Iglesia Ni Cristo shows the way: From record-breaking worldwide walk to rebuilding houses and lives for typhoon Yolanda survivors

Eagle News Update

Source:  CNNiREPORT

From a massive charity walk worldwide that broke two Guinness world records to setting up a housing, relocation and livelihood site for the benefit of the victims of typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan). And all these done in just a span of one month.

This was how the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) or Church of Christ – a global Christian church which was registered in the Philippines on July 27, 1914 – is making its presence felt in helping survivors of the strongest typhoon on record to hit land.

On February 15, the church conducted a charity walk dubbed “Worldwide Walk for those affected by typhoon Yolanda” that broke two Guinness records. One for the largest charity walk in a single venue which was in its Manila site, along the scenic Roxas Boulevard where 175,509 participants made it to the finish line. The second was for the largest charity walk done within 24 hours in multiple venues with 519,221 participants that set a new Guinness record category. All the participants who registered and donated money were members of the church which will be celebrating its centennial on July 27.

On March 14, just a month after this fundraising walk, the INC church administration unveiled a model community to be set up in Alangalang town in Leyte, one of several Central Philippine provinces pummeled by Yolanda’s fury in November.

It was just 18 kilometers from Tacloban City, Leyte’s capital, which became the center of international attention for relief supplies and rehabilitation efforts from all over the world.

The model community will be called Sitio New Era, signifying hope for a new beginning for survivors of the typhoon who want to get back on their own feet in rebuilding their lives.

No less than the INC Church’s Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, visited the site which was nestled on top of a mountain. A model concrete quadruplex house was already finished with tiled floors. Each planned quadruplex will have four studio-type units good for four households.

The church officials said at least half of the planned one thousand housing for the site would be finished within the year. Beneficiaries for the housing projects are members of the church who were affected by typhoon Yolanda.

Sitio New Era will be built on a 3,000 hectare property of the INC where an eco-farming site will also be developed.

INC General Auditor minister Glicerio B. Santos Jr., said 40 percent of the land would be developed for planting of imported rice varieties, while the rest of the eco-farm site will also be designated for the planting of imported fruit bearing trees and imported vegetables.

A garments-manufacturing plant and a dried fish plant will also be set up, as well as a facility for the production of cultured mushrooms.

Before the groundbreaking of the projects to be set up for Sitio New Era, the INC also conducted a massive relief food pack distribution in Tacloban City for the benefit of typhoon Yolanda survivors. At least 150,000 relief food packs were distributed. A medical and dental outreach service was also held near the site of the relief food pack distribution in Leyte National High School in Tacloban City.

But more than the giving of food aid to typhoon survivors, Santos said that the INC Church Administration led by Bro. Manalo wanted to help their brethren by providing them permanent housing in a safe place and jobs for them to recover from the tragedy.

“This was started by Bro. Eduardo because he wanted the brethren with no jobs to have their own means of livelihood. Because that is the main problem of people not just here, but all over the world. That is why the Church Administration is helping members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo so they would have their own livelihood,” Santos said.

“This is why we are building resettlements like these,” he said, noting that there are now a total of eight model eco-farming communities which the INC had already set up in the Philippines. These are in Agusan del Sur, Cavite, Rizal, San Miguel and Obando in Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, and Isabela.

Santos explained that the Church is not accepting cash donations from non-INC members, and they have in fact turned down several offers of cash donations from outside sources.

“All these happened because of God’s help. God is guiding the Church Administration, and He is the One making all these happen,” he said.

Officials of Leyte province admired the speed and efficiency of the INC’s actions and hoped that this would prod the national government to speed up delivery of projects for the typhoon survivors.

“This should be the standard. The Iglesia (Ni Cristo) is acting fast, even in the distribution of relief goods. We have seen that even last year. They immediately distributed their relief goods to everybody who needs it. There was no politics,” said Leyte first district representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez who came to the site of the groundbreaking for the Sitio New Era community.

“Their activity is a good example,” he said of the INC’s relief distribution.

In contrast, Rep. Romualdez noted how some relief goods brought to the national government had not been immediately distributed. As a result, some of the relief goods that were in the government’s safekeeping were found to have been thrown out as these had become unfit for human consumption.

“What the INC is doing is a good example which everybody should follow,” Romualdez said.

Tacloban city information officer Bernardita Valenzuela also expressed admiration for the leadership of the Iglesia Ni Cristo in taking care of its members and for helping even non-members in their relief distribution and medical and dental outreach missions. She expressed hope that livelihood projects and job opportunities would also be set up in Tacloban City.

“What the Iglesia Ni Cristo is doing is simply terrific. It’s God-sent,” she said.

“I was thinking the other day of how much a garments factory will help the people here in Tacloban City, and here is a Christian organization that is already about to do it,” said Valenzuela who is already 84 years old and dreams of the day when her fellow Taclobanons (residents of Tacloban City) would no longer be recipients of aid or charity.

The people affected by typhoon Yolanda need food, clothing and shelter which remain the basic needs of any human being, she said, and providing decent housing and jobs would go a long way for the rehabilitation and recovery of the typhoon victims.

In Sitio New Era, some of the beneficiaries who were brought to the resettlement site to see the groundbreaking of their housing and eco-farming site only had smiles of hope on their faces.

Perla Sombilon, 45, whose right arm was severed at the height of typhoon Yolanda, was among these beneficiaries. She came from Tanauan, another coastal town in Leyte that was severely hit by the storm. During the storm on that fateful day of November 8, the waters rose so high and she held on to the electric lines atop a post so that she would not be swept away by the raging current. She and her family had received financial aid from the INC, and regular food aid as well.

“This gives us hope,” she said as she gazed at the housing site where farmlands are now being prepared for the beneficiaries. Nearby, a garments training center is already being set up.

“It gives us joy and inspiration. All we can say is thank you,” she said.