Random Nothingness: #BangonBohol: HHCL Goes to Bohol

12 out of the 17 HHCL Responders pose in
front of the boxes of relief goods while awaiting for the
PAF C-130 bound to Tagbilaran City.

Seventeen people. Three days. One group. One destination. One mission.

#BangonBohol

24 Oct 2013

Orientation on what to and what not to expect when in Bohol
was given by Team Leader, Patrick Kelvin Garcia RN, EMT.

Given a 0500H call time, people began to arrive at the Col. Jesus Villamor Air Base in Pasay City as early as 0400H. A shuttle took us by batches to the Operations Base Unit where we awaited for the C-130 plane that would lift us from Manila to Tagbilaran Airport.

HHCL advocates excited to board the PAF C-130

All aboard!
Relief goods - medicines, canned goods, bottled water,
shelter kits and passengers alike aboard PAF C-130 #4726.

Two C-130 planes, #4726 and #3633 arrived respectively at CJVAB at 0745H. At 0800H, loading of relief goods began to C-130 #4726. The team also helped the armed personnel load the tents and shelter kits from the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD). At 0935H, we boarded the same aircraft. Due to the volume of goods inside the aircraft, we had to find for ourselves a slightly comfortable positions for the 1-hour ++ flight. The C-130 left CJVAB at 0955H and arrived at Tagbilaran Airport at 1145H.

(L-R) Yours truly, and Andrei dela Cruz RN getting final
instructions from team leader after Bohol PHO's orientation.

We were fetched by four (4) vans wherein our stuff were loaded – 33 boxes of 24 x 600 ml bottled water, 4 boxes of 12 x 1000ml bottled water, 4 boxes of 72 pcs instant noodles and pancit canton, 2 boxes of plain crackers, 1 box of 24 pcs canned goods, 1 plastic bag of ready-to-eat ulam, 1 bag of used clothes, and several boxes of medicines.

Pre-event meeting. Team leaders discussing
final reminders and assignments.

We then headed to the Governor’s Mansion and did a courtesy visit to the province’s Operation Center, at 1300H. Orientation was done by Dr. Em-em Uy, the Provincial Health Officer and we were given our assigned municipalities. At 1430H, we left the Governor’s Mansion and started the 5-hour long land travel to the town of San Miguel. We arrived at the St. Michael the Archangel Parish at 1945H wherein Sr. Socorro Buslon and their parish priest Rev. Fr. Dale Duallo welcomed us.

On our way to San Miguel, we did a quick stop-over at the Carmen Public Market to get something to eat. Nurse Andrei, our “Chef Nurse” did the cooking and made paksiw na galunggong at tulingan for the team.

Mattresses and “banigs” were laid down on the floor of a somewhat retreat house of the parish.

This is where we will called it a day.

25 Oct 2013

At 0444H, we were awakened by a strong aftershock. According to the Seismological Observation and Earthquake Prediction Division of PHIVOLCS (http://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/html/update_SOEPD/EQLatest.html), a 3.2 magnitude aftershock was felt 56 km N 46° E of Tagbilaran City.

Responders carefully sorts out medicines for distribution.

According to some members of the team, there were also strong magnitudes felt at 0000H and 0330H. Upon checking on the PHIVOLCS website, we found out that there were more than seven aftershocks felt the entire time we were sleeping.

Others repack goods to be given to community people.

Two (2) boxes of bottled water were given
to St. Michael the Archangel Parish.

Boxes of mineral water accounted for prior to departure.

At exactly 0800H, we departed the parish and headed for a courtesy visit to San Miguel Municipal Mayor Claudio Bonior. Unfortunately Mayor Bonior was not around so we headed instead to Dr. Delbert Jabone MD, the Municipal Health Officer of San Miguel, Bohol. After a short introduction and a few chats with Dr. Jabone, the group proceeded to Barangay Tomoc and set-up the area for a medical mission and relief goods distribution. We arrived at Tomoc at 0855H and started with registration at 0915H. After more than three hours of consultations, trauma and wound care, disaster preparedness education, dispensing of medicines and relief distribution, we were able to cater a total of 187 patients with 82 packs of relief goods and 62 pairs of bottled water distributed.

More than 150 people were reached out in
Brgy. Tomoc, San Miguel.

While we are having our lunch, we once again felt the trembling of the earth. Upon checking, a magnitude 3.4 aftershock was recorded at 1221H 61 km N 33° E of Tagbilaran City. This is also true during the conduct of the actual mission as there were recorded aftershocks of 3.2, 2.7, and 4.0 magnitudes respectively.

Bryan Paolo Dalanon EMT gives a short lecture on
Earthquake Preparedness.

A tent is set up at Brgy. Capayas, San Miguel, Bohol

Even the rains can't stop us from distributing packs
of relief goods. Picture taken at Brgy. Capayas, San MIguel.

However, these aftershocks did not hinder us to continue with our activities. At 1255H, we left the Barangay of Tomoc and headed to another far-flung barangay, Capayas. Here, we were welcomed by a family of five inside a somewhat-looking tent village at 1350H.

The road to Capayas was not an easy one to take. We had to go through ups and downs, literally speaking. Muddy, uneven, steep rough roads were among those that we conquered. Nonetheless, fueled by our desire to help those in dire need, we were able to accommodate a total number of 13 patients and were able to distribute 40 packs of relief goods. We were supposed to cater a couple more patients if not for the heavy rain which started to pour. As much as we wanted to stay a little longer, we also had to think of our safety and get back on the main roads of San Miguel.

Evacuees from Brgy. Poblacion, Carmen fall in line amidst
the heavy rains while relief packs are being given.

We left Capayas at around 1440H. Since the relief good packs of noodles, crackers, canned goods, ready-to-eat ulam, and water bottles were not fully consumed, we decided to drop by an evacuation area – another tent village – along Barangay Poblacion in the town of Carmen. Although the rain is still pouring heavily, we were able to

distribute a total of 65 packs of relief goods, 5 packs of used clothes and a number of mineral water bottles.

Finally, we continued with our journey back to the City of Tagbilaran, dubbed the City of Friendship. On our way back, we stopped for a while at some tourist spots of Bohol. This bonus, we believe is God’s way of patting our backs for a job well done. It so happened that on our way back, we passed by the Man-Made Forest, Tarsier Conservation Area and the Loboc Church. We were deeply saddened by what we saw at the Loboc Church. No words can describe the heaviness we felt upon seeing the 411-year old church.

At 1935H, we finally reached our pit stop for the day – Natura Vista, a vacation house with several rooms provided for by Mrs. Marilyn Lungay, mother of Queenie Mae and Mae Elizabeth from Bangon Bohol. They have pledged to provide the rooms free-of-charge to those Bangon Bohol volunteers.

26 Oct 2013

Even our breakfast joins us in the call for #BangonBohol.

At 0655H, we bid goodbye to our foster home and headed to Tagbilaran City. We dropped by Pa-initang Bol-anon to get something to eat for breakfast. Finally, at 0735H, we were at the Tagbilaran Airport where we waited for our flight back to Manila. At around 0910H, C-130H Hercules #4704 arrived at the

1, 2, 3 Jump! Job well done!

tarmac. We boarded the aircraft at 0935H and took off at 0940H. After more than an hour in the air, the C-130 landed safely at CJVAB at 1120H.

Though we may have been to Bohol for just a short while, nonetheless, the experience we had, the friends and comrades we knew, the people we have helped – the people who showed us how to smile despite the adversities, those will forever be cherished.

We will always be grateful that at one point, we were able to help #BangonBohol.®

This mission was made possible through the following people:

HHCL Advocates and Responder calls for #BangonBohol.

Head: Sgt. Ivt Tejada PAFR

Leaders: Patrick Kelvin Garcia RN, EMT

Pinky Rose Lustre RN

Story Writer: Sgt. Erickson Bernardo PAFR

Documentor: Jose Andrelin dela Cruz RN

Members:

1. Sgt. Jefferson Villamin PAFR

2. Keith Debbie Tecson RN, EMT

3. May Cajustin RN, EMT

4. Mark John Dones RN, EMT

5. Leo Magdangal RN, EMT

6. James William Rojas RN, EMT

7. Emily Serra RN

8. Adel Vergara RN

9. Bartolome Tarinay

10. Bryan Paolo Dalanon EMT

11. Karl Jumbo Samarista

12. Julian Cedric David EMT

***
Editor's Note:

This is the report submitted by yours truly to Helping Hand Central Luzon, a group of people, though of varied professions share the same ideals - to help out our Kababayans in their own little ways. The group, being composed of armed personnels, AFP reservists, medical doctors, nurses, MFR/EMT responders, and advocates has been engaged in various medical-dental-nursing missions, rescue and relief operations in several parts of the country. As of press time, the group is currently embarked on yet another mission, a rescue and relief operation in Tacloban City which was greatly affected by the Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

Here is a post from my Facebook wall,

CALL FOR DONATIONS!

Helping Hand Central Luzon, a dynamic group of people engaged in medical and nursing missions, relief and rescue operations, calls unto your kind hearts for donations of cash or in kind to help the victims of the super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

Our group will be going to Leyte and nearby areas this weekend.

We would like to ask for donations of the following:

> Food Items
*bisquits/crackers*breads*easy to open canned goods*ready to eat ulams*bottled water

> Non-Food Items

*blankets*towels*unused/new undergarments*

*sanitary napkins*toothpastes*toothbrushes*bath soaps*laundry soaps*candles*matchsticks