Operation December 26–30 2006 Dearest Sponsors and Friends, It is my great honor to prepare this report for you to get a better idea on how and where your donations went to in Albay. The first time Enrico mentioned the whole idea about this first week of December, all were a bit doubtful how it can be done. First, we had no contacts or people that we know of the area that was affected by the typhoon nor do we have any idea where to start either. BUT with the thought that there are people like you who likewise don’t know anybody in Albay we say to ourselves, “the least we could do is be the bridge between the people who cares in Denmark to the people who need it in the Philippines”. As soon as the ball for the ‘Aid for Albay’ project started to roll, my son Vincent actively took charge in having the agreed goods ordered. With the whole idea that the relief goods are received by those who really need it and that its distribution be as neutral as possible, I opted to coordinate with the church. We then called-up the chancery of Diocese of Legaspi and I was able to talk with Ms. Annie Lorca who gave me some basic informations about how other organizations handled their relief operations. Follow-up calls was with Susan and finally to Sister Gemma Dy, the nun who is taking charge for the social actions of the church.
With Christmas in the midst, a lot of goods was slowly running out and the Shopwise Supermarket was calling us once in a while if we can replace some items for this or that. We requested them to have as much as possible the items on the list and maybe, they get it from their other branches which they happily obliged. It was then decided that we hire two ten-wheeler trucks, one of our vans with driver Lito and another car for the 11 Filipino Danish team going. Come December 26th I, Vincent, his brother Ino and their friends; Jay, Alan, Elvin, Bibo started from our house early went to the trucking company to pay the hire for two (2) ten-wheeler trucks and agreed that it be ready for loading at 15:00. Then all met up with two staff coming from Coco Beach, Elian and Warlito together with Danish guest Palle at our Manila office and all had a late lunch while discussing what each should do while waiting for two more Danes (Morten & Theis) to go with them only arriving that evening all the way from Denmark. The team finally were able to start on a convoy bound for Legaspi at around 23:00 had a brief stop at South Luzon Superhighway for some fast dinner. At the rate they were going, all were happily looking forward to reach their destinations at around 14:00 next day. Early December 27th came a message that one of the truck had a flat tire during the night and when they have to take out the spare, it also had a hole. They had to find a vulcanizing shop and it was fixed. After and hour or two, same truck developed problems with the brakes. They had to wait till daylight and found another shop to fix the problem. In due time, they were on their way again but “when it rains, it pours”… because same truck just bumped on another truck while overtaking. It is during this time that they have decided that the other car follow the other truck and they go ahead so they can start unloading as soon as they arrive and then be ready when the problematic truck arrive as well as it was now going on a turtle pace and the van with Lito, Palle, Morten, Theis and Warlito to follow it. First truck arrived Legaspi at around 16:00 while the second truck arrived 06:45 the next day or literally 30 hours after. Those who arrived first decided to let the late arrivals sleep and rest while they together with some volunteers and the Nuns at the Social Action Center started to repack all the goods. Whole day was spent repacking and Sister Gemma took charge of having trucks to carry the goods to the villages that received less help so far as we had agreed before.
December 29th was spent in bringing the goods and distribution till late in the evening. And while doing this, my sons and their friends could hear some of the locals talking how happy they are to get blessings they did not really expect. That the rice and groceries was something they can share to welcome the new year with new hope and new beginning. This would not have been possible if not for you who gave for this cause and as always, this served as a great eye opener for my children and their friends to the realities of life and the lessons learned will hopefully help them to be more considerate and kind to the imperfections of life.
Once again, THANK YOU for letting us be the instrument in giving out YOUR aid and gifts to the families who really needed it.... No words can fittingly describe the smile and happiness when they received it...
May 2007 be a happy and fruitful year for all of us. God bless. Yours sincerely,
Connie Garcia Pausanos |
