Christmas is coming, but for Mangyans, the indigenous group in Mindoro, it is going to be a more difficult Christmas.
In Paitan, a known Mangyan community in Naujan, Or. Mindoro, typhoon Kammuri (Tisoy) devastated houses and farms, and left many children sick and hungry. According to Ligaya Lintawagin, Executive Director of the Tugdaan Mangyan Center for Learning and Development in Paitan, 23 houses are totally damaged, 130 are partially damaged, trees fell down, the area was flooded, roofing of school buildings was damaged which includes that of Tugdaan and the local elementary school, and electricity had been cut off. The children have also started coughing and now with fever. A total of 465 families are affected.
This is just from one Mangyan community. The situation of other Mangyan communities could not be far from Paitan’s. Mangyan areas up north in Oriental Mindoro especially the whole of Alangan Mangyan areas in the municipalities of Baco, Naujan and Victoria, originally administered to by Paitan Mangyan Mission of the SSpS sisters had been severely battered by the typhoon.
The Mangyans need our help, thus the Holy Spirit Social Center, the development arm of the Servants of the Holy Spirit now appeals here to all of you for assistance. Help could be in the form of clothing, food, vitamins, medicines, and cash (to help cover the expenses of rebuilding and repairing damaged houses). Other donations are also welcome.
You may get in touch with the Holy Spirit Social Center through numbers 8727-0324, 0956-512-6670, or drop by our office here at No. 48 Betty Go Belmonte St., Brgy Immaculate Conception, Cubao, Quezon City.
May God bless you a hundredfold.
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