The Supreme Master Ching Hai
By Philippines Relief Team (Originally in English)
From August 9 to 20, 2016, the southwest monsoon brought incessant heavy rains and thunderstorms, which caused flashfloods in many parts of the Philippines, including Luzon and Western Visayas. In addition, San Miguel, Bulacan also experienced a tornado. At least 23 people lost their lives, 423 houses were damaged, and more than 1,106 families were displaced. Our local Association members, in response to Supreme Master Ching Hai’s instruction to render assistance to those most in need, immediately formed a relief team to check the situation and contacted local officials to determine which communities were in greatest need. Master lovingly contributed US$16,000 for the relief work.
On August 22, we visited the two evacuation centers in the municipality of Barangay Moras De La Paz, Santo Tomas, Pampanga where 85 families were staying. The Barangay Captain, the Honorable Reynaldo M. Sombillo, told us that he had been praying hard to God for assistance for his people and his prayer was immediately answered. The next day, we distributed 90 vegan food packages to the affected families, each containing five kilograms of rice, beans, instant noodles, salt, fruit juice drink powder, and biscuits. Also, purified water was provided to the community.
In the early morning of August 24, we went to Hermosa Municipality, Bataan Province and met with Ms. Nenita Jaring, a municipal social welfare officer. Based on the information she provided, we swiftly prepared 1,400 vegan food packs and other essential items, with 400 packs distributed to Barangay Pulo in the afternoon and the rest distributed to Barangay Almacen the next day. The Mayor of the Municipality of Hermosa, the Honorable Antonio Joseph R. Inton, conveyed his heartfelt thanks to Master for the help given to his people.
On August 27, based on the emergency items requested by the Barangay Captain of Barangay Sibul Springs of San Miguel, Bulacan on behalf of the tornado victims, we distributed 30 vegan food packages, other essential food items, 30 roofing canvas tarps, four steel roofing sheets and other construction materials. The recipients were all grateful to Master for the loving assistance and were smiling with happiness. One of the recipients, a truck driver, said he was deeply grateful for the materials so that he can finally finish the reconstruction of his damaged house.
While our team carried out the relief operation, we experienced how Master invisibly guided us to the right places and to the right people. We are deeply grateful to Master for allowing us to be a tool in sending Her love and blessings to those most in need, while developing the love within our hearts.
The remainder of Master’s relief fund was later used to help Abra De Ilog Hospital and Quezon City Jail. On August 29, we donated two sets of water purifiers plus four replacement filters to the public hospital, so that the indigenous people who often get treatment there can drink purified water for free. The doctors, staff, and patients expressed their sincere gratitude to Master for these gifts. On September 5, we brought 2,000 sets of much needed hygiene kits containing bath towels, face towels, bath soaps, and shampoo to the jail along with a variety of Master’s publications. Some inmates showed genuine interest in Master’s The Key of Immediate Enlightenment Sample Booklet. The warden, Superintendent Randel H. Latoza, expressed his gratitude to Master. He said to us emotionally while we were parting, “Please never be tired of sending help for them.”
Expenditures by The Supreme Master Ching Hai for Flood and Tornado Relief Work and for Helping a Hospital and Jail in the Philippines
| Description | Amount (PHP) | Receipt |
| Food (rice, beans, instant noodles, salt, fruit juice drink powder, vegan biscuits, and purified water) and roofing and construction materials to those affected by the disaster | 529,363.16 | A |
| Water purifiers and filters to Abra De Ilog Hospital | 14,798.50 | |
| Hygiene supplies (bath towels, face towels, bath soaps, and shampoos) to Quezon City Jail | 183,031.25 | |
| Travel expenses for the relief team | 10,303.90 | |
| Total | PHP 737,496.81 (US$16,000) |
The relief team members also paid PHP 3,182.82 for their travel expenses.
Relief efforts in Moras De La Paz, Santo Tomas, Pampanga
Relief efforts for flashflood victims in Hermosa Municipality, Bataan Province
Relief efforts for the tornado victims in San Miguel Bulacan
Two water purifiers for Abra De Ilog Hospital
Contribution to Quezon City Jail