Devastating Typhoons Hit Baguio City, Philippines

This news update is written by the President of the Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary (PBTS).  The typhoon hit Baguio City right after typhoon Ondoy put Metro Manila under flood water.

Pepeng, a devastating typhoon, hit Baguio City and Northern Luzon last, October 3-9, creating havoc to lives and property as it made a three-time landfall to the area. Accompanying the typhoon was a week-long heavy rain that resulted in heavy landslides throughout the region.

Many of you have sent emails expressing concern, prayers, and encouragement for us in a time of crisis. Thank you so much for keeping in touch even if we were not able to have internet access for several days.

PBTS incurred no major damage to people and property on campus. We are grateful for the Lord’s goodness and protection even as we grieve with those who have lost families, homes, livelihood, and most of the basic things in life.

The following is a report that will help you know some of the events before, during, and after the storm. The experience we went through last weekend reminded us of the time when a 7.7 earthquake hit our city last July 1990.

RAIN DURING THE WHOLE WEEK

Heavy rains started Friday night (Oct. 2) and went on until Oct. 9. Dr. Lizette Knight (another faculty) and I flew to Taipei, Taiwan on Oct. 1 for the memorial service of Mrs. Grace Chow (wife of ABGTS President Dr. Chow Lien Hwa). As we flew back to Manila, the typhoon has entered the Philippines that noon of Oct. 3. The plane landed amidst delay as it was zero visibility when we were approaching the airport. Then we headed to Baguio before the heaviest downpour could begin. With us were two pastors (PBTS graduates) who helped bring our PBTS family donations for typhoon victims in Manila last Sept. 26. The four of us made it safely to Baguio City before midnight on Oct. 3, amidst the strong rain, wind, and heavy fog of Marcos Highway (two hours before Baguio). Oh, driving was so difficult and only few vehicles were on the highway to and from Baguio that evening.

SIMULTANEOUS LANDSLIDES ON THURSDAY AND FRIDA

Non-stop rain went on for the whole week. It made the soil so soft. On Thursday night (Oct. 8), we had brown out in various parts of the city as many electric posts and lines fell. Then landslides in many areas started simultaneously and went on until Friday night. Everything was dark, cold, and scary at times as we monitored on battery operated radios the reports and calls for emergency assistance.

In many areas, it was like a whole block of mountain fell on homes and people. Hills collapsed one after the other. Rivers surged and carried away buildings, animals, and people. Many were trapped and buried alive. Rescue workers could not answer to all the cries for help. People came out of their homes to help neighbors in need. In the midst of heavy rain, people went to safer ground and buildings. Many who escaped to what were supposedly sturdy buildings also died as further landslides buried some homes and evacuation centers. So many people were left helpless as they watched their loved ones suffer from the devastation. Many roads were closed as floodwaters made their way through whatever path was open. Baguio City was isolated for several days as all roads to and from the city were closed due to mud and landslides.

The media reported that the volume of rain for a week was equivalent to one month of rainfall. Likewise, the amount of the six-hour rain that flooded many parts of Metro Manila last Sept. 26 was equivalent to a one-week rainfall. It was even higher than the recorded volume of water that flooded New Orleans, Louisiana some years ago.

SOME PBTS RELATED FAMILIES WHO WERE AFFECTED

Mrs. Fhey Kindipan Coyoy, PBTS alumna, lost her mother, only brother, two sisters, an aunt and her three young children, and an uncle (the headless body was found in the rubbles). The bodies are now lying in state at the La Trinidad Assembly of God Church.

Danny Semilla was buried in the landslide. His wife and youngest daughter (6 yrs. old) are still missing until now. Danny is the oldest brother of PBTS graduates Pastor Rey Semilla (First Baptist Church of San Fernando, La Union) and Joy Semilla Cabrera (now in Houston). Danny’s two girls (10 and 8 yrs. old) were rescued and are safe. The body is now at West Baguio Baptist Church. Retrieval operation has stopped. So the rest of the relatives have decided to do the funeral for Danny this Saturday, Oct. 17. I saw the two girls today at the church. Please pray for them as the relatives meet tonight to discuss how to help them cope with the tragedy, and decide who will have custody of the beautiful girls who have become orphans.

Letty Ngoslab (Finance Office staff) lost a cousin in the landslide. Letty and her three-week old baby were accommodated temporarily at PBTS last weekend.

The next door neighbor of Pastor and Mrs. George Cao also died when a big tree fell on the house during a landslide. The parents and their two young children died together.

Mrs. Celia Munson, another alumna, was stranded in Pangasinan last weekend, together with a medical team. The group went to Central Luzon to do medical mission among some families who were affected by the typhoon two weekends ago. They are back to Baguio now.

Other current students who went home to the Mountain Province for the term break last Oct. 3-10 could not travel back to Baguio because of the landslides. Some of them have lost family and church members also. Another student reported that four relatives also died in the Mountain Province during the storm.

Last Sunday night, sixteen bodies were lying in state at the Nazarene Church in La Trinidad. I met a church member today and she reported that these sixteen people came from four families whose homes were covered by mud during the landslide last Friday. Other local church buildings also accommodate the wake of people who perished in the tragedy.

Pastor Paul Tabon and his family had to relocate to a safer place because of the landslide in their area. They may have to move to another house temporarily as they try to repair the damage on their own home.

Other church members in La Trinidad are accommodated temporarily in homes of relatives and friends as they wait for a safer time to rebuild their lives and property.

CONDITIONS IN BAGUIO

The three major highways to and from Baguio were closed on Thursday until yesterday. Many gasoline stations were closed on Sunday morning because fuel was no longer available.

Kennon Road was opened Monday morning. We traveled through it yesterday and saw the heavy toll on homes, bridges, highway, and the area. One-way traffic scheme is in place. Half day is allowed for vehicles to go out of Baguio and half day to travel to Baguio. It was a scary experience driving on the soft soil, with water oozing from the mountainside, punctuated by heavy landslides in various parts. Thank the Lord for safety. Travel time is three times more. Today, Marcos Highway and Naguilian Road are open to light vehicles. Priority is begin given to small vehicles carrying gas and food items.

Funeral homes had a shortage of coffins last weekend so many bodies were wrapped with blankets and placed in black bags temporarily. A team of volunteer embalmers came by chopper yesterday to help, also. With the roads open to light vehicles, we hope that major needs for food and basic commodities will be answered beginning today.

We are enjoying a sunny weather now. It has been warm since Saturday. The city mayor has declared a three-day holiday (Monday to Wednesday) to allow people to rest, clean up the mess in homes who were soaked in the rain and mud, and be refreshed. Many funerals are being held, too.

RELIEF AND REHABILITATION

Last Friday, some of our faculty went to Puguis, La Trinidad where a major landslide took place. They saw dead bodies lined up in a school building. What a heartbreaking sight. The donated clothes from PBTS were used to give “decent” clothing to the embalmed bodies. Blankets were given to shivering people who lost their homes and property. Many of them fled from their homes empty handed in order to save their lives.

As we went around some parts of the city last weekend until today we saw the heavy damage. Many community centers and church buildings had coffins lining up as funeral homes were too full to accommodate additional ones.

Government and private agencies are giving help to many victims of the landslide, but there is just too much need. PBTS is collecting whatever donations in cash and in kind to help people temporarily so they will have food to eat, clothes to wear, and a roof over their head. It will take a while for many of them to return to normal life. Farmers have lost their crops and will have to wait until the rainy season is over to plant again. Those with stable jobs but lost a lot will need assistance to rebuild.

It is so heartwarming to receive emails and phone messages from friends in Manila who will be sending their help to Baguio. Only two weeks ago, many of them were also victims of the flood and PBTS extended assistance to them, too.

Thank you to those who have already informed us about forthcoming help. Some have come personally to bring cash gifts, clothes, and other things.

Donations in kind are welcome, too. Please bring or send them to PBTS, 19 Tacay Road, Guisad, Baguio City, Philippines.

Kindly let me know when you make a cash or check deposit so that your gift can be acknowledged and given an official receipt from the school. The PBTS family will make sure that whatever is intended for typhoon victims will be given to the recipients.

Please continue to pray for us as we minister to people in need. The PBTS family will lead in the memorial service for the Kindipan family tomorrow morning and afternoon, Oct 14. This will take place at the La Trinidad Assembly of God Church. Some of the relatives were already buried. Funeral for Fhey’s mother, brother, and two sisters will be on Saturday, Oct. 17.

Classes at PBTS will resume on Thursday, Oct. 15.

The Photo is from a friend’s Facebook.