A Catholic school in Manila became a temporary shelter for the homeless when super typhoon Rolly (international name: Goni) brought winds and rains to the national capital on Sunday, November 1.
As early as eight o’clock in the morning, personnel of the Arnold Janssen Kalinga Foundation rounded up street dwellers in the city of Manila.
At least a hundred homeless people, including children and elderly, were brought to the gymnasium of Paco Catholic School that was converted into a temporary shelter.
Joseph Bencio, a 66-year-old street dweller, said he knows about the Arnold Janssen Kalinga Foundation because “they distribute free meals for people like me every day.”
“But I did not expect them to find me a dry place to spend the day during a typhoon,” he said, adding that he is “thankful” that people still care for the poor.
Esther Borja, 80, told LiCAS.news that she was already looking for a safe place to stay when personnel of the foundation came.
“Since last night, I’ve been praying to find a spot where I can stay dry,” she said. “Then someone approached me and offered me to come here.”
In March, Paco Catholic School and Arnold Janssen Kalinga Foundation collaborated to host street dwellers during the government-imposed lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Sharing our roof to the homeless is the least thing that we can do in times like this,” said Father Maxell Lowell Aranilla, school director.
“It is our duty in the Church to take care of those who are in great need,” he said.
The Arnold Janssen Kalinga Foundation has been providing free baths and free meals to the homeless through its center in Manila’s Tayuman district since in 2015.
