Iddu Taka, Isabela: A Humanitarian Mission of DMMMSU in Isabela
Posted on by Maricon C. Viduya

Iddu Taka, Isabela! (I love you, Isabela!)

Love doesn’t go wrong! It reaches far. It knows no bounds. It helps heal. It helps make lives better.  It makes what seems impossible possible. It’s the very reason why we at DMMMSU were able to send help to our fellows stricken by the infamous Ulysses.

When we heard about floods in Isabela and Cagayan this November, we cried for our fellows who lost their loved ones, their homes, their harvest, their livelihood. We couldn’t simply close our eyes and enjoy the comforts of our homes. We couldn’t endure watching them helpless, seeking for temporary relief from worry, what they would eat for a meal or two.

We, at DMMMSU, all wanted to help. Not because we have much to give, but because we know how it is to be in need and to be helpless.

The call

Believing that a person’s most useful asset is not a head full of knowledge but a heart full of love and a hand willing to help others, the Faculty Association of DMMMSU (FAD), and the University Nonteaching Association (UNTA) launched the project “Iddu Taka, Isabela and Cagayan; Love DMMMSU”, which was later changed to Iddu Taka, Isabela! as the team did not anymore go to Cagayan for safety reasons.

The two Presidents presented their plans to the University President, Dr. Jaime I. Manuel, Jr. who immediately gave his approval and support.

When we heard about the call for donations from the FAD and UNTA officers led by FAD President Jo Ann P. Rulla, and UNTA President Rima Q. Baldemor, respectively, we all responded. We were all willing to give our share.   We pooled our resources together to impact the lives of not only one household but thousands. Some shared more than what was asked of them.

Touched with the same love for humanity, the students led by the University Student Council President Daryl John Alminiana also responded to the same call and they initiated their own donation drive.

Hence, within only 2 weeks, we were able to collect enough amount and donations of other kinds.

Other help

Our contributions in the University may have been enough, but more help came in when they heard of our humanitarian project. Some private individuals sent in their help. Some Samaritans from the Alumni Association were also moved by our good intentions and they supported us. They gave more than what we expected.

From our donations and those from other generous donors, we were able to prepare 600 Family Packs filled with the following:

  • food commodities e.g. packs of coffee, milk, chocolate drinks, cans of sardines, noodles, crackers, 5 kilos of rice;
  • sleep essentials e.g. family size blankets and jumbo size plastic mats;
  • bath essentials e.g. face towel, hand towel, bath towel;
  • toiletries e.g. shampoo, toothpaste, bath soap, and toothbrush;
  • personal protection kit e.g. 1 box of face masks (50 pcs), 1 bottle of alcohol; and
  • medicine kit e.g. multivitamins, ascorbic acid, paracetamol.

 Also accompanying each pack are 2 bars of detergent and bottles of drinking water.

Through the donations from SERENATA Foundation based in Jeddah, KSA where some DMMMSU Alumni are affiliated with, we were able to complete 110 Junior Packs containing big bottles of multivitamins, large tubes of toothpaste and other toiletries, and face shields. Each Junior Pack amounted to Php 1, 400. This became possible because of Engr. Santiago Difuntorum, an alumnus of DMMMSU, Batch 1986.

Hearing about the donation drive of the University Student Council, generous entrepreneurs also sent in help. In fact, the USC received 300 inabel blankets both from the producers and supporters of the craft.  Many other generous hearts, NGO’s, and churches sent in their donations to the Student Council. Because of the help the Council received, they were able to prepare 520 packs of commodities. Each pack contained blanket, sardines, noodles, toiletries, imported rice, coffee, milk, and face shields.

Before the Mission Trip

It wasn’t enough that the core team composed of the BIG 2 (President Rulla and President Baldemor) received monetary and nonmonetary help. Many other tasks needed to be carried out. The volume was unimaginable, but the BIG 2 along with their group finished the herculean tasks: from calling for donations to buying goods to packing, to finally loading them on the vehicles. It took them 4 days to do the packing.

The relief goods at the Eriguel Hall during the packing operations by only few number of volunteers.
College of Education and College of Arts and Sciences male faculty members helping load the vehicles with the goods to be ferried to the mission field.

Strengthened friendship

Recognizing the need for help in the distribution of aids and the need for security and protection of the mission team composed of 9 faculty members, 5 nonteaching staff, 16 drivers from DMMMSU,  10 student leaders, 1 alumnus volunteer and 2 alumni, and 2 drivers from the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU).

Hon. Rulla enlisted the help of DMMMSU Alumnus Batch 83, Major General Lawrence E. Mina, also the newly appointed commander of the 5th Infantry (Star) Division (5ID) based in Gamu, Isabela. Mina whose command responsibility covers CAR and Region II except Abra, assured Hon. Rulla of his support. He and his team accommodated our Mission Team when it reached their Camp at 6AM on December 10, 2020.

Our bodies were already aching from hours of travel from La Union, but this welcomed us by the entrance of Camp Melchor F. Dela Cruz where the 5ID is housed.
Still another image of warm welcome moved us we felt we were safe doing the mission.

Our Mission Team was served meals throughout the day and was accompanied by the 5ID team in the delivery and distribution of goods.

Military trucks were also used to ferry the goods to our first mission stop, Barangay Calinaoan Norte, Sto. Tomas, Isabela.

During the ceremonial lunch after the Teams’ first stop, Mina and his battalion offered simple tokens of friendship. In his speech, Mina was thankful for DMMMSU for bringing help to his fellows in Isabela: “Maraming salamat. Sana ulitin ninyo. Sana huwag kayong magsawa.”

M/Gen. Mina welcomes DMMMSU Mission Team. He also thanked DMMMSU for bringing aid to Isabela.
Hon. Jo Ann P. Rulla, extends her thanks to M/Gen. Mina and his team on behalf of DMMMSU.
M/Gen. Mina introduces her wife who also possess a big heart for relief operations.
Mr. Winston Carrera, Mina’s HS buddy, sits with M/Gen. Mina, and Hon. Rulla
during the ceremonial lunch.
5ID welcomed us not only with ethnic dance performance but also with upbeat Christmas songs by their band.

Carrying out the Mission

After some short courtesies in the morning of December 10, our Mission Team and the 5ID Team set out for the cause. We first delivered help to 300 families at Barangay Calinaoan Norte, Sto. Tomas, Isabela. Barangay Captain Carmelito de La Cruz in his speech was teary-eyed in expressing his gratitude: “Andaming dumaan samin na nagdadala ng relief goods pero hindi kami pinapansin dahil ang alam nila hindi kami binaha. Kaya nakapalaking tulong po sa amin ang dinala ninyo.”  (Many groups sending help simply passed by not leaving us any help unknowing that we also needed some. The aid you gave us is huge.)

Following strict physical distancing, the residents had been patiently waiting before we arrived.
Barangay Captain Carmelito de la Cruz expresses his thanks to both DMMMSU and 5ID.
Hon. Jo Ann P. Rulla addresses the residents of Barangay Burgos, Naguilian, Isabela.

During the distribution of goods, Sintana, wife of Mina, along with her team provided meals for the kids in the same barangay.  

After lunch in the Camp, our Teams headed to Barangay Burgos, Naguilian, Isabela where 630 households received help. Barangay Captain Dionisio Lilina also expressed his thanks for the help they received.

Also following strict physical distancing, the residents of Barangay Burgos, Naguilian, Isabela had been waiting patiently before our Mission Team reached their place. Before reaching their place, we had to traverse hilly fields for 30 minutes. The trip along these long, outstretched, uninhabited farmlands dreaded us despite being accompanied by teams of armed soldiers.
Hon. Rulla extends her words of encouragement to the residents of Barangay Burgos, Naguilian, Isabela.
They somehow forgot to distance themselves from each other, but the smiles of these elderly women also waiting for their share of goods soothed our soring bodies.
Having seen acts like this, the strong helping the weak, we went home bringing with us images of human kindness which we will cherish forever.
He is just one of the many soldiers whose names we didn’t get and whom we failed to extend our thanks, but all of them in their division inspired us seeing them working tirelessly carrying kilos of goods from morning ’till past 5 in the afternoon. Throughout the day, we didn’t see from anyone of them any sign of weariness. They only showed us gestures of love and compassion for the people in need of help.

Before we prepared to go back to the Camp, Sgt. Mauricio expressed his appreciation: Maraming salamat po sa pagbabahagi ninyo ng tulong para sa aming taga Isabela. Ang buong 95th Infantry ‘Salaknib’ Battalion ay taas noong samasaludo po sa inyo. God bless you, po.” (Thank you so much for sending us help here in Isabela. We at the 95th Infantry Battalion salute you. God bless you.)

Barangay Captain Dionisio Lilina expresses his thanks to DMMMSU
through FAD President Rulla.
Mrs. Santina Mina, wife of M/Gen. Mina received unused clothes from donors from Dubai who sent aid through DMMMSU. Much more goods were left at the Camp for families of soldiers that were also affected by floods.

The going and coming back

Our Mission Team took us 28 hours in the journey –  we spent 10 hours going to Isabela, 8 hours distributing goods, and another 10 hours on our way home to La Union.

We left DMMMSU at 8PM of December 9, reached Isabela at 6AM of December 10, distributed the goods the whole day, left Isabela and reached home (DMMMSU) at 3AM of December 11.

They were unaware of the lens — the team of drivers offered a prayer before our trip. The team of other passengers did the same. Confident of God’s protection, the bravehearts set out for the mission.

It was a journey filled with joy and fun. It was not that we didn’t fear at all. We feared the slippery roads going to Isabela and coming back to La Union. We feared possible insurgencies. We feared road accidents. We feared for our lives.

But we were blessed with the Lord’s travelling mercies. We were blessed with the help of the group of soldiers and civilians in the communities. Most of all, we were blessed with a renewed spirit, new perspective, new insights, new friends and networks, authentic experience, real adventure, and a very rare chance to take part in a meaningful humanitarian service. All these became possible for us in the Mission Team because many responded to the call for help and because of the many people who selflessly shared their blessings.

Cottony clouds, cool weather, dry soil — all these had been set before we landed Isabela. We were advised to bring slippers as it had been raining for days before our mission. But when we reached Isabela for the mission, we were welcomed by a soothing weather.

DMMMSU impacting lives

We at DMMMSU started 2020 sending help to our fellows in Batangas during the eruption of Taal Volcano in February. We went on giving and sending help during the lockdowns brought about by the pandemic, from March to May. And we are ending 2020 still giving.

While we keep the brand of excellence as an academic institution, we also keep the brand of LOVE we are most proud about.   

In all these major humanitarian projects we as a University have accomplished, all the glory is given back to the Author of Love for making all these possible. (Ayu)   

Photos by AJ, JPR, and Ayu