Your Eminences, Your Excellencies and Very Reverend Diocesan Administrators
Peace!
The recent strong Typhoon ‘Tisoy’ brought again suffering and death to our people. It hit parts of Luzon, especially south of Luzon, the Bicol Region; it also hit Calabarzon and Mimaropa areas and Northern Samar among other places. It caused so much damage to properties, homes and sources of livelihood and, most painful of all, the loss of lives. The papers have reported 17 lives lost.
Though we are not strangers to this recurring natural calamity caused by typhoons, there is no doubt that we are again touched by the pain and misery that our people are in during these days. We cannot even try to imagine the pain that families are enduring with the loss of loved ones. And I would state another obvious thing: that the pain would likely be difficult to endure as the mood of merrymaking comes in the Christmas celebration that we would have soon.
Again, the challenge to be in solidarity with these people is upon us. We are challenged to bring even our most humble and lowly offering of mercy and compassion to these people. And one of these is our most sincere and fervent prayer to the Lord, for Him to touch the hearts of these suffering people, to keep their hopes alive, and to keep their faith in the Lord strong. And we offer our special prayers for those who died and for their grieving families.
I am quite sure that our CBCP-ECSA-JP and NASSA have started to do actions to bring whatever help we can do and offer to the suffering people in these areas.
For the arch/dioceses who are badly hit by the typhoon and have a very difficult situation, please, if you wish, brother Arch/Bishops and Reverend Administrators, do not hesitate to send the bank account details of your arch/diocese to which people can directly deposit financial help. You can send these bank details to the CBCP Secretariat and we will circulate them to all the arch/dioceses so that those who have the intention to give the financial help to you directly may know what to do.
Again, please be assured that you and your suffering people, your priests and religious, are in our prayers.
+ ROMULO G. VALLES, D.D.
Archbishop of Davao
CBCP President
6 December 2019
