Xavier University held various missions during the school Christmas break to help victims of Typhoon Pablo in Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental and Agusan del Sur.
Six faculty members and two students facilitated stress debriefing & medical mission in Barangays Cateel, Bana-ao and Yapsay, Davao Oriental, some of the badly hit areas of Typhoon Pablo.
Houses in the coastal areas were washed out due to storm surges which reached as high as 5ft and covered the main road. People crawled their way out of their houses to safer ground because the wind was strong enough to rip apart a heavy cemented house.
Michael Acenas, Monalisa Pangan and Suzette Valmores of the Campus Ministries Office, Engr Crel Valdehueza of the College of Engineering, Dr Vincent Laguardia and Francis Dale Acenas of the School of Medicine, Laurine Alexis Yonson, a Sociology student, and Victoria Melissa Pulido of Kristohanong Katlingban sa Pagpakabana – Social Involvement Office together with Balay Mindanao Foundation, Inc served approximately 600 families who were also given free medical check-ups and basic medicines.
Meanwhile, a team of seven counselors went to New Bataan, Compostela Valley and Sta Josefa, Agusan del Sur to conduct psychosocial debriefing for affected children. The Guidance and Counseling Office, represented by Dr Joey Marie Jegonia, Carol Landa, Sean Sasing, Sr Trang Tan, Bro Noel Cantago, Carmelita Judith Guarin and Charito Vocal, partnered with the Ateneo de Davao University’s Center for Psychological Extension and Research Services (COPERS) during the mission.
“There were some kids who still couldn’t speak because of the shock,” recalled Dr Joey Marie Jegonia who led the team from XU.
To help the children, as young as less than a year to 13 years old, tell their story, Jegonia’s team facilitated role playing games where the children expressed themselves through movement. They were also given toys with which to associate the positive experience of the intervention.
Overall, the GCO helped over a hundred children in New Bataan and over 400 children in Sta Josefa. In addition to the toys, which were donated by a group of medical doctors, Jegonia and her team also handed out school supplies.
To fund their mission, the GCO raised funds and diverted their Christmas party budget to the mission. They also got support from the university President’s Office.
“Our direction now is toward putting up more funds not just for clothing and books, but to fund a psychosocial team,” shared Jegonia.
The team plans to visit the children again in May for a follow-up session.
Despite the tragedy experienced, the communities remain hopeful that a brighter tomorrow awaits them.
“Because we were able to survive, we should continue living,” said Edmer, a 12 year old boy from Brgy Ban-ao. “God still has big plans for us.” (With reports from Victoria Melissa Pulido)
