Over the past week the Asian Pacific has born the brunt of disasters of nature. The tsunami in Samoa and the earthquake in Indonesia followed hard on the devastating typhoon that hit Manila. The nature of 24-hour news coverage—endless repetition of the non-news until major events occur, then saturation coverage until the next event—with its short attention span, means the Manila disaster was quickly forgotten. Tsanumis are fascinating; earthquakes give opportunity for Western rescue teams to rush off to save lives. Flooding offers neither.

Having lived for some time in Manila, and having experienced one ‘super typhoon’, this story is not only more personal, it offers opportunity to offer a local perspective on the clean-up. These countries cannot handle such over-whelming disasters alone, but they do not simply stand around waiting for salvation.

The seminary campus where I taught for two years sits on two hills divided by a normally lazy and languid stream, above the city of Manila in the suburb of Taytay. The Guardian published pictures from the neighbourhood:

The swollen creek inundated the seminary chapel:

The squatter community next door was less fortunate, lying lower to the water. Two children perished. The campus became a refuge for nearly 300 people, as the students and faculty opened all buildings for people house them, cooked meals, and donated dry clothing. One student with medical training treated minor injuries for 150 people. Each family was given a ‘Crisis Care Kit’.

When the water retreated, the students set to clearing the knee-deep mud from the chapel, and then worshipped together.

After three days, the government was able to relocate the refugees to temporary housing. How long that lasts, is to early to know. But it is certain the students will be involved in helping the displaced to rebuild when they are able to return. Hopefully, the squatters will be able to build on safer ground, with more substantial housing. That is the next stage of the story—and another matter in its own right.