it all started last week. it was about the same time when i got news that Ormoc has been badly damaged. i was worried sick for my family. i haven't had the chance to talk to them until the 3rd or 4th day post-Yolanda destruction. all the lines were down. no electricity, no water, no cellphone signal. communication was cut off.
i have been on the phone nonstop with my two sisters, a cousin, one aunt in Manila and an uncle here in Cebu. until i can't stand it anymore, i decided to go there myself and check how they're doing. eventually they all agreed and decided to send some money to buy groceries for all our relatives back in Ormoc. we gathered enough cash and decided to give some of our groceries to 20 other families.
an Ormocanon, who is already residing in the States, saw one of my sister's post on my wall in FB and asked if she could also send some money for her family. she said her family doesn't have anything to eat for 2 days. she was worried sick. and in the evening a close college friend of mine from college who is already in Norway and is celebrating her birthday decided to also help out and send some money. fortunately i missed my planned trip because of another typhoon. so i was able to purchase the additional groceries and i had more relief goods for the people back home. we had a total of 11 boxes of groceries, 3 sacks of rice, and 76 liters of water.
while waiting for the ship to move i noticed that everyone there are carrying their own groceries for their families from the different parts of Leyte and Samar. some have generators with them. and there were a LOT of media people from all over the world. i hear nothing but stories of how Yolanda destroyed our island with that sad face and worried tone. news back home aren't so good. there were lootings and killings and the loss of control of the people especially in the badly hit Tacloban. desperation was setting in.
it was already 4pm and as we got nearer i looked for the LDS chapel in Merida. it's still standing but Merida is in bad shape. 5 days after the storm and i can still see floating debris in the sea. the twin peaks that i want to climb is standing tall. father promised me that we'll climb those twin peaks because he's been there already but its quite a long trek.
by 5pm we docked in the port of Ormoc. and then it dawned on me that Ormoc was not spared. yes, the casualty is low (27) compared to Tacloban but my gosh! it's like a warzone! i can barely recognize the common landmarks. it's like the ones you thought you'd only see in the movies. it was that bad. never in my wildest dreams did i think of such state for my simple and quiet hometown.
got home and it was starting to get dark. hello candlelight nights :) yes, intimate candlelight dinners is the new 'in' thing to do. slept really early (8pm) and woke up at 5am. i still can't believe the destruction that was before my eyes every time i go out of our house.
i then repacked all the groceries i bought in Cebu to give to those who are in dire need. i can't tell you everything i did on that unexpected trip back home except that i felt so little. to the point of insignificance. i felt so secure and when calamities like this happens, it takes all the security in my system. i know im not afraid of such things but when it involves people that i so dearly love, it becomes a whole new thing.
i can talk all about how poor our government system is, how much we rely on foreign aid but i won't. (not yet) at that point, i care more about the welfare of my family. i don't rely on government, nor any of us should. but deep inside i am mad about the people who are in power. the ones who are in charge and unaffected by the typhoon and are doing so little. i can't help but question if they are even human. i guess they didn't realize the magnitude of the situation. they are just so SLOW at responding to the needs of the people they promised to help. if only i can be in charge and hasten the relief operations... i am really disappointed about the unorganized government system that my country is in. i hate politics and the whole show that goes with it.
3 days later i was on my way to Cebu. tired, sad and still sick. i looked out the window and saw a US navy ship. somehow, i felt good knowing that there are countries who are willing to help us in times of need. when i went online i found out how much help were getting outside the country. i am grateful that nations have united to help us. to everyone who did their part A BIG THANK YOU to you and us Filipinos will forever be grateful for all your help. :) to those who are still repacking, rebuilding and helping out THANK YOU SO MUCH. it is because of people like you that makes this world a better place. Bangon Pilipinas!
2 days after i got back from Ormoc, i got admitted at the hospital. it's my first time so this deserves a photo in my blog. was in there for 4 days. :-/ the only time i felt vulnerable physically. tsk. a reminder that i need to take care of myself before i can take care of others. funny how i have cared so much for others and realized that i need someone who'll take care of me. yes, that feeling is back again. tsktsk...
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