Faces, Names, and Stories

Pajo, Quezon City.

This was an interesting visit because there were only 2 of us, with no car, and 4 big bags of relief goods. With a servant’s heart and sweat coming from all over the place, we carried the goods across Quezon City to Pajo, a small GK community that was hit by Typhoon Ondoy.

We were able to buy blankets, vitamins, noodles, bread, and ube cake (dessert is always great!) for 20 families that were greatly effected by the Tyhpoon.

Ate Minda and her husband are the leaders of a community church that have been a light during this time of disaster. I contacted Ate Minda and she was able to go through the community and find the most effected families in their area. These are the families that lost everything and are starting from scratch.

At Ka Freddie’s, Freddie Aguilar reminds us to give these people names. To not call them squatters, because they are in their own land and deserve to be here. So my goal in visiting Pajo was to hear stories, to be story, and to share story with you.

Ate Minda, Keefe, and I

Ate Minda walked us through the community and told us how the flood unfolded in their community. As they watched the water rise they began to start saving people with what they had – a tire and rope. They stayed as rooted as possible while reeling people in who were becoming stranded. All day and night their church also fervently cooked rice porridge for community members who were hungry – even delivering it to people who were stranded. She was amazed at the intensity of the flood, and the realization that no one was going to come help them. I was blessed by her dedication through those days, and her continual dedication to the community.

the families came to the church to pick up the goods

story. one lolo had lost his entire house and was living with relatives. another mother had lost her pregnant daughter because when the typhoon hit, the house collapsed and the daughter and her child drowned in the river under them. one pair of fatherless sisters waited 3 hours in a tree (one child was barely 2 years old).

it was tragedy amongst us, but each story was told with a smile. it was amazing to hear their stories and to be able to give them something to help. i  know it wasn’t much .. but to them it was just another day of survival.

Written by bien

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