This year, the Philippines experienced one of the worst typhoon season in their history. Five type-5 typhoons (hurricanes) hit the islands one after the other between early August and mid November. Five times people living in lower areas had to evacuate to avoid the floods.Graduation Square at Don Bosco TVET in Tondo, Manila.

Several times the school had to be closed. Students living outside the compound could not get to it. The ones living on campus were busy protecting the buildings and fighting the flooding. Thanks to the new asbestos-free roof that The John DV Salvador Foundation helped refurbishing in 2020, there was only minor damage to the buildings. Knee-deep flooding at the entrance gate.

Don Bosco was also lucky to have started the replacement of the power grid a month earlier (see previous post). On 16th November, water leaking through the walls hit the site of the old power converter. It would have been an utter disaster.The water from the leak poured directly on the old power converter.

The August flooding lasted for two days. Immediately thereafter the students set out to clean debris and mud from the compound. A few days later the site looked almost like before.Everybody, teachers, administrators and students helped with the clean up. The only reminder of the flooding was the watermark on the buildings. Despite severe weather this summer, teaching and exams stayed on track and everybody graduated as planned. The party on 24 November was proof that nothing can stop our students from achieving their goals.Track of typhoon Pepito, the last one this season, on 16 Nov.