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[av_heading heading=’‘Yolanda’ survivor recalls super typhoon ‘horror’ ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY MERIANNE GRACE EREÑETA
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PASSI City – The 53-year-old Herman Olipendo of Sitio Lungaw, Barangay Imbang Grande can still vividly remember the day super typhoon “Yolanda” struck northern Iloilo exactly three years ago today, Nov. 8, 2013.
“Morning of that day, my wife Ester and I still went to work. But we went home early because of the bad weather,” Olipendo, a farm hand-tractor operator, told Panay News.
From their house made of bamboo and wood, the Olipendo couple transferred to his mother’s house about a hundred meters away; it was made of concrete and bamboo. They believed they were safer there.
“Kay kun indi kami maghalin, basi mahalitan kami,” recalled Olipendo.
But around 2 p.m. all of them transferred to a neighbor’s much sturdier house when the winds became stronger.
When the rains and howling winds started to weaken, Olipendo said he returned to his house. He was devastated. Despite being surrounded by trees, the house was still totally destroyed.
“Wala na kami nag tinir dugay sa balay sang neighbor namon. Gin kay-o kay-o ko ang balay namon. Biskan papag lang basta may matulugan kami ni misis,” said Olipendo.
Olipendo had two college children; they were in school when “Yolanda” struck Passi City.
His eldest daughter Irene was a graduating Mass Communication student at Central Philippine University while another daughter, Mia, was a third year Accountancy student at St. Vincent College of Science and Technology in Leganes, Iloilo.
Three years after the super typhoon, however, Olipendo has yet to finish rebuilding his house.
“Wala pa gid katibawas ah,” he told Panay News.
The Olipendo family was able to avail itself of the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) from the Department of Social Welfare and Development – P30,000 for his totally damaged house.
“Wala pa gid kami kabangon sa bagyo. Puros man gihapon utang,” said Olipendo.
He told his children they must find work after graduation so they could pay the family’s debts and finally complete rebuilding their house.
But Olipendo said he was thankful that Chameleon Association, Inc., a non-government organization, gave them roofing materials.
Daughter Mia was a scholar of Chameleon Association, Inc., too,
“Ang akon lang ya, mapatapos ko pa-eskwela mga bata ko, okey na ko. Kun ako lang, sa sitwasyon sang balay namon, okey na. Galing indi ko man matiis mga kabataan ko mag-istar sa amo ‘ni,” said Olipendo.
Data from Passi City’s Social Welfare Development Office (CSWDO) showed 5,809 families with totally damaged houses due to “Yolanda.”
On the other hand, 10,349 families had partially damaged houses.
DSWD gave P30,000 to each family with totally damaged houses. Those with partially damaged houses received P10,000 each.
According to Emily Panizal, CSWDO administrative aide, 1,168 families are still waiting for their ESA.
“They were the last one to process the needed documents,” Panizal told Panay News.
The 62-year-old Elma Yape of Barangay Jaguimitan, Passi City said her family has yet to recover, too, from the super typhoon’s destruction.
“Indi ko na mabalik ang dati. Ang mga sapat ko wala na,” Yape told Panay News.
Yape raised pigs and chickens for a living but slaughtered them all.
“Gin ihaw namon para makaon kay ti wala na gid pagkaon. Tapos ang pihak balay namon nag utang man di sa amon para may pagkaon man sila,” she added.
Yape’s house was totally damaged. She thought it was the end of the world.
“Sang adlaw sang ‘Yolanda’, nagtililipon kami diri nga magpamilya sa balay. Tapos gulpi lang nagdulom kag nagbaskog nag ulan,” she recalled.
Too much nervousness drove her to drink the whiskey of a son. She needed a drink to calm herself, she said.
“Nagsinggitan ako dayon nga ‘Amo na ini ang highlight!’” recalled Yape.
The canal near her house overflowed. The water entered her house.
Yape said husband Panchito was working in Nueva Ecija that time. She was in the house only with her children, her parents, some nephews and nieces.
“Na-trauma gid kami,” she said.
“Yolanda”, however, did not only bring bad memories, according to a resident of Barangay Alimuno, Passi City; it also brought lessons.
“Na tun-an ko nga kun may bagyo, indi gid gali pag ibali wala. Dapat handa gid kay wala ka kabalo ano matabo sa imo,” Corazon Mirasol told Panay News.
Mirasol recalled that before “Yolanda” made a landfall, they have neither stored food nor water.
“Budlayan gid kami pagkatapos sang bagyo – wala pagkaon, kuryente kag tubig,” Mirasol said.
Their house located near the national highway was partially damaged.
Through the ESA, Mirasol said she was able to buy materials to rebuild her house./PN
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