August 6-8, 2012, Metro Manila experienced continuous torrential rainfall, causing landslides and flash floods in low-lying areas around the city and neighboring provinces, forcing families to flee their homes in search of higher ground.
The seasonal monsoon rains, exacerbated by a tropical storm off Taiwan, brought down 472 millimeters of rain in 22 hours – more rain than Tropical Storm Ondoy which ravaged Manila back in 2009.
In light of this calamity, we reached out to all our donors on behalf of all our scholars and their families who lost their homes and possessions to flash floods and landslides brought on by the rain.
In the days that followed, we received donations of clothing, shoes, beddings, towels, drinking water, canned goods, assorted food items, and cash from generous donors.
At the Bagong Silangan Covered Court to distribute relief goods to families affected by flash floods.
With the cash donations we received, we bought rice, drinking water, and assorted food items, which we re-packed in grocery bags to give to each of the affected families. Along with a bag of groceries, each family received a 5-kilo bag of rice, and 2.5 gallons of drinking water in a refillable container.
ABC college scholar and volunteer Alyssa Villagracia handing out bags of groceries to each one of the recipients.
The first batch of relief items were distributed on August 10, 2012 to 124 families in Bagong Silangan, Quezon City, including our 25 pre-school scholars and 34 elementary and high school scholars, with the help of our partner, ERDA Foundation.
ABC intern Kristina Robles giving each recipient family a 5-kg sack of rice.
ABC college scholar Alexis Balansag giving each recipient family a 2.5 gallon container of drinking water.
The recipients of the relief goods were very grateful for the much needed support to help them get back on their feet again.
Families in Bagong Silangan choosing clothes, beddings, towels and other things they might need.
We would like to thank ERDA Foundation and the Bagong Silangan area leaders for their help in mobilizing and organizing the recipient families during the relief operations, and all our ABC Foundation volunteers.
ERDA social worker, Mary Jean Olano mobilizing and organizing the recipient families of Bagong Silangan, Quezon City.
ABC Chairman Lew Edwards with ABC and ERDA volunteers, Jennifer Dellomos, Judith Basa, Alyssa Villagracia, Alexis Balansag, Kristina Robles, Mary Jean Olano, Lalaine Marquesas, and Michael.
ABC Chairman Lew Edwards with ERDA Foundation and Bagong Silangan Area Leaders.
Relief items were given to 124 families of Bagong Silangan, Quezon City, with the help of ERDA Foundation.
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Our second relief operations was conducted last August 31, at Siena College, Taytay, Rizal, for the benefit of our Night High scholars whose homes were flooded during the August 6-7 monsoon rains.
Affected Night High scholars and their parents line up at the SCCDC office to collect their relief goods.
With the assistance of Mr. Rene Logatoc and Ms. Lea Caseres of the Siena Christian Community Development Center, we were able to distribute relief items, such as canned goods, bread, rice, and instant noodles to 60 Night High families.
7th grade Nigh High scholar, Thommy Deviva, with his bags of relief items from the SCCDC office at Siena College, Taytay, Rizal.
Our gratitude to all the donors who generously donated to our relief operations: Ms. Dinah Salonga, Kaeser Kompressoren Philippines and Malaysia, and all its employees, Ms. Marie Ernestine Ng, Mr. Rene Roy, Ms. Marylou Edwards-Ramos, Ms. Cindy Cordes, Ms. Nora de Guzman, Ms. Connie Dela Cruz and Health Carousel, Ms. Dodit Reyes, Ms. Carla Reyes, Ms. Remedios Van Middelaar, Mr. Melito Salazar, Ms. Vinalyn and Mr. Antonio Baluran, Ms. Vejes Potot, and Ms. Valerie Valeña.
