The other day I went to see this cluster of four houses on the fringes of Purok Bangkal which were badly damaged by super typhoon Yolanda.
Now, close to a year after, no rebuilding assistance has arrived for them. Our presence here in Purok Bangkal began with our distribution of roofing materials for seventeen families last March. Just last month, we were able to finish building one house (measuring 10x16) for a family of nine, whose house was also devastated by Yolanda.
The house we built had one bedroom, a living room, kitchen and toilet (w septic tank) with an all concrete floor and GI sheet roof. Purok Bangkal was one of the places here in Sagay that bore the brunt of the super typhoon and many residents saw their homes and bancas damaged or lost in the wake of Yolanda.
There is more work for us to do in Purok Bangkal helping rebuild houses. We simply cannot wait for the government to act. We are moved to help ease the suffering of our brothers and sisters here in Purok Bangkal because we see their needs.
Join us in our efforts to help rebuild these four houses. Help us better their lives by building for them adequate shelter. We need building materials: cement, GI roofing sheets; nails, lumber etc. You can give in cash or kind. Pls. PM us if you want to help. Together we can make a difference in Purok Bangkal.
IRC Sagay is partners with the Sagay City government in its pursuit of "transformational community development" for Purok Bangkal. We are working closely with the city administration headed by Mayor Alfredo Maranon III through the Sagay Marine Reserve, the city agency tasked with developmental efforts for Sagay's coastal areas.
We began our partnership with the City of Sagay early this year when we built twenty bancas for fisherman who lost theirs in the aftermath of Yolanda. The Sagay Marine Reserve helped us in identifying beneficiaries and provided for the labor component to the banca building project. Presently, our local IRC association has an ongoing mangrove planting project with the SMR and the BFAR.
Our clean, drinking water project for Purok Bangkal which we accomplished last April was inaugurated by the mayor who lauded our community development efforts. We met with the mayor yesterday morning in line with a visit this late November to Purok Bangkal of a 45 man team from an Australian association of Christian Schools that will undertake two projects with IRC Sagay in the community.
This missions exposure trip for the students of this organization will see them help build a public toilet/shower and cement a 15x30 meters basketball floor. A motor for a banca we are helping rebuild will also be given by this group from Australia.The Australian students together with their teachers will also engage the community in livelihood activities such as fishing and farming. The mayor will host a welcome dinner and cultural night for our Australian visitors when they arrive this late November. This Austarlian group's trip to Purok Bangkal was arranged through the efforts of IRC partner Pastor Gary Visitacion.
IRC is building bridges to people's lives as we expand our network of partners. You too could partner with us. Share our vision and help us meet the needs of this community of farmers and fisher folk. PM me if you want to be part of this endeavor. Together we truly can make a difference in the lives of people in Purok Bangkal.
Early this morning my godson and IRC Sagay volunteer Kristoffer Trono and I set out with fisherman and Yolanda survivor Marbin Bacalso, his ten year old son, Shan and fourteen year old nephew Marjohn to go and fish.
Kris has already gone fishing with Marbin several times before and you might say he is already a seasoned veteran although Kris admits he doesn't know how to swim. Actually what Marbin does is go to his fishnet pens set a distance from the shore which trap the fish.
He then catches the fish trapped inside with a net or with his bare hands, an experience I was able to try this morning. We caught just enough fish for our lunch although there was an 800 gram squid that Marbin caught that is now a cooking: adobong pusit, fish tinola and kilaw which Marbin already prepared when we were out at sea.
The Lord provides and in truth this bounty from the sea came from His hands to meet our needs. The IRC Family in Purok Bangkal is dependent on God as we acknowlegde that He is our provider.
This morning we went fishing but we hear Jesus' calling us: "Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men. At Purok Bangkal we are more than fishermen. We are "fishers of men".
The concept is simple. The strategy basic. IRC is just following in the footsteps of Jesus...touching lives..bringing healing...meeting needs.
IRC is translating the Gospel message into compassionate action and lives are transformed as we realize a knowing and intimate relationship with God.
God is bringing people together, people who are their "brothers' keepers", people who realize God's call and respond to it with love. IRC is now movement. Only by God's grace.
