Cebu, June 16, 2014

Dearest friends all over the world,

Warm greetings from Cebu!

With this letter we would like to update you about the status of the rehabilitation project for the victims

of the typhoon Haiyan. The activities are really many!

In Cebu, we received last March two big containers of relief goods coming from the Focolare friends in

Ireland, and also several boxes coming from US, Switzerland and Australia. After two months, at the end

of May, we were able to repack and deliver the goods to many different towns and villages affected by

the supertyphoon in the Visayas islands: Bantayan, San Remegio, Medellin in northern Cebu, Bohol,

Abuyog, Tacloban, Tanauan, Palo, Ormoc, Baybay in Leyte, Sigma and Kalibo in Panay.

Many families received goods which will help them to support their primary needs: non perishable food,

blanquets, mattresses, bed sheets, shoes, clothes and stuff toys for children. Part of these goods was

sent also to the victims of the earthquake in Bohol Island, and to some families of Lorega, a slum area in

Cebu which was completely destroyed by fire at the beginning of May.

All this work would have not been possible without the generous help from many people who gave their

time and efforts in Cebu and in the other islands where the goods arrived.

Now, since the demand of relief goods has diminished, we are focusing on projects for repairing and

rebuilding of houses so as to give people a chance to live in better conditions. In fact, we chose to build

houses made of strong and long lasting materials that will possibly withstand other typhoons, which are

very frequent here in the Philippines.

The difficulties and challenges we encounter are many. For example: construction materials supply is

very scarce and the prices are high, we have difficulty in delivering them, the rainy season has just

started, skilled workers are few, and we also experience frequent blackout. In spite of all this, however,

we are going ahead with our projects: 12 houses are repaired, built and under construction nearing to

completion. Our goal is to arrive at 40 houses and even more!

During the first week of June we had also the joy of the visit of Stefano and Andrea from AMU and AFN,

two NGOs of the Focolare Movement. This visit was already planned since January, in order to evaluate

together how we are proceeding and to envision new perspectives.

The visit has been very important and fruitful! The most important results are the project of building

rows of houses for typhoon victims who do not possess a land, in Sigma, Panay island, and various

projects of livelihood for small farmers. These projects will be implemented with the donations collected

by AFN and AMU, and also with some contribution from Caritas Italiana.

Here attached are two power points with pictures of the activities we are engaged in:

Distribution of relief goods

Status of the houses under construction or completed at the beginning of June 2014.

Thank you again for your support, both moral and material one! We count on your unity to go ahead in

this big project and provide a livable life to many families affected by the typhoon.

Wishing you all the best,

The Project Haiyan rehabilitation team in Cebu

TYPHOON HAIYAN PROJECT

family of GUILLERMONew Washington , AKLAN PHILS.

family of EDWINNew Washington , AKLAN PHILS.

The blessing of thenew house of Edwin’sfamily

MINXEstancia Kalibo , Kalibo AKLANPHILS.

FERNANDA

Sigma Capiz, Roxas City , Phils.

The partecipation of Sigmacommunity during our visit

family of JOVIMENAltavas, AKLAN , PHILS.

family of ZENY TOLORIOSan Sotero , Javier , SO. LEYTE,PHILS.

family of PEPEV & G. Village, TACLOBAN CITY,PHILS.

family of VIVIENV & G Village, TACLOBAN CITY ,PHILS.

family of ZONIALolita Village, TACLOBAN CITY,

PHILS.

family of MARIBETHV & G Village, TACLOBAN CITY ,PHILS.

LUCIAMadridejos, Bantayan Island,Cebu, Phils.

Ako si Lucia Tayod,Nga inyong gitabangan sa akong balay. Daghang salamat sa inyong tanan ngainyo akong gikaloy-an.Salamat kaayo intawon sa inyong tanan.

I am Lucia Tayod whom you have helped rebuilt my house.Thank you very much to all of you that you have felt pity on me.Thank you very very much with all my heart to each of you.

Io sono Lucia Tayod , che voi avete aiutato a ricostruire la mia casa.Grazie mille a voi tutti che avete sentito pietà di me. Ringrazio con tutto ilcuore ciascuno di voi.

Distribution of relief goodsmarch-may 2014

Arrival of the goods in the northernpart of Cebu:

Bantayan IslandSan Remegio

Medellin

After four hours of road from Cebu Citywe reach the northern part of the island

With the truck we take the boat going toBantayan Island

The team of volunteers from Cebu whohelped in the distribution of the goods

The two boss of the operation!

Medellin and San Remegio

Distribution of the goods inBohol Island for the people

affected by the earthquacke lastoctober 15, 2013