I appologise for the lapse in updates. I didn't even realize that it has been almost 4 weeks since the last update. Time has flown by in our busyness. What happened in Isabela around Nov 20, while we were to the south in Batangas Province, was a major flood. The next few pictures will demonstrate some of the damage although we did not see it until early part of December when we returned to our central headquarters. Thousand of acres flooded eliminating rice and corn production in the areas adjacent to the rivers. Our home in Ilagan was within one foot of being flooded fortunately, however the humid musty smell still greeted us as we returned on Dec 4.

It was apparently a monsoon rain that lasted for about 6 days of almost steady rain...not that hard but steady and volumous. Unfortunately I can't find a telling picture near Tuguegarao, where 3 weeks later grass was still hanging from road side power lines and mud in 2 foot mounds was pushed back from the paved road by a road grader.

Concerning the damaged crops, they all had to be replanted and seed supply was difficult to obtain. While visiting San Pablo, they were still waiting on seed by Dec 9. Most communities handed out rice rations for those most significantly affected by the flood. Many municipalities that we visit we busy repackaging 50 kg sacks into 2-5 kilo rations.