LOCALLY STRANDED INDIVIDUALS

Since last month, we have been visiting hundreds of locally stranded individuals housed in the Villamor Air Base Golf Club, Villamor Air Base Elementary School, and Philippine Army Gym. Those who stayed in the Philippine State College of Aeronautics have already been brought back to their provinces, but for several weeks now, some parts of the Libingan ng mga Bayani have also been converted into a temporary shelter for more stranded travelers. Hundreds of them can be seen sleeping on folding beds and cardboard boxes placed under open tents that were set up near the entrance of the national cemetery.

As we continue to partner with the government, our team—composed of pastors, staff members, and volunteers—have been going to these temporary shelters to donate rice, food packs, disinfectant solution, hygiene kits, folding beds, mattresses, towels, energy drinks, and snacks. Even our volunteers have been pooling their resources so they can go back and provide meals every day. Our pastors from different Victory locations have also been conducting debriefing sessions with them and connecting them to people in their respective provinces who can reach out and talk to them.

In our desire to continue spurring hope amid their situation, we held an activity last Saturday inside the Philippine Army Gym. Volunteer artists and musicians came together to bring familiar music and entertainment to stranded travelers from different provinces. We also served food and engaged with them through the help of our Victory group leaders.

We know that what we do can’t alleviate the pain that they are feeling for being away from their families and loved ones. But it is our prayer that through the little things that we do, we will be able to provide comfort to their tired bodies, put a smile on their faces, and give hope to their weary spirits by showing God’s love to them.

The situation in these temporary shelters is a reminder that our mission to declare and demonstrate the good news continues—with or without the pandemic. Let us do what we can to extend help and bring hope to those around us.

If you would like to serve the locally stranded individuals, you may email us at info@victory.org.ph or send a message on our Facebook page.

Hundreds of stranded travelers were housed in the Villamor Air Base Compound, Philippine State College of Aeronautics, and Philippine Army Gym after staying for days under a bridge near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Most of them are Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who were waiting for a ride home after their flights out of Manila had been canceled.

With the help of our generous donors and volunteers, some of our pastors and staff members visited them last week (June 12–17) to give food packs, mattresses, industrial fans, slippers, and face masks. A group of volunteers led by a couple from Victory Fort also went there to provide taho (soybean pudding) and ice cream to stranded OFWs.

Though most of them had to sleep on cardboard mats while waiting to be reunited with their families, they remained hopeful and resilient. They were ready to smile at everyone in spite of what they were going through. As one volunteer put it, “Even in the toughest times, they were still smiling. It’s inspiring and humbling at the same time.”

Aside from contributing in our own little way to extend help, we also prayed for them and the people in uniform who had been assigned to ensure their safety. We are in faith that God will work in their situation and make a way for them to go back to their hometowns and families.

Though times are hard, we can continue to hope in God and be His hands and feet in these trying times. Let us believe Him to provide as we do everything we can, no matter how small, to help those in need and spur faith.

As of this writing, we have teams available to provide prayer, counseling, and debriefing.

Our Mission Never Stops

Locally Stranded Individuals Get Help from Volunteers