Ryan Encina (right) holds up a world globe with best friend Austin Cooper who is supporting Ryan’s journey to the Philippines at the end of the month. Ryan is going to the storm-ravaged country to help rebuild.
Lyonel Doherty photo
A fourteen-year-old Oliver youth wants to make a difference in life, and for him it all starts December 30 when he journeys to the Philippines.
Ryan Encina is part of a local group travelling to the ravaged country to help rebuild after the typhoon in November.
“My main goal is I hope to build complete houses and shelters that were wiped out,” Ryan said.
The young man has a passion for the Philippines because he was born and raised there. He moved to Canada at age five, but his family still has close ties to the country.
Ryan’s mother, Amy Encina, is organizing the two-week trip to Tacloban, the city hardest hit by Typhoon Haiyan. Once there, the group will help distribute relief goods, remove rubble, and assist relief workers.
Ironically, the group will be stationed in an abandoned ballroom of a five-star hotel, a base camp for relief workers. From there, they will be dispatched to areas where help is needed to clean up rubble, deliver goods and rebuild.
“We’re going to help clean out schools so classes can resume,” Amy said.
Ryan said he’s preparing for the worst, such as seeing garbage piled everywhere and buildings flattened. But he’s hoping not to deal with the recovery of bodies.
“That’s the only thing I’m worried about. I’ve never seen a dead body before.”
One of Ryan’s most touching memories of the Philippines is seeing three children going door-to-door begging for money.
“They had no parents and no home, so I gave them some money.”
The Encinas own a coconut plantation in the Philippines and still have many friends who live in the country.
Amy is preparing the relief team by ensuring that everyone has the required immunizations. She is also training them on Philippine customs and cultural traditions. For example, when working with Filipino people, you cannot use the “direct” approach.
Amy said their team has to be respectful of this different culture, which values the attitude that what is yours is mine, and what is mine is yours.
“If someone takes your flip-flops, you may not get them back,” said Amy. “We have to be open to change and to the unexpected.”
Amy noted it’s hard to get the big picture if you don’t travel outside your own country.
“We get so narrow minded. Canadian culture is focused on accomplishment, but a good day in the Philippines is fellowship and spending time with each other.”
What is it like living in the Philippines?
Amy said the people are extremely friendly and welcoming. Some earn their living from fishing, while others sell goods in the streets.
“Whatever money they earn for that day, that’s what they live on.”
Currently, many of them rely on the relief boats that bring in goods and supplies.
The relief team from Oliver has approached local businesses for various supplies, such as tarps for shelter, work gloves, flashlights with batteries and first aid kits.
Donation boxes can be found at Outreach Neon at 310 Co-op Avenue, or at Royal LePage. For more information, contact 250-689-1174. On Facebook, visit Philippines Relief Team.
Ryan said they can’t help the thousands of people who died or went missing, but they can help those who are struggling to survive.
“I’m glad that I have the friends that I have because they were there to help and were willing to help raise money so we could go out and help.”
Ryan plans to move back to the Philippines some day. “Every time I go there I see something better.”
Christmas in the Philippines is not celebrated with gifts, but with food. In fact, Christmas Eve is a big feast, Amy said.
“Gifts are seldom exchanged. Filipinos are much more focused on the sharing of food and fellowship; those two things are of much higher value to them.”
Amy said the children go door-to-door singing carols, and the inhabitants of the homes usually give coins to the kids. She noted it’s very similar to Halloween when children get candy.
Philip and Tracey Johnston, Amy’s friends in Bohol, sent her an update on what has been happening. The following are excerpts from the email:
It’s a joy to have electricity again today, so I’m eager to give you a fresh update.
It’s six weeks since the earthquake in Bohol, and just over two weeks since Typhoon Haiyan hit Leyte and affected numerous provinces.
Hannah, Daisy, Lucy and friend Inday enjoyed distributing drinking water and food in San Isidoro. They counted carabao (native buffalo) on the four-hour round trip.
Tourism has been affected in Bohol, as many sites are damaged or inaccessible to reach by road.
The displaced families shelter in tents or makeshift dwellings covered by tarpaulin
Praise God our friend Ptra Analisa safely crossed the river one night at 11:30 pm during heavy rains as she was in labour with her third child.
It’s a blessing to be a helping hand, able to share a smile and words of life, to encourage hope again.
Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
