FAITH STILL ALIVE AFTER TYPHOON HAIYAN/YOLANDA

The Catholic faith is still alive after super typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda hit the Philippines' Eastern Visayas Region.

Last Sunday, November 17, 2013, many survivors flocked to the ruined churches in the affected areas in Tacloban, Leyte; Sta. Rita, Samar; Roxas City, Capiz just to name a few to attend holy mass, to pray for strength and guidance, and to give thanks to God for their "second life".

 



Here are some of the words of faith from the survivors:

"My faith is stronger than Yolanda."

"Even the rains cannot stop me from thanking the Lord for saving me and my family."

- Anita Carillo

"We're now homeless. But I'm very thankful I was able to save the two most important people in my life, my grandsons."

- Rosario Capidos

"The Lord has strengthened our faith and made us stronger in order for us to survive and start off all over again."

- Belen Curila

"Despite what happened, we still believe in God."

"The church may have been destroyed, but our faith is intact, as believers, as a people of God, our faith has not been destroyed."

- Rev. Amadeo Alvero

"Yes, there are a lot who came in today than usual. After all, it's to God we all turn to."

- Fr. Michael Vasquez

CNN's Anderson Cooper tweeted that he was awed by the strength and spirit of the Filipino people.

What Anderson Cooper does not know that this strength of spirit is borne out of strong faith in God, without which this tragedy would be so unbearable. Genuine faith in God knows no situation, we must believe in God not only in GOOD times but also in BAD times. That is the true test of faith.

Reference:

- http://www.splendorofthechurch.com.ph

- http://uk.cars.yahoo.com

- http://www.mb.com.ph

POPE FRANCIS TWEETS: "PRAY FOR THE PHILIPPINES"

Another calamity hit my beloved county, the Philippines once again. Just last month, October 15, 2013, Philippines' two islands - Cebu and Bohol - were hit by a 7.2 earthquake. And now, barely a month after the earthquake, on November 8, 2013, Friday, a super typhoon with an international name Haiyan (Yolanda in the Philippines) hit the Philippines.

The super storm with sustained winds of 315 kph (195 mph) and gusts as strong as 380 kph (235 mph) moved across the eastern Visayas wrecking more than ten municipalities. It is reportedly the strongest typhoon to hit land anywhere in the world in recorded history. 

THE DIRECTION OF TYPHOON HAIYAN/YOLANDA

cc photo from Wikimedia Commons

The Holy Father, Pope Francis took to twitter to ask for prayers for the Philippines.

As of this date, the death toll is estimated at more or less 1,200 but according to Yahoo News, it is feared that the dead could reach 10,000. The devastation is indescribably enormous. There are still many persons who are missing or unaccounted for including children.  
To my fellow Catholics worldwide, please pray for us, that we will be able to overcome this ordeal, that we will able to rise again, and most importantly, that our faith in God will never vanish or fade.
Romans 8:35-39
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword? As it is written:
     "For Your sake we are killed all day long;       We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.