A month and a half from now, last year's 7.2 magnitude earthquake that brought untold damage in life and property to Bohol will be exactly one year. We are happy to note that vital infrastructures like roads and bridges that were destroyed by the earthquake have been restored to their operational condition. Others, though, have remained at ground zero like the centuries old heritage churches. Many families, whose houses were crumpled by the tremor, have remained living in tent houses. Hopefully with more than P2 billion in national government funds released by President Aquino to Bohol through Gov. Chatto, the administration's promise will materialize that by the first anniversary of the killer quake, no Boholano family will continue to live inside tents.

Last week I was with Fr. Warli Salise, Director of the Social Action Center (SAC) of the Diocese of Tagbilaran, on the way home from Carmen where as members of the fact-finding team on human rights violation, we conducted an important fact-finding interview. Fr. Salise pointed to me the houses that SAC has constructed and turned over to the household beneficiary who now live comfortably in the houses in Carmen, Sagbayan, Catigbian, Balilihan, Corella and Tagbilaran. He said more of those houses could be seen in other hardest hit municipalities. Fr. Salise said the Diocese of Tagbilaran, through the SAC has already turned over 793 units to the families rendered homeless by the earthquake. By anniversary day, SAC hopes to turn over completed houses to make it 1,000 units. Without fanfare, SAC worked 24/7 building the houses and providing livelihood to theaffected families.

The units range in costs from P25,000 to P70,000 depending on the five models that donors chose for their beneficiaries. The size of the units is compliant with the National Housing Authority's 18 square meters for socialized housing. The donors and partners of the Diocese of Tagbilaran headed by Bishop Leonardo Y. Medroso, DD include Caritas Espa?ola, CBCP, NASSA, Quiapo Church, Order of Malta, JPIC, IDC, SVD, Redemptorists, Caritas Manila, SELAVIP Argentina, Rotary of Tubigon, New Orleans Lions Club, Misereor, International Labor Organizations and some individuals. From its funds alone, the Diocese's has spent about P12 million including the P2 million that it released to the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) as counterpart fund.

This is what the church meant by living the faith and the gospel. Good deeds need not be announced. They only need to be done to be pleasing to the eyes of God. Serving the people does not need fanfare to be appreciated. The service given will speak for itself. Res ipsaloquitor - the thing speaks for itself, so a Latin adage says. This is the difference between government and non-government programs. Politics dictate that everything that government does must be chronicled to sustain and maintain the trust and confidence of the people. On the other hand, programs implemented by the private sector and non-government organization need only to be completed and turned over. The beneficiaries will forever be grateful. With the private sector and government doing their best, we will see more turnover of housing projects for the earthquake victims before the anniversary date on October 15, 2014.