Flags Magazine Volume 9 No 1: March 2014 Issue | Page 12

Feature

CHRISTMAS IN TACLOBAN
BY AIMEE TAPECERIA

T

he Department of Public
Health had a 16-person team
led by the Department Chair
Dr. Cesar Galvez who spent
six days of their Christmas
break visiting the destroyed
city of Tacloban, Philippines.
They conducted assessments,
seminars, and assisted with aid
distribution for victims.
Even basic transportation
could be an incredible challenge.
In order to get there, the
team flew first to Cebu City on
December 19 and then took
an overnight ferry to Ormoc
City and from there they hired
a van to drive the last part
of the way to Tacloban City.
They visited the East Visayan
Conference (EVC), the regional
headquarters of the Seventh-day
Adventist Church in that area.
Students stared in disbelief at
the incredible destruction in and
surrounding the church facility.
On Sabbath, December 21,
the team began their day with
a worship service at the church
on the EVC compound and then
conducted an ocular inspection
of Brgy. 88 and family interviews
in Brgy. 89.
On the second day, the
team went back to Brgy. 89 and
conducted a health education
program for the children.
They started with some action
songs, then taught them how

Barangay (Brgy.) is a Filipino term for village,
district or neighborhood.

12

Flags |

March 2014

to properly wash their hands and
brush their teeth, while giving
them free soap, tooth brush, and
toothpaste to use.
Under the supervision of
Assistant Professor Dr. Chirlynor
Calbayan, the team conducted a
nutrition education program for
mothers. The program included
a cooking demonstration of
VITA-MEAL (the type of food
distributed as food aid). Thanks
to the generosity of Gary
Stanhiser of Giving Children Hope
Foundation, the team distributed
approximately 3,000 VITA-MEAL,
hygiene kits, and medical supplies.
“We would like to thank Gary
Stanhiser for having given us the
opportunity of serving the Haiyan
victims in Tacloban City,” says
Galvez. “It was the best Christmas
ever.”
 The team returned to AIIAS
on Christmas Eve, yet many
expressed feelings that they
had already celebrated the best
Christmas by bringing relief to the
many they met in Tacloban. O