Our IPCAP Debriefing Mission: An Account of Day 2

You have seen the pics of Day 2. Here are some more pics on that very meaningful second day Oct. 30, 2009. Not that the other days were forgettable. This one was simply good because we have seen for ourselves the possibility of debriefing right there onsite and see for ourselves the story come alive in the accounts of those who helped save. Of course we are taught that debriefing has to be done in a safe place. But some of those we debriefed already felt safe to tell their stories right in the place where the stress or trauma happened. This shows their resiliency as well as their willingness to overcome all the odds they went through. This was not the first typhoon they had, but definitely the first landslide that took away their loved ones and once loved.



This was the river in Irisan where many perished. The waters flowing in this picture appear tranquile and harmless. But on the night of Oct. 8-11, the river was a hungry monster devouring land, trees and people. No one was saved save those who were yet to fulfill their mission in life.

We went to an elementary school in Lamtang. This school was supposed to have been published in a newspaper of national circulation. We chanced upon the teachers and the students in their classrooms where we were allowed a simple debriefing, including a dramatization of the children's experience. I blessed them after their debriefing so they will go with peace in their hearts. On our way home, one of the children mentioned to me that he wanted to become a priest when he grows up.



The school sat on a plane overlooking the road below it. But with Pepeng's water aplenty, the land that used to be the place for flag ceremony every morning simply caved in. What was left was about three meters of land, leaving the flag pole standing but also in danger of going down once the land caves in again. Solution? You know it. Hence JUST DO IT!



The teacher-in-charge (TIC) was very welcoming and showed us the extent of the damage. Here she is pointing to the origin of the landslide, at the back of the school where they have a stage for programs. A couple lived in there and rushed to the classrooms as soon as they realized the erosion was getting to be quite a lot, endangering their lives. This school had multi-level classrooms, meaning to say that there are two levels per classroom: Grades 1 & 2 together, 3 & 4 together, and Grades 5 & 6 together, with one teacher per classroom. There is no resident Guidance Counselor in there.





This was on our way back from the school. The children obliged for a souvenir photo with us all. God bless the children.