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| Dozens of tents for families and individuals affected by Taal Volcano eruption were already in place inside the De La Salle Lipa Sentrum. (Image Source: De La Salle Lipa) |
More than one million families from different parts of Batangas which
are affected by the sudden eruption of Taal Volcano which began last January
12, 2020 have been seeking refuge in thousands of schools, churches, multi-purpose
buildings and even residential developments across the province which serve as
evacuation centers. However, one school in Batangas tends not to be among them
and poses its own side of normalcy that differs from many evacuation centers.
On the afternoon of the 18th of January which happened to be my birthday
and two days before Lipa City Fiesta, De La Salle Lipa opened its doors to more
than 300 evacuees from the towns affected by the eruption and provided a safe platform
where they are treated as guests. Hence, it considers itself as a welcome
shelter. As soon as they arrive in the campus, the evacuees have underwent a
medical checkup as well as a unique four-step registration process which include
family profiling, assignment of tents, food container distribution and kit
distribution. This intriguing step feels like DLSL is treating them as guests
and not evacuees.
Every evacuee and his or her loved ones were given individual tents per
family inside DLSL's renouned Sentrum with two chairs and a mat each, shower facilities, a dressing room and a
recreational center with a play area. There are also additional outdoor showers
for men, portals, a laundry room, a conditioner and a mess hall. According to
the school's president Bro. Dante Amisola, FSC, DLSL is giving the evacuee
guests an appearance of normality within a community where they can take care
of each other, their own sufferings will be alleviated and the dignity of
everyone deserves respect. It is one learning experience that the school staged
to my surprise considering that it has suspended its own classes until the end of
the month.
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| Taal Volcano eruption victims off to De La Salle Lipa (Image Source: De La Salle Lipa) |
"If you see someone suffering, what do you do and what makes us
like that? This entire event is a learning moment. Sometimes we think you learn
everything at school but when you have an event like this, this is the best
time to teach our children. What does it mean to be human? Why do you go to
school to be rested and to share what we have?" These were very inspiring
words from the president of De La Salle Lipa that we should eat up in times of
need within the foreseeable future.
