St. Joseph Conference of Tambo, Paranaque spearheaded SSVP Outreach Program to typhoon Ondoy victims in Kasiglahan Village, Barangay San Jose, Rodriguez (formerly Montalban), Rizal last October 11, 2009. Kasiglahan Village is a mass housing project of the government during the term of former President Estrada. It is also known as Erap City.  It is home to more than 18,000 families.

        In coordination with the Maria, Ina ng Kapayapaan Pastoral Council headed by Fr. Demetrio “Jun” Suriben Jr. and prospective SSVP youth members led by Edlyn Magalso from the Homeowners Association, 100 typhoon Ondoy victims from Phase B and D received bags of relief goods containing 5 kilos of rice, canned tuna, noodles, coffee, milk, bottled water and blankets.  The relief goods were from the National Council of the Society.  Friends of Sis. Emilie Sarmiento, National Twinning Officer, from Art Plus Form Builders also donated several sacks of rice, noodles and bales of clothes.

        Phases B and D were identified as priority areas after the visitations of SSVP members last October 7, 2009.  The houses in the areas were submerged with floods till roof top during the typhoon and the families had to be evacuated to the public school.

        It was very heart  warming to see the smiling faces of the beneficiaries after receipt of the relief goods.  They were the biggest and most substantial relief bags they have ever received.  To quote Fr. Jun upon seeing the relief goods “ Masuwerte ang mga mabibiyayaan” then proceeded with the blessing of the goods.

        After the relief distribution which was held at the parish ground, the SSVP members visited some of the worst hit families.  One of whom was the family of Liza and Jun who had four children.  During the typhoon, Liza who had just given birth to her fourth child was alone in the house with her young children while Jun was working in a construction site in Makati.  Liza with her two weeks old baby wrapped in plastics had to wade through chest deep flood waters for almost an hour to reach higher grounds. Fortunately, both Mother and baby, now nicknamed “Onday” are well.  Even the siblings of Onday did not get sick after their typhoon and flood experience. If that isn’t God’s grace, I don’t know what that is!