By Fr. Dennis Casaclang, SDB

Muntinlupa City, the Philippines, 21 August 2016 -- From August 13 to 21 Tuloy sa Don Bosco street children village also became an evacuation center for 326 families or 1063 informal settlers - men, women and frightened children who were fleeing from their burning homes. These evacuees were not strangers to the people of Tuloy sa Don Bosco … they were neighbors from across the road. These evacuees were their students, oratorians, past pupils, friends.

Family conflict apparently caused a man to set his house on fire. Domestic violence has its costs. In the middle of all the turmoil, the call to help moved the people of Tuloy sa Don Bosco to shelter those in fear, to reassure those in pain, to put order in the confusion to give a shoulder to those in grief. What does someone do when you have all these helpless people at your doorstep?

It was inspiring to see the once helpless street kids of Tuloy now helping other helpless people. It was amazing to see Tuloy seamlessly coordinating the relief efforts with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Local Level Government Agencies, the private sector and the benefactors of Tuloy. This was an uncommon demonstration of unity and synergy. It was wonderful to see the religious and the lay mission partners working hand in hand. This was not something they had planned for but things happen when peoples' hearts are on fire. It was incredible to see the victims still holding on to their Faith in God in spite of a certain feeling of abandonment.

Before the people left last Sunday, the Founder of Tuloy, Fr. Rocky Evangelista, SDB, told the people “You have expressed your gratitude for the help you have received. It is our wish that more than the material assistance, we hope that we have also given you a reason to be strong, not to give up; a reason to stand and rebuild your lives.”

The people are back again putting up the shanties that once were their homes. Knowing the people of Tuloy… (Pilipino word for “to continue”)… this story of “organized & collaborative charity” for these informal settlers will probably not end here.

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