The wasteland once known as “Isla Verde.”

There was a huge tragic fire that ravaged Isla Verde, a squatter area here in Davao City. It destroyed hundreds of homes and was a horrible blow to the local Badjao tribe. The fire forced them out of their homes and now hundreds of families are living in a local park in a tent city of tarpaulins.

People working to recover what they can from the smoldering ruins that once were their homes.

Our church went to help these people the afternoon after the fire and gave food, water, and hygiene kits until supplies ran out. We also went back later to distribute over one ton (1,000 kilograms) of rice during a thunderstorm. We went from tent to tent slogging through the mud and water to get the rice to these precious people.

This precious little girl fell after losing her home and is now living in the park under a tarpaulin.

I got to drive nine volunteers to the site and drove home with 14 volunteers in my overloaded vehicle. I want to give credit to my local church that provided the supplies as we did not have the financial resources to help. Thanks to our church, I was able to pray for people in the soot and rubble, and give out rice in the mud and rain.

Elderly people homeless from the fire living under a tarpaulin.