Philippine Children’s Ministries Network

Stories of Ondoy Victims

I’m Rev. Leonardo N. Famisan Jr., resident Pastor of Sta. Cruz United Methodist Church, Sta. Cruz, Laguna. I finished my Master of Divinity in Union Theological Seminary in Dasmariñas, Cavite last 2006. I am married to Heidicel Laude of Atimonan, Quezon. We have 3 lovely children, Dorothy Grace, 10 yrs. old and in Grade IV, John Harvey, 7 yrs. old and who stopped schooling because of his traumatic experience of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, and Mark John, 5 yrs. old and in pre-school.

I was assigned in Sta. Cruz, Laguna, the capital of Laguna in June 2009. Last September 26 when typhoon Ondoy hit our area, I and my family stayed in our house. The rain didn’t stop and the water outside our house, rose very fast until the area was totally flooded. That evening we didn’t have electric power until the next morning. I communicated with each church member thru text (sms). The water was in our kitchen and inside the church. We packed important items that we can carry and left the house quickly. It was Sunday and in the garage of one member which was not flooded we had our Sunday service.

My wife and I wanted to bring our children in Atimonan, Quezon but a church member offered to have us stay in their farm. We were there for 2 months and 4 days. The water finally subsided on Dec. 02, we are ready to go back home, cleaning and disinfecting the whole house and church was not easy.

My two children were affected by the disaster. Dorothy had a problem as she transferred in three schools since the start of the school year in June and due to the flood. Because of their temporary dislocation, she has to go far to attend school. The second child, John Harvey stopped schooling completely. He could not be persuaded to go to school, even with his teacher convincing him, refused to do so.

We are very thankful that Philippine Christian Ministries Network’s Bearers of Hope has extended some financial support to my family. Our church was linked to PCMN thru the initiative of Sis. Julie Capulong who is the wife of our District Superintendent. She attended a PCMN-organized training on preparing communities in protecting children in situations of disasters and emergencies. The financial support we received was used in buying clothes, shoes and school supplies for the children, and groceries for the whole family.

Editor’s Note: Rev Famisan is the Resident and Administrative Pastor of Sta Cruz United Methodist Church in Laguna. His community is near the Laguna the Bay area, flood water subsided sometime in December, 2 months after the Typhoon.