Sheltering the living

TRAILS UP NORTH
Glo Abaeo Tuazon

ALONG THE HALSEMA HIGHWAY -- ShelterBox and Rotary Club of La Trinidad took the hazardous roads of Halsema on All Saints Day and All Souls Day to deliver and install the much needed temporary shelters in Mankayan, Benguet and Mountain Province. Rachel Simpkins (UK), Greg Moran (Australia) and ShelterBox Teamleader Ron Noseworthy (Canada) together with Rotary Club International District 3790 and Rotary Club of La Trinidad delivered a total of 46 shelterboxes, 28 to Mankayan and 18 to the Mt. Province.

Unlike the previous deliveries, the boxes contained complete kits usually given out by ShelterBox Company. The boxes included the tents, floor mats, thermal blankets, basic pots and kitchen utensils, basic building tools, water purification kits and kiddy packs. Brian Joy who led the previous ShelterBox teams to Tublay, Atok and Itogon said earlier deliveries consisted of basic tents because at that time they were in a rush to address the temporary shelters of those displaced, reason why they only brought tents to maximize the load.

With a few weeks passing after Typhoon Pepeng though the new team now were able to include the whole set for the recipients of Mankayan and MP which were in fact the last places where the roads became accessible.

Rationalizing ShelterBox, the teams have these to say. ShelterBox is an organization thriving on donations all over the world to come up with the kits. In most cases of calamities, a lot of people are displaced and left homeless. Most of the helping organizations cater to the most basic needs of food, medicines, clothing and household needs.

But more often than not the issue on temporary shelters are left untouched. That was the very reason ShelterBox took the challenge to answer the need. The box would contain a tent that could house at most 11 people -- a weatherproof tent that would serve as a “home” for the family while trying to rebuild their lives. In most evacuation centers, especially with casualties, some people have to have a private place to rest and grieve, to hug each other and be a family inspite of the tragedy. A place where even if the family lost everything, they could at least have a little dignity until a permanent shelter is ready to be had.

In Mt. Province, Gov. Maximo B. Dalog welcomed the team and was ever grateful for the help extended to his people who were displaced. Though the Mountain Province was one of the last places touched by ShelterBox in the Cordillera, it was understandable because of the hazards of the road. The important thing was that those in need were still extended the much needed help. For now the region is still reeling from the catastrophe but pushing on to rebuild itself and regain its lost glory.

For ShelterBox and Rotary, missing the tradition of family gatherings during All Saints Day and All Souls Day to commemorate the departed is nothing compared to reaching out and helping those who are still living. -- Email: twilight_glo@yahoo.com