After Shock! Bohol Experience

"Volunteering can be an exciting, growing, enjoyable experience. It is truly gratifying to serve a cause, practice one's ideals, work with people, solve problems, see benefits, and know one had a hand in them".  --Harriet Naylor 

The team inside the Villamor Air Base Departure Area

The Early Birds

Its been a while since when I updated my blog!. I guess this is the time to update and share the stories behind my busy schedules.. Hahhahah (just kidding). :)

Going back!..

Last month, the Province of Bohol experienced a 7.2 magnitude earthquake and it affect nearby provinces. A lot of properties was damaged even the churches, bridges, malls and historical sites in the province. 

We, the Helping Hand Central Luzon  try to gather medicines, foods, clothing and waters right after the incident in Western Visayas Region and planned to visit the province and handheld our goods and medicines which was given to us by our relatives and friends.

HHCL ready for boarding.

The group together with the Bangon Bohol decided to go at Bohol province, coordinated with the Air Force to accommodate our team for the C1-30 flight bound to Bohol. 

Inside the C1-30 Plane.

October 24, we are scheduled for a flight to Bohol. The team gathered as early as 4 in the morning at Villamor Airbase with the stuffs we had (I mean the medicines, food, waters and clothing). The team composed of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), Fire Rescue Volunteers, Nurses, Engineers and other professionals volunteers. 

While waiting for boarding for the C1-30, the team helped the uniformed personnel's to load the shelter kits from DSWD and other relief goods from different companies. Around nine-thirty in the morning we boarded on the aircraft and find our comfortable place and position due to heavy volume of goods and shelter kits in the plane. I know this is uncomfortable for us but, we decided already to help & reach out for the survivors and this is what we want.  So no more questions, just go with the flow!. 

The boxes of waters and relief goods.

After more than 1-hour flight, we arrived at Tagbilaran Airport before twelve in the afternoon. We ride at four vans wherein we load again our things and we go directly to the Governor's Mansion  where the OpCen was located without taking any meals for our courtesy call.

(L-R) Erick Bernardo - Story Writer and Me - Documenter
getting the instruction to Patrick Garcia - Team Leader.

An orientation was given to us where the team can go to distribute the goods we had and where to conduct the medical missions.While on our way to San Miguel, you will noticed how our kababayan trying to fixed their houses even there is pending aftershock!. Schools, hospitals, municipal halls, houses and even the hills are devastated by the quake and aftershock. "Talagang nakaka-awa ang sitwasyon nila", said by one of our team mate.

















Here are some of the photos: 

We traveled for more than six hours before we reach the town of San Miguel. The team stayed at the St. Michael Archangel Parish and stayed the night before going to the Barangay where we do the mission in the morning. We stopped at the market to buy food for our dinner. I volunteer myself to cook for our dinner with the pinaksiw na galunggong and tulingan.

While we're sleeping, I was awakened by after shock  around 12 in the midnight. I return back to bed and catch my sleep for tomorrows activity. According to some members of the team another after shock was felt around 3:30 in the morning.  The after shock around 4:45 in the morning was the stronger one and the whole team was awakened. 

People of Brgy. Tomoc patiently waiting for their turn

The team prepared themselves and we packed the goods for the mission. We left the parish around 8 in the morning and directly go to the Municipal Hall of San Miguel for the courtesy call unfortunately the Mayor is not around. So, the group decided to go to the Municipal Health Officer and meet Dr. Jabone. After the short talk and discussion for the medical mission, we rushed to Brgy, Tomoc and set up for the medical mission. 

Less than 200 patient seen, less than 20 trauma patients & wound dressed, 82 packs of relief good and 62 pair of 600 ml water was dispense and distributed. There is also a short discussion on disaster preparedness delivered by Brian Paolo Dalanon. While doing this things, we experienced several after shock at the gymnasium where the medical mission set up is. After 3 hours of medical mission at last we're done and ready for our lunch. While eating our lunch, we experience another after shock. 

Mission is not yet done and we are heading to Capayas  to distribute the relief goods we have. Thirteen patient was seen and give some medicines together with 40 packs of relief goods given to families stayed at the tent. 


We left Capayas around 2:00 in the afternoon and proceed to Brgy. Poblacion, Carmen. There is a tent-village wherein they stayed at the tent. While on our way, heavy rain pours and this is not a hindrance to us and to them. They still fall in line and eager to get some of the goods even the rain is pouring down.



Finally, this journey is not yet the end. We stopped to different tourist spots while on our way to Tagbilaran. The team dropped by at the Man Made Forest, Tarsier Conservation Area and Loboc Church. You cannot explain the feelings seeing those old church turned into pieces. A church who bind peoples and the history behind it. 

HHCL Team!

Natura Vista, the place were we spend the night before going back to Manila. A place offered for free by Mrs. Marilyn Lungay, mother of two member of Bangon Bohol group.  


Share your time! Give your service! Be a Volunteer!

For the complete details you may visit Nurse Erickson Bernardo's Blog.

Call for Donation

For now, we are still collecting and accepting donations for the survivors of super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) trough our group, Helping Hand Central Luzon (HHCL). The team went last November 17-19 at Tacloban and hand-held the relief  goods to Brgy. Caiba-an, Anibong and Palo Leyte. I was not able to join this mission due to unforeseeable situation. The team is also planning for the second time to reach other barangay in Leyte or in Aklan. 

Here are the list of items that they need in the area.

Food Items
- bisquits/crackers
- breads
- easy to open canned goods
- ready to eat ulams
- bottled water

- rice

Non-Food Items
- used clothes
- unused/new undergarments
- sanitary napkins
- toothpastes
- toothbrushes

- bath soaps
- laundry soaps
- candles
- matchsticks

Supplies
- betadine
- hydrogen peroxide
- mask
- gloves
- medicines
- iv fluids
- cannulas
- microphore taps

- bandages
- gauze 

- sutures

Medicines

- Paracetamol

- Amoxicillin

- Tetanus Toxiod

- Oresol

- Loperamide

- Carbocisteine

- Loratadine

- Phenyephrine HCl + Chlorphenamine Maleate + Paracetamol

- Mefenamic Acid

- Multivitamins 

- Vitamin C

We make sure that your donation will surely accounted and go directly to affected areas. For cash or in kind donations, please text the numbers on the picture or email me at nurseandreidelacruz@gmail.com.

Credits to all the owner of the pictures: Jefferson Villamin & Emily Serra