Thank You For Not Leaving Us

GK Camacho, Marikina - It was 12 noon and Tita Delia Labrador,54 years old, was still busy helping clean up her community. In the aftermath of Typhoon Ondoy, their homes were left in knee-deep mud, the water had risen 20 feet submerging homes. Earlier in the morning, some 58 employee volunteers from Globe Telecoms including chief executive officer Ernest Cu have lent a helping hand to clean up their park and surroundings. Slowly but surely, order is being restored.

Tita Delia said she was very grateful that all of them are safe, no one died. She still feels disturbed about seeing a mother and child on their shanty's roof, their whole house being swept away along the Marikina River, waving to them for help. But they too were trapped, cold and wet, but found higher ground.

At night, she thinks of them and prays fervently that they are okay, thankful too that God has saved them from danger through GK. Their homes were secure. It can be recalled that GK Camacho was a relocation site for the squatters along Provident village in Marikina. This subdivision inhabited by the privileged was badly flooded with waters immersing two story houses.

One shudders to think what could have happened to Tita Delia if they remained in the slums. Thirty families have been relocated from this area since 2005 and have homes now at GK Camacho, Phase 2, sheltering 59 kids. "Nagpapasalamat ako sa Diyos, iniligtas niya kami sa kapahamakan. Diyos pa rin ang nagbigay ng daan." (I am thankful to God, He saved us from danger. He provided the way)," said Tita Delia who was one of the squatters along Provident village.

"Ito na siguro ang lupang pangako na ipinagdadasal namin. Nagpapasalamat kami at nakatayo pa ang bahay namin at lahat buhay," said Tita Linda Junio, 43 years old while taking a break from her cleaning activities. (This must be the promised land that we have been praying for. We are thankful that our GK homes are still standing and everyone is alive.)

"Nagpapasalamat kami sa Gawad Kalinga, talagang hindi kami iniwan sa oras ng pangangailangan, kinumusta kami, dinalhan ng pagkain, damit, gamit," affirmed Tita Delia. (We are thankful to Gawad Kalinga, we were not left behind in the time of our need. They asked how we were and gave us food, clothes, things we need)," Tita Delia said.

 
                Globe, GK and the Kapitbahayan.

The week-long relief provision has helped them survive the disaster and gain the strength to clean and continue their life. She said that their neighbors in Balubad, Baranggay Nangka were also grateful that GK also provided relief packs to them, about 1,500 families basic needs were met. "Salamat sa GK na nakatulong sa amin," they said. (Thank you to GK who were able to help us).

Tita Delia thanks her brothers and sisters from Couples for Christ East-B who prayed unceasingly for them to be safe as the typhoon was raging on that fateful day. They provided immediate assistance to the community's needs. "Hindi kami pinabayaan," she said. (They did not forsake us).

The Tzuchi Buddhist Foundation provided livelihood by paying workers from within the community to assist in the clean up operations. Members from Knights of Columbus came to assist and Ricky Reyes held a feeding. Selecta provided ice cream and RFM Corporation gave relief packs. Gawad Kalusugan and Red Cross held a medical mission. Bayanihan thrived over tragedy in the past three weeks and today clean up and rehabilitation are underway.