Category Mindanao

Dec 19 2011

Flood in Mindanao

At least 650 people have died and more than 800 are missing after the tropical storm Washi or Sendong (local name) swept across the southern Philippines. More than 10-hour heavy rain that started, in the afternoon, on Friday, December 16, 2011, caused a massive flood that affected many places on the island of Mindanao.

The two most affected cities are Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. Thousands of houses were literary swept by the water or were very heavily damaged. Several barangays in Cagayan de Oro were completely under water. Many of the dead were swept out to sea. Others were buried alive as mud cascaded down mountain slopes. Water levels rose three feet in less than an hour, forcing thousands to climb onto the roofs of their homes where they huddled against wind speeds reaching 55 miles per hour. Unfortunately, in many cases only concrete houses could face the damaging force of the nature. The highest death toll is among the children, disabled and elderly people. According to the news, even one hundred thousand people might be displaced. Many of the victims lost everything they had. In Cagayan de Oro City there are 20 evacuation centers full of people waiting for help. At the moment, the most urgent need is potable water, food and cleaning materials.

The SCJ Formation House in Aluba , located in the upper part of Cagayan de Oro City, was not affected directly by the flood, except for lack of electricity and internet connection. However, the compound of Kasanag Daughters Foundations, run by SCJs, was once again under the water. This time the level of the water has gone even higher, reaching at least thirteen feet. Most of the things inside the buildings were damaged and need to be replaced. The flood left tons of mud behind. Fortunately, all the girls and the staff, together 35 people, were safely transferred to the SCJ Formation House and given shelter in the Pre-College building. They will stay with the SCJ community until the facilities of Kasanag will be ready to accommodate them again.

So far, it was one of the strongest tropical storms that ever passed through Mindanao.

Jul 20 2007

Fr. Giancarlo Bossi Released!

Finally, Fr. Giancarlo Bossi, PIME, after 40 days of captivity, was released. According to the news, the release took place on Thursday, July 19, 2007 around 9 p.m. in the town of Karomatan, Lanao Del Norte. He lost 15 pounds on a meager diet during his ordeal but was not threatened by the Muslim militants who kidnapped him. Bossi, 57, said he did not believe he would be freed until he was dumped Thursday night along a road where the police picked him up.

Thanks be to God for his mercy and to all the people of good will for their prayers!

Jun 10 2007

Kidnapping of Italian Missionary

Today, on June 10, 2007 around 9:30 in the morning an Italian Missionary Fr. Giancarlo Bossi, PIME was kidnapped by unidentified yet group. The incident took place in the area of Bulawan village, where Fr. Giancarlo, the parish priest of Payao (Zamboanga Sibuguey – Prelature of Ipil), was going to say the Mass. According to the information obtained from undisclosed sources he was brought into area of Tungawan, the same place where another PIME Fr. Luciano Benedetti and Fr. Giuseppe Pierantoni, SCJ were kept.

Fr. Giancarlo Bossi belongs to the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) founded on July 30, 1850 at Saronno (Milan) by Fr. Angelo Ramazzotti.

The first PIME missionaries arrived in the Philippines in 1968. After a brief period of working at a diocesan seminary, the missionaries found themselves immersed in pastoral work. First they were sent to the north of the country, to Santa Cruz, within the province of Laguna, and to Tondo, an area of shanty dwellers on the bay of Manila. Then they moved south, to the island of Mindanao, where in 1969 PIME assumed responsibility for the missionary of Siocon, in the province of Zamboanga del Norte.

In 1981 Fr. Giancarlo Bossi together with Fr. Fernando Milani joined the Prelature of Ipil, where they helped to organize the parishes of Kumalarang and Siay and founded three new parishes in Lakewood, Payao and Sampoli.

Fr. Giancarlo Bossi is not the first PIME victim of violence in Mindanao. One of his companions mentioned above, Fr. Luciano Benedetti was also kidnapped in the area of Sibucao, Zamboanga del Norte on September 8, 1998 and kept in captivity for 69 days, while two other companions were killed: Fr. Tulio Favali in Kidapawan on April 11, 1985 and Fr. Salvatore Carzedda on May 20, 1992 in Zamboanga City.

Let us unite together in our prayers asking for God’s protection for Fr. Giancarlo and his soon release.