Minglanilla (Philippines). On 3 and 4 November 2025, Typhoon Kalmaegi, locally nicknamed Tino, made landfall on the island of Cebu, in the archipelago south of Manila, with winds of up to 149 km/h and massive flooding, causing more than 200 deaths and thousands of displaced people. The typhoon then headed towards Vietnam and Cambodia, causing extensive damage there as well, but losing intensity along the way.
As the typhoon’s torrential rains transformed entire barangays (Filipino neighborhoods) into raging, muddy rivers, FMAs opened the doors of Mary Help of Christians School (MHCS) in Minglanilla, of Saint Mary Domenica Mazzarello Province (FIL), providing shelter to more than 300 people, adults and children, who fled their submerged homes and were frightened by the fury of the weather.
The Sisters first quickly cleared the classrooms from the school desks to convert them into temporary dormitories.
“When we arrived, soaked and panicked, a Sister was there at the entrance, welcoming us with a calm smile. It felt like entering a miracle,” shared a displaced mother, tears in her eyes as she remembered that terrible night.
Guided by the spirit of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello, the FMAs together with their collaborators continued with tireless commitment, working around the clock, to provide hot and nutritious meals and make guests feel at home. In addition to providing food, they cared for sick children, organized fairy tale reading sessions, and led prayers, providing important human support.
The two-day stay at MHCS thus provided the families, not only with physical shelter, but also and above all, with emotional comfort. In a climate of fear and uncertainty, the presence of the Sisters has become “a beacon of hope”, highlighting once again that community bonds and a spirit of service are the most powerful antidote to any catastrophe.
With the initial emergency phase over, all FMA Educating Communities in the Philippines opened their hearts wide, taking action with fundraising campaigns and donations of food and material goods to meet the needs of the thousands of victims of the Cebu disaster.
Opening the School for Typhoon Tino Victims is part of a broader and more assiduous commitment of the FIL Province in the field of humanitarian aid, in collaboration with the Church and local entities. In fact, a few weeks earlier, on October 29, the Educating Communities of MHCS of Cebu and Mary Our Help Technical Institute for Women had already mobilized relief efforts for the victims of the devastating earthquake that struck the parish of San Juan Nepomuceno, in San Remigio, in northern Cebu.
The strong seismic event, with a magnitude of 6.9 on the Richter scale, followed by numerous aftershocks, caused extensive damage in northern Cebu, necessitating the demolition of many structures, including the historic church. This led to joint action by FMAs, teachers, alumni, parents, support staff, and other volunteers, supported by the Inspection Community. The group conducted psycho-social activities for children and adults and delivered aid to more than 1,000 families.
Unfortunately, as Cebu began its long journey to recover from the earthquake and Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi), Super Typhoon Fung-wong, with heavy downpours and wind gusts between 185 and 230 kilometers per hour, reached the main island of Luzon, including the capital Manila, causing flight cancellations and the closure of schools and offices.
On Sunday, 9 November, after the Angelus, Pope Leo XIV expressed his closeness to the affected populations. “I am close to the people of the Philippines affected by a violent typhoon. I pray for the deceased and their families, for the injured and displaced.”
The Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians continues to closely monitor the situation, ensuring support and closeness for the communities affected by these disasters. Contributions and offerings can be sent in the manner indicated on the Website of the FMA Institute, designating in the causal Emergency Philippines.
