This is Tom. With Sarah's permission, I am posting some more pictures which I hope will add to the wonderful narratives we are receiving from her.
The cathedral in Borongan is Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is a picture of the main altar. Two beautiful stained glass windows are on either side of the crucifix and tabernacle.
Most liturgies are quite crowded. The 8am Mass on Sunday morning is in English. The others are in the local dialect - Waray Waray.
The church was repainted a couple of years ago for the 50th anniversary of the Diocese of Borongan.
It is impossible to tell the story of Eastern Samar and Borongan without mention of two super Typhoons which struck 13 months apart. The picture above is of Super Typhoon Ruby (also known as Hagupit) which made landfall on December 6, 2014. The island of Samar is the green dot. Ruby traced the path of Super Typhoon Yolanda (aka Haiyan) which made landfall November 8, 2013. Yolanda is still considered to be the strongest typhoon ever to make landfall.
Bishop Crispin Varquez is pictured in the chapel of the Diocesan Seminary after Typhoon Ruby. The water rose to the level of the tabernacle (you can see the water line on the right) but did not extinguish the candle or disturb the white lace cover on the tabernacle.
Only about 25% of the roads in Eastern Samar are paved.
This is the neighborhood 7-11. Out of the front of their home, a family is likely to sell food, cleaning supplies, soda, rice, etc.
The roofs are made from the leaves of coconut trees. They are often damaged by the storms which visit the island. This home (about 140 sq. ft.) likely houses an entire family.
It is common the see the statues in churches dressed in clothing. The clothes will be changed at various times of the year.
The large blue building is the cathedral. The domed structure in the foreground is the Adoration Chapel. The cathedral is about 1/10th of a mile from Nazareth Home where Sarah is staying.
