Only three months after its formation, the churches in Cagayan De Oro has collaborated in the conduct of psycho-social intervention to 600 children, provided them with school packs and, provided relief to 340 families in Calaanan Tent City Clusters 2 and 4. The local group meets as a body once a week to discuss on directions & current activities, build rapport and fellowship in prayer and Word. The local group also connects with government, NGOs and various bodies to fulfill their vision of seeing children free from harm, developing, participating, and transformed.

Rev. Glimar Melo, Chairperson of the Protect the Children local network, has outlined their focus as having to work together ensuring child protection, child development and in activities that will draw more than 1,000 children to God. PCMN supports the activities of the Protect the Children CDO. The next proposed training is on network development, and strengthening in May 2012.

Update Story by Fe A Foronda, 03/16/2012, Cagayan De Oro City, Mindanao

The pastor together with the families are survivors of typhoon Washi. All of them live inside Lumbia. All of their houses were ‘washed-out’ by rampaging waters of Typhoon Washi on December 17, 2012. “Fortunately, not one soul was lost”, said Pastor Jun. Currently, the church is granted a 100 square meter space inside Lumbia camp to build a multi-purpose room/shed to be used as child care center on weekdays and also a worship area during Sundays.

There are now currently 109 school age children, living in the tents. Pastor Jun, fresh from a training by PCMN on the Christian Perspectives on Disaster, Child protection in Emergencies (CPIE), protection standards and on how to conduct psycho-social support to children, will provide services to children in the camp beginning April 1. A week long of health camp coupled with values teaching will be done in partnership with PCMN In May. As hygiene is critical in camps, this will be significant activity in preventing diseases spreading among children.

Pastor Jun dreams of bringing together again the 16 families (he is left with 9 families in Lumbia) all members of his church who were separated and dislocated in different camps in the city. However, Pastor Jun realizes that God has a better plan for ZAEC church, they now have a whole camp of 98 families to minister to.

Written by Fe after a visit to Lumbia Camp, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines, 03/17/2012

These children underwent psycho-social intervention through their attendance to sessions with volunteers on child-friendly space for three months now. Currently, the Iligan Evangelical Disaster Coordinating and Cooperation Network (IEDCCON) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with PCMN on the care of the children in terms of child protection and appropriate services such as psycho-social and educational services. IEDCCON is composed of 66 member churches in Iligan.

In Cagayan de Oro, partnership of PCMN on children’s services is through Protect the Children CDO, a local network of 17 local churches and organizations. Volunteers of this network visit families in the tent cities, numbering about 80 children every week, providing much needed intervention. The local network is also a member of government unified strategy on protection of children through the Child Protection Working Group, a sub-cluster of Protection Cluster.

Rev. Alejandro Alivio, Director of IEDCCON has this to say to the pastors who were affected by the flood resulting from Typhoon Washi.

” In times that we encounter problems, it has the potential to become the most dreadful day ever. Or it could be our finest hour!”

Indeed it has now become the finest hour for all the churches in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities as they respond to needs of children, families and communities.

Update Story written by Fe A. Foronda, 03/15/12, Cagayan de Oro City

I help those residents in the subdivision despite of the strong current of the water after I secure my family in a safer place. I saw mothers carrying their babies shouting and begging for help but even how I wish to help but the rescue team from the government personnel advice me not to go because it might cause now my life. How painful to witness someone asking for help and you yourself are helpless to help them.

It was 4:00 a.m. in the morning the water begun to subside I and some members return to our place and found out that the people I wake up were not able to go out from the place. Upon hearing this to some people who survive and seeing the place of our church were wash out I could not help myself but to cry.

My whole being were shaking in great despair knowing that all of our houses, church and houses of our members are gone. I am running, asking every person I meet especially for those survivors if they have seen those people I mentioned. At exactly 8:00 a.m. many dead bodies were recovered and 32 of it are our members, as if my heart will split into pieces, I walked shouting and crying, I don’t know what to do. And I learned also that 13 of them are not found. Without sleep the whole night and wet clothes I continued following with the rescue team searching and taking dead bodies thinking that I might found some of the dead bodies of our members.

I call my wife and telling her that I am okay for her not to get worried of my situation and advice them to go to my sister in-law to stay there for the meantime. No Breakfast, no Lunch I went to the funeral parlor because according to some rescuer that they have brought plenty of dead bodies already to 4 funeral homes. I go and found no one, I go home its 6 p.m. already. And I take my dinner but my mouth won’t allow me to eat and I wanted to take a rest but my eyes won’t allow me to sleep the whole night. Days of sleepless night and no food.

We stayed in the evacuation center for more than 1 week, mingling with those victims and survivors together with our members lift. Looking at us wanted to open their mouth I presume in asking for help in their situation but hold their peace because they have seen also our situation that we also needed help in those time of crisis.

Sad, pain and heart breaking miserable experience, that until now created a treat of fear about what lies ahead for our future. Yes, we know that our God will never leave us nor forsake us, but I admit that during those time and even sometimes I am affected what the devil’s accuses about our situation and future in life and ministry. I just thank the Lord for everything because I know, He knows what is best for us.

Our main speaker was Abishai Foronda and was assisted in the groupings by facilitators, namely: Kevin , John , Romnick and Jenny. Our program lasted for one and a half hour with the activities that include games, power point presentation regarding information about child rights, different forms of child abuse (with special emphasis on child sexual abuse), video presentation of “The Daughter” and, group discussion about the video and the power point presentation. The advocacy session ended with a summary and concluding remarks by the main speaker Abishai with emphasis on the three major response on protective behavior – Huwag, Tumakbo, Magsumbong! We also discussed on people and agencies who can be contacted or consulted in case a child is at risk.

The group discussion was well participated by the attendees and they wished it was given a more time since many would like to share about their own personal opinion, as well as experiences. The power point presentation was quite long which needed to be revised in case a limited presentation time is allowed for us to do the advocacy session. Overall, it was a successful seminar giving a clear information to the attendees. Below are some pictures taken during the Advocacy Seminar.

We praise God for how He has inspired us during our first advocacy seminar. We are now preparing for our second advocacy seminar on December 10 for a large group of 200 kids whose age ranges from 6 to 12 years old. We’ll be using puppetry to relay our message on anti-child sexual abuse and a video presentation. Please do pray as we prepare and deliver for this event.

To God be all the glory.

Ms. Annie Napao
Shining Stars Advocacy Facilitator

All 32 participants, mostly coming from the Bearers of Hope partnership and PCMN partners, were provided with a training workbook containing 18 Bible- study lessons which can be used for cell group meetings, Bible studies or Sunday schools.The seminar was conducted through the Institute for Studies in Asian Church and Culture (ISACC), a research and training organization specializing in development, missiology and cross cultural studies.

The seminar was conducted back to back with the Bearers of Hope partnership assessment meeting. A report on the 1.5 partnership among 30 local churches and faith-based organizations in Rizal, Laguna and NCR was presented. The Integral Mission Seminar and the assessment report plus the planning activity held on the second day, were all used to chart the next phase of the collaboration beyond September 2011 .