The Assumptionists in the Philippines, with their lay collaborators, mobilize quickly after a 7.8 magnitude offshore earthquake struck Sarangani Province which is about 100 kilometers away from Digos City last June 8. The earthquake was felt very strongly in Digos City where our St. Augustine community and Divine Mercy Parish are located. Parishioners living near the sea evacuated to higher grounds including to the parish parking area as soon as Tsunami Alert 1 was hoisted in the area. The Assumptionists in Digos gathered information about the affected areas through their network of pastoral workers, local Caritas office and friends.
Kaloob, the non-governmental organization of the Assumptionists in the Philippines, coordinated with the Province’s Missionary Procure to make an appeal to assist the earthquake survivors in their immediate and long-term needs.
For its part, the Assumptionist-managed parish of Divine Mercy initially donated relief items consisting of canned goods, rice, noodles and detergent powder to the local electric cooperative which is under the parish’s chaplaincy. The goods are intended to help about a thousand indigenous peoples trapped in a hinterland village. The parish had 2nd collections in all masses last June 14 to help raise funds to buy goods to be sent to the victims. Parishioners also sent bags of rice, noodles and canned goods.
Some Assumptionists assisted the local Caritas office of the diocese in receiving, recording and packing the relief items. As of this writing, tremors occur occasionally in the area (14/6/2026). Power outages happen too as well as low or no wifi signal at all. There are no structural damages and casualties in Digos City.
The AA community of Digos