Pepeng has spared Manila. Let us continue to pray that the other provinces hit will sustain minor damage to person and property.
October 2, 2009
As of 3:50 PM, Operation Walang Iwanan has been able to distribute a total of 146,835 food packs to all the communities that we serve. Despite the threat of Pepeng, 45o new volunteers still signed up today for the repacking and relief efforts, because they knew that the families need food and supplies now more than ever.
The Headquarters will officially close at 7 PM tonight. We are calling on all volunteers to be on standby for further announcements. As soon as the weather clears, we request everyone to please report to the Operation Walang Iwanan headquarters at the RFM Sports Center, Pioneer cor. Sheridan Street, Mandaluyong.
Join us in praying for all the families that remain in vulnerable areas and evacuation centers, and for all relief workers who continue to work despite the threat of this upcoming storm.
September 30, 2009
About 3,000 food packs will be distributed today to affected areas in Pasig, Taguig and Montalban, Rizal. As of writing, 700 food packs have been deployed to Taguig. In Pasig, at GK Pinagbuhatan 1,000 food packs will be distributed. Yesterday, 300 packs were provided to the GK beneficiaries. Surrounding baranggays, San Joaquin and Malinao, seeing the help reaching our GK community, also requested for help. Many more poor communities are in need of relief. Your contribution, no matter how small, will go a long way to easing the hunger and medical needs of the affected areas.
As of 3:30 pm. 31,361 relief packs have been distributed by GK Operation Walang Iwanan to affected areas.
September 29, 2009
At 2:00 pm, two 6×6 army trucks left the Operation GK Walang Iwanan headquarters to deliver goods to Marikina and Rizal, considered the most hard-hit areas of Typhoon Ondoy, having been still under water two days after the calamity struck.
4:30 pm the team reach Camacho, Marikina through heavy traffic as vehicles were being denied entry into the disaster area which is still half a foot deep in mud, generally inaccessible with debris all around including many vehicles still lopsided. A total of 822 food packs were distributed to 60 GK families and residents of the surrounding areas.
Your help has benefited people in need on the ground. Volunteer reinforcements are needed in the area within the next 2-3 days for major clean up in the GK spirit of bayanihan. This is the next step for residents to start rebuilding their lives.
The team arrived at GK Selecta Village in Cainta (75 GK houses) at around 8:00 pm where 800 food packs were distributed. All families and homes are safe and intact, but the community had been under floodwater for almost four days. The water has finally receded but their source of daily food – the Selecta Bayan-Anihan farm has been wiped out. Another 1,000 food packs are will be distributed this morning (September 30) to our dear GK residents at Selecta. Both areas are still without electricity.
More communities are still affected and are being serviced by Operation GK Walang Iwanan such as Montalban, Rizal; San Rose, Pateros; Sunshineville and other communities of Las Piñas.
GK Tawi-Tawi is still flooded knee-deep. 50% of families have been evacuated but houses are intact.
September 28, 2009
GK Volunteers work overtime to pack relief goods. On this day, over 2,000 food packs were distributed to GK communities. They were brought to the following areas devastated by Typhoon Ondoy:
Pinagsama, Taguig: 200 pcs.
Napindan = 120 pcs.
Quezon City (Brookside/Bagong Silangan = 700, Tatalon = 670, Sitio Ruby = 400.)
About 10,000 individuals were fed in the first 6 hours of operation.
GK was also the only group that was able to enter Napindan in Taguig and Caliuag in Pasig with help from the Philippine Marines through General Boing Ecarma.
Globe, Meralco, RFM and Selecta are major corporate partners on board. We are expecting more to respond.
Since 6pm on this day, there are 1,000 volunteers at Operation GK Walang Iwanan headquarters in RFM, Pioneer St. Mandaluyong City packing goods for distribution to affected areas.
September 27
Generally, after rounds made in GK sites in Quezon City, our Kapitbahayans’ homes are intact except for one which sustained minor structural damages due to a wall that gave way. What our communities are experiencing right now, caused by the major flooding, are damages to property (furniture and appliances), clothes, food and some physical and psychological trauma. Our GK villages are likewise being mobilized to be relief centers to the surrounding badly affected slum areas. In GK Brookside alone (Barangay Bagong Silangan), other areas around it sustained, at last count, 70 deaths because of homes being swept away by the huge swell and rush of flood water.
Many have responded to the call for volunteers, mobilizing at Ateneo. Relief goods were delivered to all GK and non-GK Quezon City affected communities : GK Tatalon (420 families) – Block 245, STC, Tagalog, Don Manuel; GK Brookside (400 families); GK Melchora (200 families); GK Pag-Asa (100 families); GK Sitio Pajo (400 families);and, GK Sitio Ruby (300 families).
