Media CenterAfter Typhoon Bopha, Communities Show Selflessness as CRS Builds Shelters

As Catholic Relief Services builds shelters for victims of last December's Typhoon Bopha in the Philippines, community members display a wonderful sense of selflessness as they determined who should get the first shelters.  From the Inquirer News of Mindanou, Philippines:

Annaliza Leban gave birth to Charlie, the first of the triplets, in this town on Nov. 27. That same day she was rushed to a hospital in Mati City to deliver, this time by Caesarean section, Charmaine and Charlene. Annaliza and her babies were already home in Barangay Lambajon when Typhoon “Pablo” [also called "Bopha"] struck and wrecked this town on Dec. 4. Annaliza, her birth wounds still fresh, fell sick and had to be brought to the hospital again. The babies and six other siblings were left to the care of their father Danilo. For months, while Annaliza fought for her life, the triplets, their six siblings and Danilo lived in a shanty built of what remained of their typhoon-swept house. On Feb. 11, Annaliza, now fully recovered, returned to Lambajon. This time, to a new house, courtesy of Catholic Relief Services (CRS). The Lebans are the first beneficiaries of the group’s recovery and resilient shelter program for those who lost their homes during the typhoon. The CRS built the Lebans’ 18-square-meter home for P21,000. Fr. Darwey Clark, parish priest of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, said the Lebans were chosen by the people of the community. “When we were making the initial list of the beneficiaries, we asked the people who they thought should get the first shelter, they unanimously chose the Lebans,” Clark said.

Read the full article on the Inquirer News. You may also like:

• Two Typhoons No Match for Philippine Farmer
• CRS World Report: Responding to Typhoon Bopha in the Philippines
• CRS Helps Recovery Efforts in Philippines After Typhoon Bopha