ON THIS DAY 4 YEARS AGO

the day the typhoon arrived in Albuera, Leyte and slashed by gusting winds 

It all began on November 8. The killer typhoon’s landfall lambasted the Philippines without exemptions. Still quite unthinkable remembering the gravity of destruction which took many lives. Who could have known that it would be such a catastrophe. Millions were affected. Thousands perished and died, shocked and traumatized, left homeless, thirst and starved. Many hopes and dreams were shattered and fell apart. Crushed by that fated ramifications. Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) claiming the lives of thousand many, marked history as the strongest typhoon ever struck the Philippines. That, she left behind the stories of great struggle of near-deaths, sorrows, pains and miseries that etched forever in our hearts and minds.

Days after Yolanda

The world felt the grieving of our country. All allied nations unconditionally extended their pledges and assistance in whatever forms. Both local and international volunteers came to aid helping the wounded. Continuously gave relief, support and assistance to those most in need. The aid was extremely overwhelming which gave hope to the weeping victims and despaired survivors. We were overloaded with kindness from every corners of the earth.

Irene, Brian, Peejay

My good friends Irene, Brian, PeeJay and I witnessed the typhoon’s aftermath while we volunteered on a medical mission in a local town, Albuera that was also struck by the mishap. It’s thanks to the efforts, donations and financial assistance of Marichel Igana and Bellou Oclarit-Erazo all the way from Belgium who took the initiative of ”helping their fellow Filipino ‘kababayans’.

Marichel and Belo pleaded for help...

Our own government’s utterly claimed to have had “admirably responded” the aftermath on the first “sixty days” of the calamity (Mar Roxas, DILG 2014). But, what about the next “three-hundred-sixty-five- days?” The years after next? And, until the end of term? As much as I want to state the obvious, I gave to them the “benefit of the doubt“. The officials and authorities, the one responsible on to its efforts at that time were clouded with questions and doubts. 

The present administration carry the burden of the past, doing it's best to end the problems created by the previous corrupt officials and administrators. It was not just Tacloban City, it was the entire Samar Island and Leyte Provinces and other places in Visayas as well. As I was watching the news fed on television, I'm quite astonished by the reports of the Commission on Audit how astronomical the funds and pledges were donated by other countries and other sectors. It's quite frustrating how the previous administration screwed up and bungled the billions of pesos intended for that calamity. Now, by facing lawsuit filed against those corrupts before the court, I hope justice will be served. I have my faith and confidence on this current government to continuously strive a great effort in responding to the calls of those victims and survivors whom still patiently waiting for help from the great misfortune brought by Haiyan (Yolanda). 

The beautiful Balugom Albuera 

We are always students in life. We exist once, however we live every day and aim to survive by learning our existence and true purpose. There are storms in life that sometimes shake our midst. We face trials and challenges day to day, night and day. Somehow, sudden fate changes the course of our life that we never foreseen. Such it happened to our fellows and ‘that’ those known survivors have once known what prodigious defeat, sufferings and struggles are all about. Have known great loss and pain, and they have found a deeper hope dwelling to its way out of the depths and move forward. Who could ever forget “on this day 4 years ago.”