The boulders that rolled like pebbles during Reming were still there in Daraga, Albay. This was my second time to be in Albay after disastrous Reming in late 2006 . The first was for the turnover of school buildings in the town of Oas.
Just like most of us, I only saw the gravity of the typhoon on television, and if not for the boulders and the dried up lahar, it would be easy to forget this one--like other tragedies that hit our country. It was hard to imagine that beneath the ground that I passed stood houses before; that in the Aguinas University, three-storeys high, dormers were drowned in the flood because they were trapped inside. It was all painted white now, not a trace of gloom nor death. Have been they been forgotten now that it is hardly being talked about two years after the tragedy?
The kids that I met will never forget. They were smiling, sometimes laughing, while the Red Cross volunteers conducted a seminar on survival, a part of the Emergency Education for Disaster Risk Reduction camp. I asked myself, if these were victims of the typhoon? and were they taking this seriously? After all, they are still children.
The activity that followed confirmed that they knew how important preparation for disasters is. They remember everything.
Lou, still hardly in his teens, drew the sky and what appeared to be an ocean, but it was flood that covered homes and lives. He explains " there is a way from telling from the movement of the sky and the waves of the ocean when a typhoon is coming" He spoke not like the child that lost his family in Reming. In a disaster operation, time is everything. Certainly, they can't wait for the storm signal warnings on TV. Experience has taught them the hard way. Flee, evacuate and go to higher places away from the ravaging waters during the storm, and then, and again, head backk home, survive, live and conquer disasters prepared.
3 comments:
Hi.
I am from Naga, about 100 kms from Legazpi but a Bicolano nevertheless. My maternal relatives are from Albay. I chanced upon your blog (through the hulog ng langit link) at this time when I am frantically tracing news report about the coming typhoon “Frank”.
You who are not from these “typhoon frequented” areas may never know how it feels when there’s a typhoon that threatens one’s locality.
I know we are probably better prepared each time like when PAGASA or Michael Padua (our local typhoon watcher, you may want to check his site at www.maybagyo.com when there is a typhoon, it’s comprehensive because it presents almost all global forecast) announces a typhoon that’s forecasted to be headed towards Samar and Bicol areas, we rush to groceries and markets. We would buy the staple: rice, noodles, bread, canned goods, batteries and candles. Some would be tying their roofs and houses to the ground or covering windows and doors with tarp or planks of wood.
Right after the onslaught of typhoon or as soon as the wind and the rain die down, we would be out of our dwellings, surveying the damage, taking stock of what we have left or what is recoverable and start the process of rebuilding, literally and figuratively.
That’s really how it is, how it has always been. We get used to it… probably but just to a certain degree. One can never be fully prepared in disasters like this. The feeling of fear and uncertainty is the same each time. Praying that the wind and the rain do not get any stronger and hoping that it would be over soon will always be the prayer on our lips while the typhoon is venting its full fury. Thinking that somewhere, people are wet, getting drowned or dying is always on our minds.
I have lost relatives, friends and colleagues because of disastrous typhoons and I myself had three close calls. When I pass by Aquinas University especially at night, or the adjoining Yawa river (where some bodies were washed away during Reming), or in Daraga (there’s a place there near Cagsawa Church where the houses were obliterated by little mountains of sand), I can’t help but think (and say a little prayer) for those who perished and those who were even left buried beneath the ground (if you have been there a week after Reming, you know they were there because the place reeked of rotting flesh).
Yes, you are right in most of what you’ve written. Life goes on. We who survive the ordeal move on but we never forget. We will always remember how it had been and those who perished and were unlucky to make it through.
But more importantly, we will always remember the compassionate heart of people who unselfishly and tirelessly offered assistance in our time of need. After Reming, I was so touched with the “Caravan for Bicol” that I had to wait for them pass Naga. I stood by the highway, with tears in my eyes, gratitude in my heart and a restored faith in the human spirit (previously I had grown jaded because of the seeming cynicism and apathy in the world).
I am more grateful to ABS-CBN because you guys didn’t stop your programs a few weeks after Reming, like most did. Up until now, I know you have been helping Bicol rebuild itself through your numerous projects like house builds, rebuilding or rehabilitating school buildings, etc.
I know that Bicol is poor; however, it is not because we lack resources but it is because disasters every now and then destroy what we have built so far. Thus, we appreciate people like you who always extend assistance and make it easier for us to rise again after each disaster.
I may have a single voice for now but it is in behalf of all Bicolanos – Thank you very much for your undying FAITH in us.
We are forever grateful.
I know that together, we will overcome.
May the good Lord bless you always.
'su
nb sorry for the deleted posts. i transferred email address of my blog and the comments were 'confused', i had to delete again and again. hehe.
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