Sending in the clowns – and counselors – for kids who fled volcano

KEEPING THEM COMPANY: Children of families forced by the Taal Volcano eruption to leave their homes in Batangas province are treated to a clown and magic show in Dolores, Quezon, where they have found temporary shelter — as well as the comforting arms of civic and religious groups now attending to their psychological and spiritual well-being. (Photo from the Facebook account of the Dolores Tourism: Faith and Wellness Destination)

LUCENA CITY, Quezon, Philippines — Children traumatized by the eruption of Taal Volcano are being ministered to by volunteers seeking to boost their psychological, educational and spiritual well-being.

An estimated 2,813 families or 11,683 persons, mostly young children, have fled Batangas province and taken refuge in this city and 16 towns in Quezon province.In Dolores town, more than 600 evacuees are being provided food and lodging at the central compound of the Suprema de la Iglesia del Ciudad Mystica de Dios, or Mystica, in Barangay Sta. Lucia at the base of Mt. Banahaw.Members of Mystica, one of a number of religious sects based on Banahaw, is seeing to the evacuees’ spiritual wellness, while teachers and psychologists invited by Dolores Mayor Orlan Calayag are engaged in the “psychological and educational rescue” of the traumatized children.

The local tourism office posted on its Facebook page photos of the children undergoing counseling and debriefing.

One photo caption spoke of the many ways of helping those in need, such as through one’s knowledge or profession, and not only in material or financial terms: “Maraming paraan po ng pagtulong, hindi lamang sa materyal o pinansyal. Maaari din natin ibahagi ang ating kaalaman o propesyon upang tayo ay makatulong.”

Also in the photos were a clown and a magician who arrived at the evacuation center to cheer up the children.

Relief from near and far

A number of the evacuees are being sheltered by their relatives, but their condition is being monitored and recorded by local government agencies.

The provincial government of Quezon led by Gov. Danilo Suarez continues to accept donations for its relief campaign dubbed “Yakap Kababayan (A call for donations for the victims of Taal Volcano eruption).”

Concerned citizens and public and private offices have donated bottled water, canned goods, hygiene kits, medicines, sleeping mats, used clothes and cash to the Quezon Convention Center.

“We will bring the collected donations to different evacuation centers in the coming days,” Quezon public information officer Ma. Janet Geneblazo-Buelo said yesterday.

Donations for the Taal victims have come from as far away as Kalayaan, the smallest and farthest municipality of Palawan province facing the West Philippine Sea. Bottled water, clothes, canned goods, instant noodles, and other relief goods have been sent from the Kalayaan Island Group to its extension office on the mainland at Barangay Santa Monica, Puerto Princesa City, since Monday through the efforts of the municipal government’s employees.

Kalayaan’s population is 251. It is composed of seven islands and islets, including Pag-Asa, which China has been claiming.

Riders from Bicol

“Help is help no matter how small it is, and this is a paradigm shift considering how small we are compared to other towns sending support,” Kalayaan Mayor Roberto Del Mundo said on Friday night. “We are thinking of channeling our donation through the Palawan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office or to the lead couriers in the country so it will get to the victims.”

Some 20 motorcycle riders from Bicol also traveled yesterday for more than 10 hours to Batangas to personally deliver more than 4,000 N95 face masks, ready-to-eat food, and hygiene kits worth P500,000 that they had collected from various organizations and private individuals. The relief items were loaded in four pickup trucks.

Eruption still possible

“We will coordinate with the barangay officials to identify families living with their relatives and friends who seldom receive relief goods,” said Vincent Villar, one of the riders.

“Bicolanos know the effects of ashfall, and this can happen not just once because there is a possibility of a more hazardous eruption,” Villar added, alluding to Mt. Mayon in Albay, another active volcano.

Since Jan. 12, Taal Volcano has remained on alert level 4, meaning a hazardous eruption is possible.

—With reports from Ma. April Mier-Manjares and Romar Miranda