Typhoon Frank (Feng Shen) Hit the Philippines

I went back to the Philippines this summer of 2008, only to experience a major typhoon on June 21, three days after I landed in Manila. I eventually went to the island of Panay, that was possibly the worst hit of the 7,100 islands that comprise the country. The satellite photo below shows the storm over the Philippines, and Panay Island is the triangular island in the center of the storm.


The devastation brought by the typhoon to villages near the rivers were severe and historic. Some villages (e.g, Barangay Bogo and Bagumbayan in the town of San Remigio in Antique) have almost disappeared from the map because they were wiped out by the flash floods. We participated in disaster relief operations that included national and international agencies such as the Red Cross and the UN. The photos below may not capture the extent of the devastation because these were taken a few days after the storm. The land looks bare, because the native homes and farms where people toiled for their livelihood were washed away by the flood.

Fr. Joe at NATIVITY PREPARATORY SCHOOL, Wilmington, DE

Last summer, the Philippines group held a "despedida" or going away party for Fr. Joe who was moving to Delaware to become the Principal of the Nativity Preparatory School. He is a bit far from DeSales University now, and we will miss seeing him on a more regular basis. Best of luck, Fr. Joe!

Presentation to the DeSales Community

In early April the group shared the work done in the Philippines. Faculty, administrators, and students listened to the groups enthusiastic stories and enjoyed of the vivid pictures. At the end we answered questions and added some of the funny stories we still talk about from our trip.

The Library put together a poster with some of the pictures and a map of the Philippines for the audience to see. (picture above)

Ospital ng Makati: Health Care for the Urban Poor

The Makati Health Programme (MHP) was designed to provide residents of the city of Makati with monthly incomes not exceeding PhP8,000 (US$156) access to quality health care. The cost of health care in Philippine urban centers is so prohibitive that it is beyond the reach of citizens belonging to this income bracket. Also included, as programme beneficiaries are the elderly and city government employees including public school teachers, policemen and firemen. Makati is one of the few cities in the Philippines that provide subsidized quality health care to its constituents.

The local government of Makati has as its private sector partner the Makati Medical Centre. The programme has two non-governmental organization (NGO) partners: the Ospital ng Makati Foundation and Bagong Ina ng Bayan.

The program has given beneficiaries the opportunity to avail of services such as major surgeries in one of the best private hospitals in the Philippines. In 2000, 50,042 cardholders were treated at the Makati Medical Center, with total billings of PhP170 million (US$3.3 million). Under the terms of the expenses sharing scheme, the city government of Makati shouldered PhP96 million (US$1.9 million), and Makati Medical Center, P74 million (US$1.4 million).


The DeSales group helped the staff at the hospital tend to their patients.

Chinese NEW YEAR Party: EAST Meets WEST

The DeSales team celebrated the Chinese New Year with Chinese friends here in the US. A fun New Year party, new friends, and a continuing effort for global understanding. The folks come from many places: Mainland China, Taiwan, Hongkong, Dominican Republic, Philippines, and the US.

Happy CHINESE NEW YEAR! At DELICIOUS Restaurant, Chinatown, MANILA

Happy Chinese New Year! February 7, 2008. The YEAR of the RAT!
Chinese calendar has been in continuous use for centuries, which predates the International Calendar (based on the Gregorian Calendar) we use at the present day which goes back only some 425 years. Current year is Year 4705 by the Chinese calendar. Since 2008 is the Year of the Rat, any one who was born in the Year of the Rat is now either 1 or 13, 25, 37, 49, 61, 73, 85 or 97 years old.


We went around Chinatown to experience one of Manila's oldest district. The place is indeed a feast to the senses, all sounds, colors, and smell are all there! Quite a stimulating place.


Jeepneys line the street across the DELICIOUS RESTAURANT. We decided to have lunch at this restaurant which is considered to be one of the old establishments in the area. The place is casual and unpretentious, and food was most satisfying.

BORACAY: Exploring the Island