BY JEN BAYLON
A DECADE has passed since Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) etched a day of mourning into the heart of Philippine history. As we honor the memory of those lost on that fateful November 8, 2013, the echoes of their absence resound in the stories of courage and community that emerged from the ruins.
With unprecedented fury, Yolanda made landfall, tearing through homes and lives with winds surpassing 315 kilometers per hour and storm surges cresting at six meters. It first plowed Guiuan, Eastern Samar, before raging through Leyte, Cebu, Northern Iloilo, and other parts of the Visayas region.
In its wake, the storm left a haunting tableau of loss: over 6,000 lives vanished, infrastructures crumbled, and dreams shattered under the weight of relentless surges.
Yet from the rubble rose tales of survival — stitching together the fabric of a resilient spirit that defies the darkness of calamity. In Barangay Juaneza, Sara, Iloilo, three survivors recount the harrowing experience with a reflective poise that only time can bestow.
Rosa Baylon, 66, recalls the terror, her voice a testament to both vulnerability and strength.
“I saw that (my children) Reydan, Maybel, and Bebs were already rushing to evacuate to the school because our house was destroyed. I joined them, and it was a truly frightening experience,” she shares, her memories vivid yet tempered by the passage of time.
Rosa felt like it was the end of the world.
“I would not want to go through it again, she says. “At the school, we huddled next to the comfort room, as even the school was on the verge of collapsing. Our 20 sacks of rice and our clothes got wet.”
Rosa’s tale of rebuilding — of gratitude for the assistance received and the communal efforts — is echoed in her proud declaration of recovery.
Generous private individuals and nongovernment organizations provided assistance, including relief goods and tools for rebuilding.
“By God’s grace, we rebuilt our house, and my eldest child worked in Hong Kong for one year just to help us reconstruct our home. After 10 years, I can proudly say that we have recovered. We now have a comfortable house, and I continue to serve as a village councilor (kagawad), dedicated to serving our community in Juaneza despite the challenges we faced during the typhoon.”
Lorely D. Monforte, a 52-year-old teacher, weaves her narrative with a poignant mix of fear and faith. Amidst the siege of wind and rain, her family sought refuge in the strength of their togetherness.
“We stayed inside the house, praying, while the wind and rain intensified,” she recounts.
She was with her husband and their two children. Her father, who was 80 years old at that time, was also with them.
“Around 10:30 in the morning, the wind and rain gradually intensified. My siblings and their families took refuge in our home because theirs was in the middle of a field. My father started closing all the windows and doors because he saw that the trees looked like they were about to fall on our home,” she recounted.
The bedroom and living room were not spared, and Lorely’s extended family was cramped in the kitchen until the storm passed.
“We are grateful that nothing worse happened. We received a lot of relief goods after Yolanda. As a government employee, I received cash aid from the Office of the President, and it helped in rebuilding our house. After 10 years, we have moved on and continue to improve our lives,” said Lorely.
“Rona”, whose name has been a beacon of hope for many, parallels the on-screen dramas often deemed too dramatic to be real with her lived experience. The tale of seeking shelter under a table, a tableau of desperate prayer and the eventual salvation found in the community’s embrace, mirrors the narrative arc of countless others who found solace in solidarity.
“I saw roofs flying, including ours. Prayer was our only weapon. I cried and prayed for the safety of everyone and everything. When the wind subsided, we evacuated to the school,” she says.
For two months the school became their temporary shelter.
“Life was difficult without electricity. But after 10 years, we have fully recovered because of people with golden hearts who helped us,” she adds.
As we observe this poignant anniversary, the legacy of Yolanda is not just one of calamity, but also of the unyielding resolve to rebuild, restore, and remember. The government’s pledge and the concerted efforts of various organizations towards enhancing disaster preparedness serve as beacons of progress, ensuring that the lessons carved by Yolanda’s gales are deeply ingrained in the nation’s consciousness.
The resolve that communities displayed, the helping hands extended in times of need, and the shared resilience stand as monuments to human solidarity. Let us continue to weave these threads of compassion and preparedness into the fabric of our nation’s spirit, creating a tapestry robust enough to weather any storm.
As we look back, we not only mourn the loss but also celebrate the indomitable spirit that the tragedy could not defeat. In remembering the fallen, we nourish the roots of our future resilience.
As we look towards the horizon, let us anchor our hope not just in words, but in actions that fortify our readiness and unity, honoring the past by safeguarding the future. Together, may we ensure that the legacy of Yolanda — its stark lessons and its inspiring testament to human fortitude — remains a cornerstone of our collective journey forward./PN
