In the dead of the night of December 17, Sendong sent
torrents of water and mud through villages and stripping mountainsides bare in
Iligan City and Cagayan de Oro City. Others did not manage to wake up at all as
floods washed away entire houses with families inside in dozens of coastal
villages.
According to the national disaster agency said 957 were
killed and 49 missing on Mindanao after Typhoon Sendong (aka Typhoon Washi)
triggered the slides. Most of the casualties were in the cities of Cagayan de
Oro and Iligan and tens of thousands remain homeless, many sheltering in
evacuation centers.
The local and international community responded quickly to
help the survivors and retrieving dead bodies.
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| Zorrah Valentin of VALTAN Netowork with children of flood victims |
Zorrah Valentin (niece of WIMLER’s chairperson) and her
husband Peter Paul of VALTAN Network of Digos City, Davao del Sur were among
the private individuals who responded to the immediate needs of the victims. They
spearheaded the collection of relief goods in Davao del Sur area in partnership
with WIMLER Partnership for Social Progress and Criminal Investigation and
Detection Group (CIDG) in Cagayan de Oro City.
Through these combined efforts, they were able to distribute
relief packs to about 5,000 people
in Bulua, Iponan and Balolang in Cagayan de Oro City. They
also brought sacks of used clothes in Valenci, Bukidnon who suffered flash
flood during the time they distributed the relief goods.
We thank you all those who made the relief operations for the
victims of typhoon Sendong in Cagayan possible:
Efrain Jimenez, Wim Rispens and Family, Kathleen Amor Cossid, Saripa
Macarampat, Floreen Rom, Donnabelle Suello, Mr and Mrs Leo Leynes, Ana Marie
Noel, Justynne Kay Noel Tee, Kerra Noel Toloy, Ricah Mian, Pennely Dalumpines,
and Mr. and Mrs. Choli Jun Caduyac and Family”.
“Zorrah and Peter Paul Valentin also thank their personal friends and employees who
helped them packed the relief goods and for making our simple wish possible. “We
thank you from the bottom of our heart, and we would like to share the
wonderful feelings of sharing.”
-
Peter Paul and Zorrah Valentin
Below are some of the pictures taken during the
distribution:
