Three years after this incident, many still experience trauma as they recall that fateful day when the unexpected storm surge happened. It was extremely catastrophic and I guess people were not really alarmed of a storm surge warning. What was a storm surge anyway? I thought it was better to tell them that a tsunami was coming. That way, they would have evacuated the areas much more quicker. Yes, the frightened residents stayed indoors... but that wasn't enough.

     My family and I were in our house in Cebu when that occurred and we could hear the howling of the mighty strong winds. It was almost a subtle scream. Roofs were pulled out from the houses and were sent flying as people tried to seek shelter. Everybody was scared for their lives. What more in the highly stuck cities and towns?

     Leyte's towns and cities were largely destructed. The cyclone literally swept everything clear of its path. The aftermath was incomprehensible as the massive damage reached an all time high. Cars were stacked one on top of the other, trees were knocked over, airports and supposedly evacuation centers were submerged by the storm surge....roughly 90% of the city was in an unbelievable wreck. Everyone was caught off guard. 2.5 million people were in dire need of food, looting was a common scene as they fought to survive. The city was pitch black and cold at night with no electricity. It was a real ghost town.  Logistical problems hastened the relief operations.

     This has opened our eyes to what defines and restores faith in humanity. The whole world watched as this place tried to recover with aid from all over the world being sent. There was an out pour of generosity, prayers and concern. And in a rare occasion, almost all people actually forgot issues about culture and race and simply gave a helping hand.

     Almost everyone. Here the Filipino people have witnessed footprints of government's sheer decade-long corruption. Monetary aid was not all being distributed and imports were not given to people if tax was not paid. This magnified the effect of the typhoon. People tried to board rescue planes out of desperation. Prisoners who escaped raised safety concerns and the situations was aggravating to the people. Foreign support did not go where they were supposed to. Months later, rebuilding and rehabilitation only became a breeding ground for graft. And that's only a glimpse of what's going on.

     Three years after, we remember Yolanda. What exactly has been done? On what basis can they consider rebuilding to be finished?  Only a 51-percent regeneration was noted last year, 2015. Will it get better this year? As long as people are sleeping in substandard housing and livelihood has not been stabilized, as long as people are not provided what has been long due and corruption is feeding on the needy. It can never thought of as done.

     Kudos to the people who still smile despite everything they have gone through. 

xx,

Michelle

Some photos from the relief op. in Bantayan after the typhoon that was conducted by Lions Club - Cebu.

stats taken from :
www.reliefweb.net
www.wikipedia.com