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MANDULOG, ILIGAN CITY – The rain began around 10 o’clock at night. At first, it was just heavy. Then it became terrifying.
“I was devastated,” Charie Mae Lid-Awon said. “I cried for days. I went home, but home was no more because it was destroyed.”
A Night No One Slept
As Tropical Storm Basyang (Penha) pounded the region, the creek behind Charie’s house kept rising. The sound of rushing water grew louder in the darkness.
“Immediately we evacuated to my mother’s house. I took my kids. We didn’t sleep at all! We stayed alert at all times, keeping an eye on the water level.”
By 3:00 a.m., the alarm was raised. The floodwaters in Iligan City had reached neck level.
Water rushed in through an unfinished riprap near their home. “If the flood didn’t rise, our houses wouldn’t have been destroyed,” Charie explained. The structure was new—less than a year old—but it failed when they needed it most.
In a single night, years of hard work disappeared.
“I worked hard to build our house,” she said. “In a snap, in one typhoon, destroyed.” Their food, clothes, and belongings—gone. “We really need food bags and beddings.”
For families like Charie’s, the loss was overwhelming. But they were not alone.
Restoring Hope After Floodwaters in Iligan City
Operation Blessing immediately mobilized partners and volunteers in Iligan City to reach out to families affected by the massive flooding.
“Every family will receive food bags, water, hygiene kits, mats, and blankets,” said Chris Clapano of Operation Blessing. “Aside from the material things that we will provide, each family will also receive a piece of artwork.”
These special artworks were created by pupils from one of our partner schools. Each drawing carried words of encouragement—small but powerful reminders that someone cares.
Through the generous support of friends like you, more than one hundred families—including Charie’s—have already received critical supplies. A mobile water station was also set up to provide clean water to the community, as the floodwaters in Iligan City had contaminated local sources..
When disaster strikes, families urgently need food, safe water, and basic necessities. Thanks to compassionate partners, help arrived quickly in Mandulog.
When Charie received the supplies, gratitude replaced some of the sorrow.
“We Won’t Give Up”
“Thank God for the generous hearts who blessed us with these!” she said. “We won’t give up!”