A stormy December 2012. When Typhoon Pablo hit the east-facing coastal regions of Davao and Surigao del Sur on December 3, 2012, Father Saturnino Urios University through its foundation and Gawad Kalinga Butuan promptly activated the relief operation program the very next day, December 4. Volunteers were sent immediately to the affected areas of Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur to initially assess the damage caused by the typhoon. At the same time communications were initialized directly to the parishes. As the figures and pictures were slowly coming in, donations were pouring in fast both in cash and in kind, and so too were the volunteers who helped in the packing.

>> Read more about Operation Walang Iwanan: Typhoon Pablo

Three days after Pablo stormed, delivery of relief packs started. The concentrations of the distributions were in the municipalities of Hinatuan and Lingig for Surigao del Sur and the municipalities of La Paz, Loreto and Veruela for Agusan del Sur. Pity that the damage in these municipalities were not included in the early reports of the media as their damage was so extent also especially in agriculture. Up until January 12, 2013, relief goods and nipa roofings were delivered to Binucayan, Loreto, Agusan del Sur. Also in January 12, the GK Caraga team had helped facilitated a medical mission at Lingig, Agusan del Sur.

>> Read more about the Lingig medical mission in "Operation Wayay Bija-ay"

Typhoon Pablo may have crushed many infrastructures, flooded hectares of rice fields, cut and toppled down hills and hills of coconut and Falcata trees, wiped out an entire barangay, and drastically claimed lives but it ignited the strong spirit of bayanihan of every Caraganon. To date, there are more than 700 individuals and groups already who shared their resources for the victims of Typhoon Pablo and it’s been more than a month also that volunteers are manning the relief operation center yet still people are coming in (some dropped by several times already) to donate and help. It was a very rainy December, a very stressful month but thanks be to God for the Filipino value of Bayanihan: Walang Iwanan!

_______________________________________________________________________

OPERATION WALANG IWANAN is ongoing, and we need YOUR help. Let us transform this disaster into an opportunity to bring hope to the families affected by Typhoon Pablo. Walang Iwanan!