Article #1 Contributor: Mariela Destacamento Fourth Year College Student, La Salle College Antipolo Philippine District  

It is in every Lasallian’s nature, indeed, to help the needy. What we have seen in the past weeks were proofs that we really have the heart for service. Last September 28  to 30, La Salle College Antipolo  (LSCA) visited and aided nearby communities, namely, Solid Cement Compound, Sitio Puting Bato and a dumpsite near Santana Village. Since majority of the government’s efforts were headed for the worst  affected places, might  as well  help  the  areas  in  close proximity with our campus which were also damaged not only by flood but also with landslides. 

Our Tertiary Education Unit (TEU) relief operation team actually started with  less  that  15 members  consisting  of  the  student  council  and  organization heads. Day by day,  volunteers  and donations have  increased and  that made us realize that we should not halt our relief programs. Every smile and “thank you” felt  really  rewarding  to  the  volunteers.  I  have  heard  for  the  nth  time  our volunteers said “I’m happy that I participated in this relief operation. I felt good knowing that I helped someone in need; that I made someone happy by handing him/her food and a pair clothing. Ang sarap talaga tumulong! (It really feels good to help!)” With these feelings, volunteers had been looking after for more relief operations  where  they  can  continue  helping  our  countrymen  in  need.  The damage left by Ondoy would take a  long process to be relieved;  that  is why we are here – we are capable and we are ready to lend a hand. 

  

  

  

  

    

Article #2 Contributor: Randolf Olayvar Third Year College Student, De La Salle University – Dasmariñas Philippine District   Lasallians respond to Ondoy victims

In the midst of busy people, working industries and the silence occurred in the living of the Filipino people, news declared a typhoon named Ondoy was coming. Few people were worried about it, but some did not; maybe because the thought that they were prepared enough after surviving so many typhoons before. Typhoon Ondoy was not a super typhoon unlike the others yet the rains it brought were too thick. That fact wasn’t predicted by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services, Administration (PAGASA) because of its lack of functioning equipment.

Typhoon Ondoy hit Luzon, Metro Manila and the nearby areas. The country experienced heavy rainfall. When Ondoy hit Luzon, it was at the same time that PAGASA was just measuring the rainfall we will be receiving from Ondoy. Typhoon Ondoy poured on a month's worth of rain in 6 hrs, leaving most of Metro Manila, Rizal and Laguna flooded neck-deep. The hardest hit areas were Marikina, Cainta, Pasig and Quezon City after nearby dams overflowed.

The said typhoon was about to leave the country when another typhoon named Pepeng was predicted to hit in the following few days. Schools in affected and nearby areas were cancelled. Government officials in every district were still busy in helping their community to recover from the damage typhoon Ondoy caused. Schools and universities were also collecting relief goods to be given to the victims of the typhoons. Television networks and their respective foundations worked in collecting help also. Not only those government officials, schools and universities, television companies, other companies and non-government officials also are worked to help the victims as the troops from the Armed Forces of the Philippines participated, as well as and aid from other countries.

Television networks influenced many Filipinos. Our school, DLSU - Dasmariñas also ordered that classes was to be suspended. A day after the announcement, I was on my dorm and I’m watching television. I saw what Ondoy did after it left the country. The country was already in a state of calamity. 25 provinces including Metro Manila were placed under this. So many people died, almost a million affected and a billion Pesos were the estimated damage to agriculture and infrastructure. Days after, many people were still stuck on their roofs waiting for rescue while most huddled in

evacuation centers awaiting food, water, blankets and dry cartons to sleep on. What can I do? I don’t want to sleep and rest while others are suffering and others are striving to help. I fix myself and I invited a friend to be with me and we decided to go to our school since we know that there is a relief drive operation in Lasallian Community Development Center (LCDC) at DLSU-D that day. We went there bringing some goods and to volunteer. When we arrived at the LCDC, I saw many donations, Lasallian volunteers, Lasallian faculty and staff, a section of students from BS in Human Biology repacking, officers of the LCDC organizing the operation and vehicles coming to donate goods, water, clothes and some cash. There is a sorting area and repacking area also. On the repacking area, the volunteers are asked to repack a family pack to be given to those victims of the typhoon. Family packs contain clothes, goods, instant noodles and rice. An organizer asked for two volunteers and asked to go to De La Salle University – Manila to get some family packed goods because the LCDC needs more of it. I volunteered together with my friend. On our way to Manila, I sent a text message to my co-Lasallians and friends to please donate and volunteer in helping the victims of Ondoy. Some replied to my text messages, and I’m glad at their responses. They said they will donate, and asked how and where can give it. The ones who wanted to volunteer asked about offices they can attend. When we arrived at DLSU - Manila, we saw student there busy working, lifting donations and packed goods. Student leaders were busy organizing the relief operations with the administrators, staffs and faculty. We got 150 family packed relief goods. Going back to DLSU-D, it was a long travel. Arriving again at LCDC, donations and volunteers increased in number. I saw my friends who responded to my text messages. The operation continued. Relief goods were ready to be put in a vehicle and be given to the victims of Ondoy on the next day. The goods from Cavite were assigned to be given to Brgy. St. Peter and Brgy. Sta. Lucia in Dasmariñas, Brgy. San Juan I in Ternate, and Brgy. Maliksi, Aniban in Bacoor. A team of volunteers made their way to Taytay, Rizal where it was still the flood was still waist-deep. The Relief Drive for Victims of Typhoon Ondoy is successful but the LCDC is still accepting donations maybe because of the upcoming Typhoon Pepeng.

It is my first time to volunteer in a relief operation like this. This experience will remain in me because it affects me a lot. I saw Lasallians working together to help co-Lasaliians and co-Filipinos. I witnessed volunteers with different status in life from lower class, middle class and even in higher class working together to prepare the relief goods that were to be given to the victims of Ondoy. I experienced working with my co-students, with faculties and staffs, and also the administrators, even it was outside the classrooms and and there were no classes. Even schools are worked together to respond to the victims of Ondoy. La Salle schools

together with its Lasallian people sacrificed money, effort most especially their time in order to respond to the needs of the victims. I think this is our purpose why we live. To help our co-Filipino and other human beings living in our country and in this world most especially in a state of calamity like this.

    Article #3 Contributor: Geriz Bigol Campus Minister, De La Salle Santiago Zobel Philippine District  I am one of the many Lasallian volunteers from all walks of life that came that faithful week to help in the relief operations of DLSZ. Up to the present, I can still remember the faces of those who passed and helped in their own little ways so that others will live and say that there is hope. I saw myself taking care of prep to alumni. It was like these are the students who will build the future and yes, they are the future. These Lasallians would go to me and would always ask me of what they can do to help. If we are waiting for goods to come, the little kids would go and play in the play ground just beside the repacking station. When they see that boxes are delivered inside the hall, they would all stop playing and run to the hall and look for me to see and ask what they can do…again! Just like the little angels in Zobel, there should be no stopping in helping those who are in need. Animo La Salle! Kids, Thank you for the inspiration and for bringing big smiles to all of us.