MY PERSONAL RECOLLECTION WHEN YOLANDA STRUCK CALUBIAN...

The following is my short speech delivered during our first year commemoration of the devastation of Super Typhoon Yolanda

Fellow civil servants, good morning. Indeed, this is a very good morning for us today compared to what had happened the past year. I just would like to share to you my personal and family experience when super typhoon Yolanda struck Calubian last November 8, 2013. Before, many believed that number 8 could bring fortune to everyone, that when an activity is held on the eight day of any month it would bring luck or fortune to the celebrator. That is why my son scheduled their church wedding in the eight of November 2013. Why do we believe that number 8 is a lucky number? Because it shows sign of infinity, a never ending value so great that many believed it would give us limitless bounty. But after Yolanda, my belief has proven wrong.

One month before the big event in our family lives happened, everything were already set, invitations were already sent, caterer has already been ready, every details had already been planned. One week prior to the event, visitors coming from Cebu had already arrived simultaneous with the big news that super typhoon Yolanda had been forming in the east, that the news will definitely hit Visayan Region, and that it would landfall on the 8th of November, the very day the schedule of my son’s wedding. We were so worried, if we will postpone the event, we had to inform everybody that would be involved with the activity, caterer, sponsors, everybody else. I consulted my brother who is working with DOST since they are working with Project Noah which is closely monitoring with the typhoon, he clarified and assured that Yolanda would definitely hit Leyte and according to their monitoring it would definitely hit Leyte on the 8th of November. We then finally decided not to take a chance, we then finally informed everybody especially the caterer to indefinitely postpone the wedding depending on the damage brought by the typhoon. Instead of the wedding preparation, I actively participated in closely monitoring the typhoon together with the members of the MDRRMC. I even trace the probable path of the typhoon via internet and it would really hit Calubian.

On the dawn of the 8th of the November until early morning, that was Friday , the wind had started to gain momentum. I contacted again my brother if that was it “Mao na ba ning Yolanda”. He answered, “Di pa na mao, gikusokuso na ang Tacloban”. After few minutes, the wind has gained its peak , every tree standing surrounding my house has gone. And they all surrendered and bow down to the ground. I could even remembered my 2 year-old granddaughter sung every whistled of the wind “ Lord Patawad” because the rain had already been fallen in every corner of the house. That even at their early age they felt something strange. It was almost half day of uncertainty if my roofing could stand the strongest wind I ever experienced in my entire life. Paghangag gyod sa akong kusina, I thought my roofing had already been blown away, ang ako diayng punoan sa Mangga sa likod ang milukapa na. Mao diayng mihayag ang likod.

After the typhoon, everything has returned to basic, and the basic is HIM. We never have anything but Him, we cannot contact my sister in-laws family in Cebu because we have no signal of any network whatsoever, except the only one connection left, and that was to Him in heaven. And the connection left is through prayers, “nga unta mawala ang ilang kaguol sa nahitabo nato. Nga unta nahibalo sila sa atong kahimtang dinhi”. We were left isolated. No connection to the outside world. And the rest I remember is we again appreciate nature. Nga kung mohayag ang bulan malipay ta, kay Makita man kung dunay moagi nga mangyan, or badjao nga mosuroy sa gabii. But then, the disaster has just made as unified, strong and willing to sacrifice. In one leadership we were united to face the challenge, to deliver the relief goods to the needy so that once and for all , we could draw a smile in every faces of Calubianons.

May I end up my recollection with this new belief I had in mind, “Kung ang otso nga swerting numero matunong gani sa adlawng Martes or Biernes, mahimo kining dimalas. Martes petsa otso sa Enero nasunog atong commercial complex ug Biernes petsa otso sa Nobyembre naigo ta ni Yolanda. Maayo gani karon biernesa kay natunong ug siete. Daghang salamat ug maayong buntag natong tanan.