2 MISSION AREA - GUINOBATAN

Guinobatan East Central School, Guinobatan West Central School: Located at both ends of the town, these are the two urban primary schools, each with a school population of 1,200 pupils. Both schools serve as evacuation centres during the onset of typhoons and volcanic eruptions, and as temporary refugee centres for those unable to return to their homes.
Mission activities: story telling, catechism classes, serving recess, setting up Christmas decorations, musical/cultural performance, Christmas party

Masarawag Elementary School:
About 10 km from the main town, this is a school nestled along along the slopes of Mayon Volcano. Its 800 pupils are witnesses to the many disasters wrought by the volcano on their community and their respective families.
Mission activities: story telling, catechism classes, serving recess, setting up Christmas decorations, musical/cultural performance, Christmas party

Batbat:
Located about 30 km from the town, Batbat is accessible by footpaths and secondary roads, this is a remote upland barrio with a modest population of about 300 families scattered around the mountainous and forested terrain. There is a primary school with 300 pupils and a secondary school with 50 pupils. The barrio has a small chapel and a health station as well. Largely a coconut farming community, most of its inhabitants lost their chief means of livelihood after typhoon Durian. They are now making do with secondary crops.
Mission activities: games, story telling, catechism classes, serving recess, setting up Christmas decorations, musical/cultural performance, maintenance work on the chapel.

Mauraro Resettlement Area:
Now with a population of about 300 families, this location, about 10km from town, permanently houses the relocated families affected by disasters. Families, including the disoriented children, are starting life from scratch in this resettlement area.
Mission activities: games, story telling, catechism classes, setting up Christmas decorations, musical/cultural performance

Dona Mercedes:
Located just a kilometre from Mauraro Resettlement Area, this upland community which overlooks the valley below has about 271 families. It has an elementary school and a day care centre for children. The Mission team will focus on this barrio in the second phase of the project.
Mission Activities: Elementary School Outreach project (Similar to school programs above), Day Care Centre Outreach Project (feeding, bathing children, playing, games), Home and Farm Outreach Project (helping out in the farms and homes) and setting up Christmas Decorations. PC donation, painting works.

Assumption Parish:
The parish serves the 11,000 inhabitants of the town proper.
Mission Activities: Serving the parish office, PC donation, painting works, youth fellowship, sharing and praise and worship, catechism classes. Contact: Fr Dave Thomas Ramoso (Parish Priest), Fr Ric Divinagracia (Youth Director).


View of Guinobatan Town from Goggle Earth