THREE PRESIDENTS. President Noynoy Aquino confers with University President Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ and Sanggunian President Dan Remo. Photo by Samantha O. Subida.
AS PART of his monitoring process of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) satellite repacking stations, President Benigno Aquino III visited the relief operations for Typhoon Yolanda victims being held at the Ateneo College Covered Courts on Thursday, November 14.
“One is overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the problem and then from [University President] Fr. Jett, I’ve heard that Ateneo was one of the first to set up [relief operations] besides government’s facilities,” said Aquino.
DSWD added several satellite repacking stations in order to meet the quota of producing 2.04 million family food packs within two weeks starting Thursday.
In Metro Manila, Ateneo is one of the existing satellite repacking stations along with De La Salle University, Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Camp Aguinaldo and Villamor Airbase.
The Ateneo relief operations were made possible by the partnership of the Ateneo de Manila University Disaster Response and Management Team (Dream Team) with Jesuit non-government organization Simbahang Lingkod Bayan (SLB) and the DSWD.
Last Monday, November 11, the Dream Team began collecting monetary donations.
Meanwhile, relief operations for the typhoon victims began in the covered courts on Wednesday, November 13 and will run nonstop until tomorrow, November 16.
President’s visit
“This (Aquino’s visit) was not planned… I was surprised myself,” said University President Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ in an interview with The GUIDON.
According to Villarin, they were only informed about the President’s visit less than an hour before Aquino arrived in Ateneo.
Upon arriving, Aquino delivered a short speech of thanksgiving for the relief efforts done by the Ateneo community.
In a separate interview with The GUIDON, Aquino said, “We’ve been taught to be men for others. It is nice to see that is being done in practice and not just in words.”
Furthermore, he described the operation as a well-thought of plan. He also praised the students who seem to show no exhaustion in helping in the relief operations.
Ateneo is expected to produce 80,000 repacked goods by tomorrow.
As of 10:00 AM today, over 31,000 bags of goods have already been packed.
Acting Vice President for the Loyola Schools (LS) Maria Luz Vilches, PhD issued a memo last night informing the LS community that all classes today, November 15, will be on call to help in the relief operations.
Classes will still push through but can be pulled out in case more volunteers are needed in the covered courts.
Volunteer volume
Similar to past relief efforts, there has been a steady base of volunteers helping out in the operations.
“As a matter of fact, there is still an increasing influx of volunteers,” said Sanggunian Finance Officer Tin Andujares.
According to Remo, Aquino even remarked at how, in the past, there were no assemblies as large as the one currently present at the covered courts.
Villarin added that he even told Aquino that Ateneo can repack even more relief goods given a better supply of goods.
“It is a logistical problem. No problem with the hands,” Villarin said.
With the implementation of the 24-hour repacking operations, members of the Ateneo Resident Students Association (ARSA) and students living in the Katipunan area are being encouraged to take the late night to early morning shifts according to ARSA President Von Cruz.
Villarin offered some insight into the Ateneo community’s “strong desire to matter” through relief operations.
“Here is where you realize that service is a privilege. It is a gift. Not everyone is given that gift to be able to serve. So, when you are able to serve, be thankful,” he said.
UPDATED: 10:20 AM, November 15, 2013
