When tropical storm Ondoy, international codename Ketsana, struck Greater Manila Area and Central Luzon last September 26, 2009, it transformed some of the affected areas into a “water world.” The unusually prolonged downpour caused landslides and swelling of rivers that ravaged villages, business establishments and infrastructures and claimed precious human lives.

Twenty-four hours after the tragedy, the Camillian Scholastics plunged themselves into relief operations. Their initial efforts included donation of clothing (actually an excess from the ones they donated in Botolan, Zambales which was similarly devastated in August by Typhoon Kiko) and distribution of hot meals at one of the evacuation centers in Marikina City (being the closest to their area in Quezon City).

In the succeeding days, the Scholasticate Community contacted through SMS and Facebook some more local and international donors to bolster their relief operations. Cash, goods and medicines poured in.

With a directive from the Provincialate and in coordination with the Camillian Task Force, the Scholasticate became a drop center for all donated goods. The Scholastics manned the organization of the operations.

Plenty of volunteers likewise extended their help in repacking the goods for distribution. They were the seminarians from St. Camillus College Seminary in Marikina City; members of the Adult Formation Centre and Novitiate in Antipolo City; Camillian Healthcare Volunteers from Cainta, Rizal; parishioners from Boso-Boso, Antipolo City; professors and students from various schools (American Institute for English Proficiency, Enderun Colleges and Colegio de San Juan de Letran); some members of the Pastoral Committee of the Lung Center of the Philippines and other individuals.

The relief operation recipients included the Camillians’ very own employees in the Provincialate and Scholasticate, Camillus MedHaven in Marikina City, St. Camillus Polyclinics in Antipolo and Pasig Cities.  Boso-Boso and its neighboring and far-flung mountainous sitios (villages) and some communities along the Pasig riverbank in Marikina City were the other beneficiaries.

As of this writing, the Camillians are already wrapping up their month-long relief operations.  The end of this phase, however, is but the beginning of the next - medical missions and assistance in rehabilitation efforts.  The extension of help to the typhoon victims is thus extended.