TYPHOON REMING (Intl. name: Durian) DEVASTATES BICOL REGION

The Community Extension Service (CES) of AUP through the leadership of Mr. Leomer Batulayan, Director of CES, has proposed assistance of AUP to the victims of Super Typhoon Reming in Bicol, particularly to the SDA churches in the areas of Padang, Culiat, Rawis, Sto Domingo (still isolated), Cagsawa, Ginobatan (reported to have the most number of fatalities), Camalig, Daraga, and Legaspi City (where even those beside the airport were victims). The aid according to him will come this time in the form of personal care products such as soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, towels, face towels, etc. since many of the relief agencies are already sending food supplies, although food supplies, emergency shelters and even school supplies according to many children are needed. Donations are not restricted. Later on he proposes to the alumni if they would like to help in the reconstruction of damaged churches in the region, the AUP CES will provide the transportationa and manpower.

The CES hopes to distribute the goods before the Christmas Break while the students are still around, maybe December 10-15. Last time right after the Mayon Volcano eruption, the CES coordinated a relief goods distribution to Bicol three months ago. Bus-loads of goods (gathered from generous faculty and friends), and students and faculty volunteers were sent to the areas. If the alumni abroad are willing to help this time, Mr. Batulayan asked me to coordinate for CES.

I have received word from one of our church members in Daraga (she was able to have access to relatives in Bicol through a cell phone that uses a car battery) who is in AUP and she said in a very sad tone that the Bicol region, will not have electricity for three months. All lines are down banks are closed and even money transfers cannot operate in the area. The Southern Luzon Mission (SLM) was flooded until the second floor of the building. Many churches in the areas were destroyed. Further she said that three barangays in their area will be wiped out from the map because it was completely covered with mud and boulders form the mudslide, of course including many of the residents.

Some of our alumni might know her, she is Mrs, Orbe the wife of Eldred Frias Orbe; their family has a transportation business in Culiat, but all four of their busses were not spared from the tragedy. Her husband according to her had to swim his way to higher ground to escape the horrible flood and mudslide. He was able to contact her just seconds before his own cell phone was washed away by the flash flood. Their busses are usually hired by SDA institutions for educational trips. It was providential that she and her two children were in AUP during the typhoon and that her husband who was the only one in their house in Bicol survived the disaster. But just like all the others who survived, their house is a wreck and as far as their livelihood is concerned they do not know where to start. Mr.and Mrs. Orbe are alumni of PUC- Naga View Campus.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared Sunday a state of national calamity in the wake of super typhoon "Reming" and ordered the release of P1 billion for the relief and rehabilitation of the areas ravaged by the successive typhoons "Milenyo," "Paeng" and "Reming."

At the same time, the President expressed her gratitude "for the outpouring of prayers and support" from around the world for the victims of the latest tragedy to hit the country.

"Even as the nation continues to grieve on this tragedy, the Filipino people are grateful for the outpouring of prayers and support extended to us from all around the world," the Chief Executive said in a statement.

"We will never forget the compassionate assistance and sympathy extended by the international community in the present and past disasters. This must send a clear message to us all to keep our hopes high and have unity amid the challenges posed to us by this calamity," she added.

The President said she has ordered Budget and Management Secretary Rolando Andaya to release a total of P1 billion for the relief and rehabilitation of the areas hit by "Reming" and the two previous typhoons "Milenyo" and "Paeng."

"All resources of the government will continue to be mobilized without letup as we pin hope against hope on the search for survivors. We need to rise up from this trial and help rebuild devastated communities and lives," the President stressed.

The death toll in the massive mudslide at Albay province has swelled to 55 even as typhoon Reming (international codename: Durian) continued to make its way out of the Philippine area of responsibility.

A mudslide swept down on the village of Padang the foot of the Mayon Volcano, and at least 20 bodies were recovered, Noel Rosal, mayor of Legazpi City, capital of badly hit Albay province, said Friday.

Elsewhere in Albay, 26 people were killed in Santo Domingo and 13 were missing, while another nine deaths were reported in the town of Daraga, said Jukes Nunez of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council.

Not even Super Typhoon Reming could stop the celebration of Education Week with the theme "Molder of Dreams" in AUP. The morning chapel period program, however was cancelled due to the declaration by Malacanang that it was a special public holiday in lieu of November 30, Bonifacio Day. Classes were suspended, coincidentally, on the day that the super typhoon was expected to hit AUP. But the vesper program on December 1 continued and it featured the Young Voices (YV) of the Elementary Dept. for Part I in a mini concert with Mr. Joel Punay conducting. This was followed by the much anticipated Noel, Jesus is Born Cantata of the Academy Choir composed of 47 members and the Ensemble which is composed of 25 students playing the sting and wind instruments for Part II. The Academy Faculty Choir served as Praise Team before the Cantata. Ms. Jewel Solidum, Academy music teacher is Choir conductor, while Gem Perdon directs the Ensemble. Pianist for both the YV and the Academy Choir is Leian Cordial, a first year high school student and Dr. Rodney Abriol was the organist. The vesper program was the third major activity of the College of Education (COE) for the week.

The Celebration started on Sunday, November 26 with a parade opening the 3rd annual Minilympic Games coordinated by the COE student club officers and participated in this year by AUP Academy, AUP Elementary, COE students, COE faculty, Lumil National High School, Puting Kahoy Elementary School, and Tartarya Elementary School. Three schools that used to join the games were not able to attend due to other previous appointments. They were Hilltop SDA Elementary School, champion of the 1st Minilympics, Sto Domingo National High School and Elementary, champions of the 2nd Minilymbpics. This year's championship trophy went to Lumil National High School. The Games were organized to foster friendship and linkages with AUP's neighboring schools.

Wednesday's midweek program featured the musical groups of the Elementary Dept. These were the Elementary Chamber Orchestra (ECHO), the Bottle Marimba or "Tunog Bote", the "Ihip Tunog" or the Bamboo flute choir, and the "Pangkat Kawayan" or the Anklung group. All musical groups are under the training skills of Professor Ramon Lijauco Sr.

Culminating the celebration were separate Sabbath Services for the COE held at the University gymnasium wherein all participants were COE students. Hiking in the afternoon and socials in the evening closed the week-long affair. Dr. Ceazar F. Idaosos is Dean of COE.

Mr. Marcelino "Bong" Dano is a faculty of AUP on leave and teaches in South Carolina, USA through the Visiting International Faculty Program. He was a math teacher in AUP Academy for 15 years until he went to the States in July, this year. To God be the Glory!