ILOILO City – “Baw, grabe ang hangin, Dios ko!” exclaimed 69-year-old Bella Pausan who thought that at her age she had already seen the strongest of typhoons.
But even the more than 20 years that she had lived in the coastal barangay of San Juan, Molo district – a storm surge-prone area – had not prepared her for “Odette”.
The super typhoon was so unlike the countless typhoons that had hit this city – it surprisingly brought less rainfall but more than made up for it by unleashing destructive, howling winds.
“Guba amon balay, wasak gid to ya. Wala kami tulogan,” Pausan told Panay News while trying to shake off her nervousness at Baluarte Elementary School in Molo where she and 11 members of her family sought shelter.
Hours before hitting Iloilo, “Odette” on Thursday afternoon was already packing sustained winds of 260 kilometers per hour with gusts of over 300 kilometers per hour. Its strength was felt between 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. on Friday.
How long would they be staying in the school? She had no idea.
“Waay kami kwarta ibakal kawayan. Pigado kami,” said Pausan whose family made fishing their source of living for decades.
Pausan and her family heard from radio reports that “Odette” was huge thus on Thursday afternoon (Dec. 16) they decided to leave their house near the coast for Baluarte Elementary School, a city government-identified evacuation center.
The following Friday morning, Pausan’s daughter returned to Barangay San Juan to check their house – made of light materials such as bamboo – only to find out that it was gone with “Odette’s” wind.
“Baw grabe ang hangin, Dios ko!” exclaimed Pausan while raising her eyes to the heavens.
According to the senior citizen, every time there’s an incoming storm her family routinely moves to Baluarte Elementary School but would return to their seaside abode after the storm has left.
But why?
Where would they go, she answered. Their house is conveniently near the sea which gives them livelihood despite the storm surges they have to deal with during inclement weather, she explained.
DISPLACED
Data from the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) showed 61 families (composed of 259 individuals) from four Molo barangays temporarily sought shelter at Baluarte Elementary School.
These barangays were the following:
* San Juan – 52 families (224 individuals)
* North Baluarte – one family (two individuals)
* South Baluarte – seven families (26 individuals)
* East Baluarte – one family (seven individuals)
These evacuees who were mostly residing in high-risk areas such as near the shore or riverbank were provided with food by the CSWDO. Private donors also helped.
To maintain peace and order at Baluarte Elementary School, the Iloilo City Police Office posted cops there.
City Health Office personnel were also sent there.
THEY LOST EVERYTHING
Evacuee Mary Grace Mabanes of Barangay Boulevard, Molo said her family lost everything to “Odette” and so they have to stay at Baluarte Elementary School for the time being.
They have to start from scratch.
“First time ini nga matabo sa amon,” said Mabanes.
Her family actually secured their house – which was on the riverbank – with a rope (lubid) so that it won’t be swept away should the river overflow.
But it wasn’t the strong river current that destroyed their house which was made of light materials but the strong winds.
“Totally damaged gid ang amon balay kaina sang aga sang hangin,” Mabanes told Panay News.
Her priority was the children’s safety said Mabanes, so she failed to secure any of her valuables.
She also admitted not heeding the city government’s advice for preemptive evacuation on Thursday. This was because her family was so used to typhoons and all those years they were never severely affected, she explained.
But not this time. Thus yesterday morning Mabanes and her family moved to Baluarte Elementary School – when “Odette” had already left Iloilo City.
“Sa pila ka tuig halin pa sang nagsugod kami istar sa Boulevard, wala kami nakaagi sini. Sang una may amo na nga kabaskug pero dugay na. Amo to ang Bagyo Ruping,” said Mabanes.
APPEAL FOR HELP
Fifty-three-year-old evacuee Mary Lyn Gallardo of Barangay Boulevard appealed for help.
“Gamit wala gid kami dala. Nagkalaguba sa sobra nga hangin,” she said.
Gallardo admitted they were unpaired for what happened. They were so used to past typhoons that never necessitated an evacuation, she explained.
“Odette” turned out to be different, said Gallardo who, for the first time, saw her properties becoming typhoon debris.
“Naglupad ang atop kag dingding namon, nagkalawasdak sa hangin,” said Gallardo.
Her family ended up at Baluarte Elementary School, and this is her appeal:
“Tani makay-o amon balay para makapuli na kami. Kahuluya man nga ma-istar kami sa balay sang iban kay pigado man sila, kapin pa may pandemic,” said Gallardo.
STILL THANKFUL
Despite losing her house, 52-year-old Jenalyn Francisco of Barangay Boulevard remained grateful.
All her family members were safe, she said. They sought shelter at Baluarte Elementary School, too.
“Wala gid ko mag-expect nga maguba ang amon balay sang tuman kabaskug nga hangin,” said Francisco.
Thirty-six-year-old evacuee Jessie Cahilo of Barangay San Juan, Molo was just as grateful. Their house was only partially damaged.
“Pasalamat lamang ako nga wala gid maubos guba. May ulian pa kami,” said Gallardo./PN
