Typhoon Pablo hit the Philippines on December 4, primarily affecting the islands of Mindanao. With Pablo came strong winds that destroyed houses, public infrastructure, coconut fields, and banana plantations. Reports indicate that the total economic damage amounts to 21.9 billion pesos (about 521 million US dollars). Its most devastating effect, however, was the flash flood that wiped out several communities and killed thousands. Survivors, fortunate as they may be, soon found themselves dealing with the pain of losing their family members, the reality of homelessness, and the problem of economic insecurity.
In response to the situation, the Philippine Field Office and the Mindanao East District of the Church of the Nazarene organized a Nazarene Disaster Response Team composed of pastors and lay workers to minister to the survivors at New Bataan, Compostella Valley. Dr. Dick Eugenio, APNTS’s theology professor, went with the team. A survey team was first sent (headed by Rev. Mark Eugenio, an APNTS alumnus) to assess the location; then on December 11, the whole response team arrived at Compostella Valley, carrying with them relief goods and other materials. Rev. Stephen Gualberto, the coordinator of the team, advised that the primary ministry would be on trauma counselling, especially to children.
Dr. Eugenio went with the team as the representative of APNTS, but other APNTS figures also made significant contributions to the work in Compostella Valley. For instance, The Joy of the Lord Jesus Christ New Life Church in Binangonan, pastored by APNTS student Melanie Andres, sent their love gifts to the affected people through the Disaster Response Team.
APNTS also actively participated in Compostella Valley because the municipality of Taytay considers our seminary to be one of the town’s evacuation sites should natural calamities occur here, given our strategic location and facilities. APNTS sees this as an opportunity to serve our surrounding communities and establish bridges, so Dr. Eugenio went to take note of things that the institution needs to prepare in order to better serve our neighbors.
