Rotary Clubs, NGOs and thousands of relief organizations and individuals worldwide have been pledging, coordinating and delivering emergency aid to communities in the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan flattened entire villages, killed thousands, and displaced over half a million others.
E-Health Records International (EHRI), a Sebastopol, California software company, was able to facilitate $10,000 of donations to the relief efforts, thanks to Rotarians near and far. Kit Sumbata, CEO of HealthInformatics Inc., an EHRI company, took this donation to the Rotary Club of Alabang, and working together they were able to find matching funds for a total of $20,000.
Kit noted that, “Buying and donating is the easy part of disaster relief. Delivery is the hard part.” So Kit and the local Rotary Clubs organized a medical mission.
The 5-day service mission provided medical, rebuilding, livelihood, and psychosocial relief. Using connections in the healthcare industry, EHRI was able to solicit the services of a handful of local doctors. The Rotary of Alabang provided the logistical and volunteer support to quickly transform these donated dollars into an entire medical mission to a remote village whose livelihood was decimated.
The village, Panay, relies on fishing and traditionally made thatching for sale and sustenance. Because of the Typhoon, the grasses that make the thatching was destroyed – much was uprooted by the winds, and all of the dried grass was soaked by the torrential rains. The home supplies delivered will provide shelter and an opportunity to stay in the village while the new grasses grow and dry. Fishing nets were also delivered, providing the village supplies to earn a living and feed themselves in the coming year.
Dr. Nick Villatuya, President, Rotary Club of Alabang, said, “Many of the people we served in this mission barely had anything. They lived in small houses in the middle nowhere. The typhoon took away the little things that they had. They had absolutely nothing left. The things we gave them, no matter how small and inexpensive are treasures for them. But the real treasure is what they gave us–the gift of being able to serve others above ourselves.”
With their economy, land and homes in shambles, hope did arrive for the coming year in the form of fishing nets, building materials, and small gifts for the children. Christmas arrived a little early for the village of Panay, but no one complained.
Materials and gifts were given to 400 families in need to make their long journey of rebuilding ahead a bit more manageable.
Dr. Nick Villatuya, President, Rotary Club of Alabang, said, “The mission was a very humbling experience. Working many days and nights, planning and preparing to maximize the time, talents and treasures the donors and volunteers gave was all worth it. Seeing the smiles on the faces of those we have helped made me realize how simple things and simple acts of kindness can change a man’s life.”