By Kurt Zion Pala

The author, a frequent contributor to Misyon, is a Columban seminarian continuing his studies in theology after two years on First Mission Assignment in Fiji. He is from Iligan City. Here he writes about a visit to areas ravaged by Super-typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) on 8 November 2013.

Before heading home for the school break, I decided to spend some time in Tacloban City, which was heavily damaged by typhoon Yolanda on 8 November. It took me almost 30 hours to get there by bus from Cubao, Quezon City, through the national highway and crossing the seas by ship from Matnog, Sorsogon, to Allen, Northern Samar, and eventually crossing the San Juanico Bridge into Tacloban City, Leyte on 24 March.

I could see the damage caused by Yolanda in the landscape – the hills and trees were bare. I was told that in the days after the typhoon there were only three colors, if you could call them such: black, grey and brown. There wasn’t much life left except for survivors. I was dumbstruck by the extent of the damage – large infrastructures like churches, mills, schools and buildings were all destroyed. Buttresses of mangled steel and mountains of scrap metal and roofs were everywhere.

I felt deeply sad when we passed by a churchyard at night – there were candles lit everywhere before crosses of different sizes. It turned out to be a mass grave for many who died in the typhoon. It had been more than a hundred days after the storm. I could see most of the city trying its best to recover and rebuild. People were back into the rhythm of their daily life. I saw their smiles and heard their laughter.

I participated in the General Mission conducted by the Redemptorists in Tacloban and nearby parishes in the Archdiocese of Palo, Leyte, one of a team composed of priests, seminarians and lay people for a week of activities. The theme of the mission was ‘Re-nurturing Faith, Re-kindling Hope and Re-building the People of God’.  Much of the relief provided for the survivors had been more on the physical, social and psychological aspects, with little done to address their spiritual needs. The general mission hoped to fill this gap.

Our team covered two barangays of St Peter’s Parish, Tolosa, Leyte, San Roque and Opong. There were 830 household in San Roque and 513 in Opong. There were three reported deaths in Opong and none in San Roque. Most of the houses in both barangays were totally damaged. Structures such as schools, barangay and health centers were also badly damaged.

The schools had been reconstructed by the Korean Army. Most households were provided with temporary shelters like tents while they were rebuilding their homes. The chapel in Opong was also badly damaged with most of its roof ripped-off. That in San Roque was totally destroyed, only part of its facade remaining.

The group conducted activities which included a Lenten recollection, Mass, novena and Stations of the Cross, adult trauma release sessions, a children’s day and a youth night. There was plenty of sharing in groups and personal encounters. Most shared that they had lost everything but not their faith. It was God and their family that kept them alive at the height of and after the typhoon.

But one mother asked, ‘Why did God allow us to suffer because of the typhoon?’ Some felt guilty after Yolanda. I have also struggled with the same question after the death of a loved one. Does God will our suffering and pain? Of course not! God does not will that we suffer. God wills that we grow in love and faith, not in fear and pain. There are mysteries in life that we find difficult to understand – but in God’s time and grace they begin to unfold themselves to us. The Paschal Mystery – the story of the life, suffering, death and Resurrection of Christ - demonstrates the saving power and love of God through Christ. The people in Tolosa shared in that story of Christ.

During the Stations of the Cross around both barangays each station took on a more personal meaning for the people. Before we began we asked the people to identify their 14 crosses in relation to the cross of Christ and symbols to represent these: (1) hunger – empty plate; (2) destroyed houses - ; (3) lack of work or source of income – a rope; (4) lack of unity/ partisan politics – a broken chain: (5) health-related problems – an empty bottle of medicine; (6) education (lack of books and other school supplies) – a notebook and pen; (7) damaged barangay structures including the church/chapels –pieces of rubble; (8) temptations against faith– broken statues; (9) lack of help or no help from government agencies – coins; (10) problems with their families – a family picture; (11) climate change – a dried branch; (12) irresponsible governance specially at the barangay level – a clock; (13) their selves (selfishness, etc.) – a tattered shirt; (14) a symbol of hope – a green potted plant.

The General Mission emphasized two things needed for the communities to get back on their feet and get out of their situation: (1) Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC) Spirituality and (2) the Our Father as the prayer of the community. The only way out is for individuals to live their identity as baptized and as Christian communities guided by the BEC Spirituality is grounded in the definition of the Church as the People of God. The people must also live out the challenges that praying the ‘Our Father’ demands.

On the final night with the youth, I sat with seven young girls and boys. It was dark with only a candle in the middle of the group. I looked up and saw the stars. They were so bright in the dark. I seldom see such brightness, especially in the city. The stars reminded me that often we don’t see God’s presence and forget about him when everything around us is so distracting and fighting for our attention – false friendships, power and wealth. But in the dark, in our experience of suffering and pain – God becomes more present and real.

I would like to thank the Redemptorists for making me a part of their mission in Tacloban and the neighboring parishes. I came to see and my eyes were opened. They, the people taught me what faith in God means and what the deep joy of sharing is like. They are proofs of the Resurrection. Jesus Christ is alive in them! Jesus Christ is alive!