STAR’s Damayan brings relief to flood-hit Cagayan

MANILA, Philippines — On most days, the 12-hour route to Tuguegarao City would be unremarkable for The Philippine STAR as it would make the journey from Manila to deliver its various newspaper titles to readers and subscribers in the area.

But on Monday morning, the trip was a departure from the usual, as trucks bearing loads of grocery items, face shields and masks, blankets, mats, towels and liters of bottled water alongside cheery volunteers made their way to Cagayan’s provincial capital on a relief mission.

It had only been days since floods devastated the city along with other parts of Cagayan Valley, claiming lives and leaving billions of pesos in damage to livelihood and property.

For volunteers of Operation Damayan, The Philippine STAR’s social arm, this relief mission also posed unusual challenges: requisite travel passes had to be routinely scrutinized in checkpoints from town to town; only a lean team of volunteers could join the mission; and health protocols had to be strictly observed during distribution.

After Typhoon Ulysses unleashed its wrath on Luzon on Nov. 11, leaving untold devastation to residents in Cagayan, The Philippine STAR quickly called for donations and managed to raise over P5 million in a week’s time. Angelo King Foundation gave P2 million, San Miguel Corp. president and CEO Ramon S. Ang donated P2 million, GT Foundation contributed P500,000, and a slew of individual donors readily responded with kindhearted donations.

Armed with provisions from these donations, a 13-man Damayan contingent distributed relief packs on Wednesday to some 2,000 families given shelter in five churches in flood-hit city Tuguegarao City. Archbishop Ricardo Baccay of the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao assisted the group along with Fr. Bernie Corpus.

“Ang bilis n’yo,” Baccay told the group in appreciation, noting how quickly the team from The STAR raised funds, procured the goods, and made all the arrangements to travel to the city to personally distribute the relief packs.

Due to the difficulty of securing travel and health passes, the archbishop shared, many donors sent one or two representatives assisted by trucking firm employees to drop off donated goods with the various local government units and parishes.

The volunteer employees, led by STAR’s HR head and lead coordinator Emie Cruz, visited St. Peter Metropolitan Cathedral; the parishes of Sto. Niño, St. Rose of Lima and St. Dominic de Guzman Cataggaman; and the Shrine of Divine Mercy. Cruz acknowledged the help of parish priests Ben Lasam, Otil Mamauag, Dante dela Cruz and Dante Sabban in the success of the mission.

According to Cruz, with the floods having subsided, the evacuees manage to clean their homes during the day, and return to their respective parish churches to sleep the night over.

STAR photographer Jesse Bustos narrated how an evacuee requested for corrugated cardboard boxes to use as makeshift beds since all of their possessions – what little they were able to bring with them or retrieve after the flood – were still being dried.

When beneficiaries of the relief operation received their share of the blessings, smiles momentarily replaced the anguish they experienced after massive floods disrupted their lives in an instant. They were only too grateful for the helping hands that came to their aid in their time of need.

“We are glad to know that despite the pandemic, your readers are still willing to donate for this cause,” Archbishop Baccay said.

According to Philippine STAR president and CEO Miguel Belmonte, after Cagayan, Operation Damayan will be heading for calamity-hit Guinobatan, Albay to spread Christmas cheer to another 2,000 families.

“All of us, whether in government or the private sector, should join hands to do whatever we can to help our countrymen in need. In behalf of Operation Damayan, I would like to thank our kindhearted donors who answered our calls for help,” Belmonte said.

Damayan also wishes to acknowledge the P7,000 donation of Tony and Reggie Cardiño, and assorted goods from STAR editor Zinnia dela Peña. The typhoon fund drive closed out at P5.045 million.

For those who want to support future projects, donations may be deposited to Philstar Daily Inc./Operation Damayan Metrobank Savings Account No. 151-7-15152422-9, and deposit slips emailed to [email protected]. Interested donors may also contact 8527-7902 to 15 local 194.