Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association relief news update from the Philippines.
Torrential rains in January 2010 triggered flooding and landslides in Oriental Mindoro province as well as the Caraga region of Mindanao island.

At least four people perished while homes were damaged and roads blocked.

Interview Mr. Rufila Mr. Ceasar T. Rufila, Jr, Provincial Assessor of Agusan Del Sur, the Philippines (M): The tremendous flood in the province beginning last January 10 until now. And the family affected is more than 11,000. About 87,000 people is affected by the flood.

VOICE: Conveying her heartfelt condolences and prayers, Supreme Master Ching Hai had donated US$10,000, asking that our local or nearby Association members please go if possible to help the most desperate, including any elderly or orphaned without caregivers. This amount could acquire US$141,000 in essential supplies if bought in the United States, based on the cost of living in the Philippines.

Covering their own travel and related expenses of US$1,060, our Formosan (Taiwanese) Association members joined our local Philippine members to carry out relief work in Agusan del Sur of the Caraga region.

With help arranged by local officials, the relief team was able to purchase supplies including rice, soy sauce, sugar, vinegar and oil, which they used to prepare 3,800 packages to distribute to the affected families in hard-hit San Francisco.

Though the weather was still rainy and the roads muddy, they were able to deliver all the items throughout seven villages. Our Association members also gave relief recipients informative SOS flyers containing the vegan solution to global warming.

Interview Mr. Rufila Mr. Ceasar T. Rufila, Jr, Provincial Assessor of Agusan Del Sur, the Philippines (M): Agusan del Sur will support the program of your Supreme Master Ching Hai to help save not only our province but even the whole world.

We are very much thankful to the Association by giving the support with her love and charity given to the people of Agusan del Sur.

Interview Mr. Jesusimo L. Ronquillo Jesusimo L. Ronquillo, Provincial Administrator of Agusan del Sur, the Philippines (M): The provincial government would heartily extend thanks to the Supreme Master Ching Hai for her goodwill here in the province of Agusan del Sur.

VOICE: Our appreciation, Philippine officials and personnel, for your caring assistance. We also thank Supreme Master Ching Hai for her loving support of the vulnerable, and our Association’s relief team for their diligent efforts.

May Heaven bless the kind Philippine people with a swift resuming of their productive day-to-day lives as such weather extremes are eased through our gentler care of the ecosphere.