The Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro in northern Mindanao, Philippines, Antonio J Ledesma SJ, has called for environmental protection and good governance to be part of the post disaster response in Mindanao. He did so in his homily at the opening of a forum for Bishops and Diocesan Clergy of Mindanao on the challenges of Tropical Storm Washi for Mindanao in February.
Almost two months after Tropical Storm Washi hit, the devastation it wreaked is “old news” for the media, but for the many people, the devastation it caused is very much a reality from which they are trying valiantly to recover.
Housing and the loss of income are major issues. In the villages of Ponod and Pantar, the villagers have found a way to derive an income from the debris.
British Jesuit scholastic Stefan Garcia was in the Philippines when Tropical Storm Washi struck, and witnessed the destruction it caused. Stefan is half-Filipino – his mother is English and his father is Filipino – and he grew up in Cebu.
He reflects on his recent visit home.
Xavier University has started to help resettle survivors of Tropical Storm Washi. Thousands were rendered homeless by the flash floods that wiped out parts of Cagayan de Oro City in Southern Philippines on December 16 and 17, 2011.
Xavier University is appealing for funds to help the victims of Typhoon Sendong (International Name: Tropical Storm Washi), which struck the southern Philippines on December 17, causing flash floods and landslides.
Typhoon Washi slammed ashore on Mindanao island in the dead of night, sending torrents of water and mud through riverside villages, drowning scores of people as they slept, and sweeping houses out to sea. Tens of thousands of people have been rendered homeless and many are now in evacuation centres. As of December 20, the official death toll was close to 1,000.
The EAPI in Manila celebrated its 50 years since it became known as the East Asian Pastoral Institute in 1961. It was set up in 1955 by Fr. Joannes B. Hofinger SJ as the Institute of Missionary Apologetics. However, the name was changed in 1961 as Fr José Maria Calle SJ, the last of the EAPI founding team, recounted in 2009.
The East Asian Pastoral Institute (EAPI) has begun an English for Formation programme for clergy and religious. The programme was developed in response to the need for an intermediate-level English course containing components on spiritual formation and adult catechesis.
During his tertianship, Indonesian Jesuit Christoporus “Tito” Aria chose Apu Palamguwan Cultural Education Center for his two-week elective mission. He wanted to learn about the use of mother tongue in an elementary school for indigenous people. He shares his experience. … Continued
On September 12, Filipino scholastics Cristopher Fajardo, Joseph Haw Jr., Gilbert Emmanuel Levosada, Marlito Ocon, Alberto Paurom, Roy Cenon Ragas, and Karel San Juan were ordained deacons at the Church of the Gesu, Ateneo de Manila. The ordaining Prelate was Most Reverend Francisco Claver, S.J., D.D., Emeritus Apostolic Vicar of Bontoc-Lagawe.
On April 4, the Church of Gesu, Ateneo de Manila University, was overflowing as many came to witness the ordination to the priesthood of Xavier Alpasa, Francis Alvarez, Jason Dy, Oliver Dy, Frank Dennis Savadera,