News in the aftermath of Typhoon Bopha in the Philippines: Many have been inquiring about our sisters in the Philippines. The typhoon struck the island of Mindinao, but the worst was not in the area where our sisters live. But the families of some of our sisters lost homes and properties. No lives were lost in the immediate families of the sisters. below are some photos and explanation of some of the damage. The Sisters of the Philippines are grateful for the continued support of your prayers for all those affected. PHILIPPINES – TYPHOON BOPHA

1. On December 4, 2012 that the Philippines was struck by the typhoon Bopha or (typhoon Pablo as we called it in our country), the strongest tropical cyclone to ever hit the island of Mindanao. Bopha made landfall as a Category 5 super typhoon with winds of 160 mph (260 km/h), flattening coastal villages, wiping out banana plantations, and causing mudslides and flooding.

The most affected areas are Compostela Valley, New Bataan, Davao Oriental: Boston, Baganga and Cateel. See photos:

Coconut and Banana plantations were damaged. Many people were killed and

many are homeless.

2. At New Bataan in Compostela Valley, a village name Andap with a thousand inhabitants and a tourist destination because of the resort whose sources are spring water see pixes below vanished after the typhoon.

Before the typhoon :

                                                                                                                                                        After the typhoon:

                 

 In this village the only sign left was the chapel, the people who went inside of the chapel twenty of them survived.  

OUR RESPONSE On December 12, 2012, Sr. Edel Gula and some PM Sisters together with the Rector of the St. Francis Xavier College Seminary, Franciscan Sisters and Order of Franciscan Minor Fathers joined together to visit and bring food and clothing for the victims.