Taal Volcano Eruption January 2020
Missionary Benedictine Sisters
St. Scholastica's Convent & Retreat House
Baguio City
The Community Missionary Benedictine Sisters,
Baguio City Shelters Children
with Special Needs from
Ash Fall of Taal Volcano Eruption
by SISTER MARIA LOURDES L. OBEJAS, OSB
On January 17, 2020, Seventy-three (73) Children with special needs and fifteen (15) staff were adopted by the Community of Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica's Convent and Retreat House in Baguio City. The children: toddlers, wheelchair bound, hyperactive and others with special needs and the staff were transported to Baguio City in two busloads by the British School of Manila to flee from the wrath of Taal Volcano Eruption.
The children: toddlers, wheelchair bound, hyperactive and others with special needs and the staff were transported to Baguio City in two busloads by the British School of Manila to flee from the wrath of Taal Volcano Eruption. The ash fall that showered the buildings of the children's village became hazardous to the health of the kids thus transferring them to Baguio for safety and prevention of lung related ailments and skin diseases that the volcanic ashes might trigger on their pediatric bodies.
The seventy -three children with special needs are composed of toddlers' ages from 7 months old to 13 years old and the young adults from 15 to 33 years old.
The wheelchair bound children has cases like Down syndrome, ADHD, Autism Specter Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Global Mental Delay, Blind and Deaf Mutes. Some toddlers and the hyperactive boys have mild or severe mental disturbance. One five month old child is an incest victim.
The wheelchair bound children are sheltered in St. Elizabeth Dorm with mattresses on the floor while the toddlers and the hyperactive kids are accommodated in St. Raphael Building. Dedicated and affectionate caregivers and cooks of the Foundation took their duties in preparing meals, feeding, bathing and attending to the personal needs of the children.
Sister Benita Reyes, OSB, the Superior of the Community is the over-all in-charge with Sister Hilda and some Benedictine Oblates of all the donations from big-hearted benefactors from Baguio and Manila. Overseas Filipino Workers from Korea, China and other countries sent their donations through relatives in the Philippines. Contributions kept pouring in : blankets, milk, food staff, bottled waters, packed meals (from Jollibee, McDonalds, Good Taste and other restaurants in Baguio,) vegetables , diapers, coats, children's clothing, Quaker Oats and other essentials.
Sister Maria Lourdes, OSB updated the City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and the City Mayor's Office of the presence of the children evacuees. She also monitored that that there is sufficient water supply in our tank courtesy of the City Mayor used for bathing, washing diapers, blankets and clothes of the children-evacuees. Sister Zita Jamisola, OSB volunteered to take time out to cuddle and spoon feed some toddlers and wheelchair bound kids.
The Eucharistic Celebration on the Feast of Santo Nino on January 19 was a touching scene of these special children who are "highly functional" who joined the processional as cross and image of the Santo Nino bearers, Readers, offerers and collectors.
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