Our CBCP General Secretariat office just got the text below from Bishop Antonieto Cabajog of Surigao. (The all-caps text could only indicate a sense of urgency and a cry for help for the people of Surigao.)
Perhaps instead of spending a lot on lavish Christmas parties and exchange gifts, we can put together whatever we can and contribute it to relief operations.
His Excellency Pablo Virgilio David
Bishop of Kalookan
CBCP President
Typhoon Odette manifested its super- strength starting a few minutes past one o’clock in the afternoon of December 16, 2o21. It gradually unleashed more strength and peaked between 3:00-4:00 p.m. Blinding torrential rains and howling winds no man could take standing up hammered us for more than three hours.
Not only were trees uprooted and rooftops ripped from homes battered like doll-houses, electric power and all forms of communication were cut off literally isolating us from the rest of the world. It was only in the afternoon of Dec. 18 were we able to clear fallen trees and debris around the bishop’s house and allowing cautious opportunity to move around areas of the city cleared enough of fallen trees, landslides, fallen electric posts, G.I. sheets crumpled like papers, wires and other debris. The cathedral and rectory suffered sizeable damaged. Two parish churches in the city suffered broken glasses, blown roofings and flooding.
Never in my entire life have I encountered such typhoon to say “super” is an understatement. Throughout the ordeal we had the blessed sacrament exposed and the statue of Our Lady of Fatima on one side.
As of this writing communications from all parishes are yet to be received. This report is written on my way to Butuan City to post this report.
Please continue to pray for the Diocese of Surigao.
Mainland parishes seem to have suffered lesser damage but Surigao City. Aside from the city and surrounding areas Siargao Island and Dinagat province are worst hit with unofficial reports of many casualties.
Food and water are priority needs in badly hit areas. Inspite of all these the strong faith of the people stands out as their pillar of comfort and support.
We thank all of you for your prayers as we move on in synodality and celebrate Christmas in this “new normal”. “Cum Infirmor Potens Sum.”
+Antonieto D. Cabajog, D.D.
Bishop of Surigao
Dec. 20, 2021
