By Cheryl Sevegan
After watching different news about the devastation brought by super typhoon Yolanda most especially the coverage done by Ms. Jessica Soho which really made me cry, being a patriotic person that I am seeing the horrific conditions of my fellow countrymen, I told myself that I must do something for the victims after wiping away my tears.
The Filipinos who live in the only Christian country in Asia have an unshakeable faith to God Almighty. We might be facing tremendous disasters and hardships, but our faith on Him still knows how to smile and we believe that He is the most powerful force in heaven and earth and the whole universe. He can easily take away what He has given to mankind in a flick of a finger just like what happened to our country. Who can think He can make His beautiful creation vanished in just a blink of an eye? Nobody can do it except Him alone. He gave us the breath of life and He alone can take it from us.
We’ve seen the staggering aftermath of the super typhoon: lost lives scattered around the once lively and full of life City of Tacloban and its neighboring places. Now everyone describe it as a ghost town. Survivors walk like zombies seeking for food and probably not in their right state of mind. Not only were their properties totally destroyed but also their hearts and minds. They are shattered for now but I know with the help of those who love and care for them they will stand again and soon gain back whatever they lost although not the lives of their love ones which is the most painful part.
With all of these thoughts in mind, it’s our obligation to pray for the souls of those departed as Christians. They may not be prepared for their untimely death but our intercession will somehow guide and help them towards the door of Heaven.
Together with Mary Amor Unkham and her mother Tita Shirley Unkham whom I asked help from, we went together to St. Peter’s Church in Yaffo for a meeting with Father Carlos Santos to arrange everything needed for the Holy Rosary Crusade, Lighting of Candles and a Special Mass all intended for the victims of super typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines and for those wounded physically, spiritually and mentally.
The Prayer Vigil was successfully carried out last Nov. 16 which started at exactly 4:30PM at St. Anthony Church Patio, # 15 Yeffet St., Yaffo, Tel-Aviv.
The solemnity of the atmosphere betrays the empathy of everybody present as they collectively identify with the grief and sufferings felt by the survivors. Candles which I personally prepared were distributed to all as we used the lighted candles to form the words “SAMAR” and “LEYTE”, the two badly devastated areas. Everyone solemnly prayed that this atrocious disaster will never happen again in the future, not only to our country but to other nations in the world.
The most moving part of the event was when “Bayan Ko” was sung with everyone holding hands, with many kababayans unable to hold their tears from rolling down like me. Wherever they are, I know that those who departed are more than worthy for the tears we shed, for the candle we lit, and for the prayers we offered in their behalf. May their souls rest in peace through this intercession…The special celebration of the Holy Mass immediately followed attended by the same people. Offerings were overflowing and the second collection was collected for the benefit of the typhoon victims which directly go to the Catholic Church.
I’d like to personally thank Father Carlos Santos and the St. Anthony Parish Church, Mary Amor and Tita Shirley Unkham for helping me arrange everything. My heartfelt gratitude to Ambassador Generoso D.G. Calonge and his daughter for showing up to support, Cultural Attaché Ms. Tess Reyes and the embassy staff, as well as the CFC headed by their coordinator Mr. Ramil Peralta and to the choir and mass celebrant. And of course to all my friends and leaders of different communities and organizations and to those who attended. Lastly, to the Associated Press through Shlomo and Reej for communicating with me and covering the event televised in ANC and seen in the whole world that the Filipino Communities in Israel are united with the victims in the Philippines.
Again, thank you so much for proving that we are one children of God believing in only ONE ALMIGHTY CREATOR! God bless us all! God bless the Philippines!