Families take refuge in the sanctuary of The Lord Almighty United Methodist Church in Sta. Lucia Calumpit, Bulacan, Philippines, after multiple typhoons flooded the area. A web-only photo by Ciony Eduarte, UMCOR.

By United Methodist News Service*
Nov. 17, 2009 | NASHVILLE, Tenn.

Just one week after Tropical Storm Ketsana struck Sept. 26, Typhoon Parma hovered over the country for five days. "You can just imagine (how) it added to the floods," he said while visiting United Methodist Communications on Nov. 16.

In all, 25 provinces in the Manila area, Baguio area and part of Davao area were flooded.

Flash floods from the typhoons caused major property damage, according to the bishop. Less substantial homes were washed away and concrete structures were submerged in water for a long period. Part of Manila, the capital city, is still under water.

Some people, he added, have become infected with leptospirosis, a disease caused by bacteria from rat urine that has contaminated the floodwaters.

Soriano happened to be in the United States, attending a meeting in Nashville, when the first typhoon struck. He returned home to find church members organizing for the relief process.

"The district superintendents, the deaconesses, some lay leaders, in cooperation with UMCOR-Philippines, they tried to do some rescue and (provide) relief goods," Soriano said. "Even at this time, they are still doing it."

After the first typhoon struck, the denomination's Manila area, led by Bishop Lito C. Tangonan, organized relief operations and issued a letter appealing for support and donations to church members at home and abroad. United Methodist institutions and local churches distributed relief supplies and assisted with shelter.

Using church members and other local volunteers, the United Methodist Committee on Relief is distributing emergency supplies to more than 11,000 displaced families. Melissa Crutchfield, who coordinates the agency's international disaster response, said UMCOR has just received a $40,000 grant from Muslim Aid for its relief work in the Philippines.

Long-term recovery will mean rebuilding livelihoods as well as homes, Soriano explained. Many flood victims "simply have only the shirt on their back ... so you have to help them rehabilitate and many of them will be relocated because they could not build again where they were before."

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"The meaning of Christmas is Immanuel, God with us," the bishop said. "If we could be together in tragedy, in peace and joy, and in pain, then that could be Immanuel and merry Christmas to all of us."

Donations to support ongoing relief work in the Philippines can be made to Philippines Emergency, UMCOR Advance #240235.

*This story is written by Linda Bloom and based on an interview conducted with Bishop Leo Soriano by Susan Passi-Klaus, a public relations writer with United Methodist Communications.

News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or newsdesk@umcom.org. 

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