Seven Aeta communities affected by a deadly earthquake this spring received much-needed aid from The United Methodist Church in the Philippines and the denomination’s relief agency.
The United Methodist Committee on Relief issued a $100,000 grant last December to provide support for 860 Aeta families. The Aeta are indigenous peoples who live in the isolated mountainous parts of the island of Luzon.
Your gifts on UMCOR Sunday helps support lay the foundation for the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) to share God’s love with communities everywhere.
The relief packages, distributed Dec. 13, included sacks of food (mongo beans, brown sugar, cooking oil, soy sauce, rice, milk and coffee) and a 20-liter container for carrying water. The families also received bath soap, detergent, toothpaste, toothbrushes, undergarments and sanitary napkins.
The members of Camachile United Methodist Church in Floridablanca — all Aeta families — helped pack and hand out the goods to communities in Nabuklod and Floridablanca in the Pampanga province.
“My heart is overwhelmed with joy and thanksgiving upon seeing the bonding moments of the Aeta people working together, from the delivery of the goods, repacking, preparing the two venues and distributing the relief goods. All indeed worked together in harmony,” said the Rev. Leslie Casupanan-Dela Cruz, administrative pastor of Camachile United Methodist Church.
Josephine M. Cedillo, Manila Area disaster management coordinator, said witnessing the volunteerism and commitment from church members was the most rewarding experience.
She said one of the Aeta council members gave thanks with tears, saying it was the first time they had received such great blessings.
“I felt the joy of their heart in receiving great help from UMCOR,” Cedillo said. “In spite of their vulnerability, they have shown that they are resilient in times of disaster. The resilience that starts in each one, with family and the community (in which) we belong, grows from there.
Manila Area Bishop Ciriaco Q. Francisco joined UMCOR staff in distributing the food to some of the Aeta communities.
“As I give them the good items, I saw the joy in their eyes. The recipients are the most in need members of the community. They were surprised by the content of the packages, because those will last for a month for an ordinary family,” he said.
Casupanan-Dela Cruz said some of the church members who received relief supplies offered some of the goods back during worship. Those items will be shared with other Aetas in Zambales, a neighboring province.
Church member Liza Santos said she was happy to share the blessings with other Aeta communities.
“We are grateful to God and to all who helped in bringing the enormous gifts we have received. This is our first time ever to receive such a great amount of food. I am overwhelmed, which made me think to share my blessings with my fellow Aetas,” she said.
Maricon Paule, a United Methodist youth from Camachile United Methodist Church, said having the opportunity to share the goods was a great experience. “It is indeed a very good feeling,” she said.
excerpt of a story by Gladys P. Mangiduyos, communicator from the Philippines.
One of six churchwide Special Sundays with offerings of The United Methodist Church, UMCOR Sunday calls United Methodists to share the goodness of life with those who hurt. Your gifts to UMCOR Sunday lay the foundation for the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) to share God’s love with communities everywhere. The special offering underwrites UMCOR’s “costs of doing business.” This helps UMCOR to keep the promise that 100 percent of any gift to a specific UMCOR project will go toward that project, not administrative costs.
When you give generously on UMCOR Sunday, you make a difference in the lives of people who hurt. Give now.
