RCM Responds to Plight of “Karding” Victims

Last September 26, Super Typhoon Karding lashed parts of Central and Southern Luzon. The farming communities of San Miguel Bulacan, in particular, suffered the worst flooding its residents have seen in recent decades, swamping 49 villages of the town with floodwaters and chest-high murky slop and sewage. It also made headlines after five rescuers died in the area while conducting rescue operations at the height of Super Typhoon Karding's fury.

Quickly responding to the immediate needs of its residents, the Rotary Club of Manila, led by President Herminio "Hermie" Esguerra, expeditiously mobilized its Disaster Relief Committee, chaired by Rotarian Michael Jaey Albaña and co-chaired by Rotarian John Pallasigue, as they packed more than 100 grocery packs, while Vice-President Reginald Yu helped assemble 100 sets of emergency shelter kits to support more than a hundred families affected by the storm’s impact.

On October 4, with the invaluable assistance of the seasoned men from the Philippine Coast Guard, led by Sea Marshall Group Commander Rosendo Abinoja III and Ensign Jhonaly Cachuela of the Maritime Security and Law Enforcement Command, we delivered two truckloads of construction materials consisting of plywood, coco lumber, galvanized iron sheets, hammers, aluminum nails, hand saws, and single-layer modular relief tents equipped with blankets to the newly-constructed San Miguel gymnasium, where almost a thousand residents were eagerly awaiting the much-needed aid.

The short turnover program was graced by San Miguel Mayor Roderick DG. Tiongson, Vice Mayor John "Bong" A. Alvarez, Bulacan’s 3rd Congressional District House Representative Lorna Silverio, Bulacan Provincial Police Office PLTCOL Relly Arnedo, and PNP San Miguel Municipal Police Station Chief PLTCOL Romualdo Andres.

Special thanks go to Manila Rotarians Aries Balanay, Teddy Tee, Mike Roxas and Inov Talusan for their invaluable assistance during this impactful community development undertaking.

Indeed, the Rotary Club of Manila has once again demonstrated that, while individual efforts focus on individual needs, combined efforts serve humanity. The power of concerted efforts knows no limitation, multiplies resources, and broadens lives and perspectives; and selfless service leads to tolerance and transcends racial, national, and other boundaries.