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2014 Philippines

ACTS 2014 Registration - Manila - CLOSED

Thank you for your interest in the ACTS 2014 Mission to Manila.
Registration is now closed. We look forward to seeing your enrolment next year.

 

CHARIS News Jul 2014

updated 16 Jul 2014

On 8 November 2013, Typhoon Haiyan, devastated the Philippines claiming the lives of more than 6,000 people.

Among the worst affected areas include Cebu, Leyte and Samar. This April, after initial recovery and relief efforts, Caritas Humanitarian Aid & Relief Initiatives, Singapore (CHARIS) helped fund Couples for Christ (CFC) in various house-building projects.Come end August, a joint CHARIS-CFC mission team will be deployed to help Bogo residents with the building of 30 permanent houses.

Mission 2014 Letter of Invitation

updated 21 May 2014

May is the month for ‘mission making', so we are getting the following acts together for ACTS Missions 2014.

Philippines - MANILA

The ACTS Manila mission will bring 12 adult volunteers to the Provincial Houses of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA Sisters) at Santa Mesa, Mandaluyong Manila from 08 to 12 December 2014. A semi-silent pre-retreat is planned for 06 & 07 December in the mountains outside Manila. Register early.

More details >

All applications will be done online at www.acts-singapore.com. Registration begins 24th May 2014.

Start planning your mission today!

 

 

ACTS Philippines - Manila Mission, 6-13 Dec

“If you belonged to this world, it would love you as its own; the reason it hates you is that you do not belong to the world. But I chose you out of the world.” – John 15: 19
I remember the days leading up to the start of our mission at the Don Bosco School in Manila. It has been five years since I went on a mission with ACTS, having served as a youth leader in ACTS’ earlier missions to Cambodia between 2007 and 2008. The difference then and now, apart from the location, was also the different phase of life that I was in. In 2007 and 2008, I was still an NUS undergraduate. Now, I’m a junior executive working in the corporate world, clocking sometimes eleven hours of work depending on the season.

The days leading up to the start of our mission trip was a hectic week in which every conceivable attempt to clear as much work before going on leave was the order of the day. I was still in the office on the very morning we were due to be flying off. Work never seems to be done. After a quick lunch, I was soon on my way to the airport. Does these frenetic activities sound familiar? I suppose this frantic lifestyle can be empathised by most working professionals in Singapore who spend the each week in meetings, conference calls, never-ending emails, “whatsapping” too many friends ... and the list goes on.

Post Typhoon Haiyan

After the MW7.2 strong earthquake in Bohol in October 2013 and a super-Typhoon Haiyan struck Philippines in November 2013, the devastating destruction wreaked and left 10 million people in the Visayas region affected. A death toll of over 6,000 people, 27,000 injured, and to date 1,700 remain still listed as missing.

In the immediate aftermath, many Catholics in Singapore jumped forward to help. CHARIS received over S$1 million under the Humanitarian Aid Fund. The donations have since been allocated to various Catholic organizations based in Singapore and The Philippines who are working with local communities in reconstruction efforts.

Typhoon Haiyan – A Lesson in Solidarity

ACTS sprung to the aid of Philippines in the wake of this horrific natural disaster that wrecked many homes and robbed many lives. The needs of the people are great and will take an immense time to heal. However, with the beginning of relief efforts brought forth together with the Salesian sisters in Cebu, many in Philippines who are touched can now slowly pick up the threads of their dignity and hope and courage to live on.

When Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines, my heart was moved by the images of those who had perished and even more so by those who had survived, lost their loved ones and were struggling with nothing except the shirts on their backs.   No shelter from the elements, no water, no food… for how long, nobody knows. It is hard to imagine the pain for one who has been fortunate to live in safe sunny Singapore.

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