Our intention was to bring a little help that we could gather as a community for the flood victims. Instead we left with our hearts full of the riches of life given and shared to others so that Christ may live and continue to be encountered by God’s people.
This in summary is perhaps the essence of our visit to the Diocese of Tandag.
It was February 21 when one of us, searching for a priest in the social media found instead another priest from the Diocese of Tandag City in Surigao del Sur.
Aware of the presence of a typhoon that has just passed by the region, the exchange of news was immediate. To the question, how are you, the response was a series of pictures vividly painting the massive flooding in the entire City putting under water also the surroundings of the Bishop’s Residence.
A city-wide climatic distress hit many people. Many houses were either submerged or washed away by the raging current of flood waters as Tandag River overflowed. Consequently, about twenty thousand families were evacuated to the government buildings and covered gymnasia which served as their temporary household until they are able to return to their own homes. Many of them no longer have have a place were to return.
This was the message from Most Rev. Raul Dael, DD, the Bishop of Tandag Diocese that came the day after together with the appeal for “prayers and other forms of support to augment to the assistance done by the government.”
The response was immediate. The New Humanity Movement of the Focolare Movement in Davao set aside a certain amount for the flood victims. Used but still usable clothes, pants and shoes where gathered also in the two focolare centers while some families made a last-minute effort to give part of their savings for the brothers and sisters who are in need.
In a few days, a small amount of money, a sack of rice and boxes of clothes–the result of the community-wide sharing of goods–were ready for transport to the City of Tandag, the capital of Surigao del Sur.
The trip to Tandag City was then set. In the morning of Saturday, February 27, four members of the focolare community for men set out for a six-hour travel to Tandag City passing through the scenic towns of Surigao del Sur, known as a tourist destination for such attractions such as the Tinuy-an Falls, Britania Islands, Enchanted River, among others.
The evening was spent with a dinner with Bishop Raul Dael, with local seafood delicacies serving as “appetizer” to create the warm and cordial ambiance for the beautiful and profound sharing of the night. We told our hosts how the beautiful roads, the scenic view of the sea and the luscious greenery of Surigao’s hills and valleys have captivated us. That, he said, was a late development in the province which was made possible through the intervention of the former Bishop of Tandag who told GMA, during her visit to the province, the people’s lonely predicament due to neglect from the political leaderships.
As the evening wore off, a priest of the Diocese spoke of his difficult experience running one its parishes which a Lumad territory included in his area or responsibility. That he had to climb mountains, cross rivers and navigate narrow improvised bridges with motorcycle (habal-habal) was not the problem, he shared. But the risk of being caught in the crossfire and tagged as a communist insurgent was his real concern for there the danger is real, he continued. He said one of the priests in the Diocese was labeled as part of the NPA due to his work in the care for and protection of the indigenous people of the place.
About half a million indigenous people, in fact, inhabit the mountains of CARAGA region where Surigao del Sur is one of its five provinces. Like in many other provinces, the Lumad of Surigao often fell victims of the politicians and big business’ interests who sow fear and division among the IP’s resulting into violence and even killings.
At the time of our departure, it was not sure how many times the invitation has been extended for us to return, not for relief operation but for vacation and rest. Countless! It is simply their way of being, limitless in generosity and abounding in hospitality–this time to enjoy the beautiful and majestic places which Surigao and its people has to offer.
As we leave the City, one cannot but reflect on what has just happened. It is true, we went there to share something to the people of Tandag. But the joy that filled our heart in such a short encounter makes it seem we are the ones who have received more: from the delicacies we ate to the experiences of faith lived in selflessness and self-sacrifice.
Certainly, it is a must that we return not only for the bountiful gifts of Mother Nature that has blessed this province but most of all to be in communion again with people whose witness of faith is a source of the Church’s edification and consolation.
