Typhoon survivor now works as security guard

CEBU, Philippines - One month before the Tent City closes, some of the Yolanda survivors taking temporary shelter in Cebu City have already started working hoping to start anew.

Widower Bernardo Mita, 40 years old, works as security guard and earns P4,000 a month which he stretches for personal needs and that of his four children who have returned to Leyte to continue their studies since school reopened January this year.

“Gwardya-gwardya, sa private. Sa akong kaila sa may Colon. Akong amigo nagpasulod nako. Mantinil nalang ta ana kay wa may lain tang kapaingnan. Ang katunga ipadala sa akong mga anak, ang katunga akong igasto-gasto. Mautang pa gani,” Mita told The Freeman.

Mita is among the 33 residents of the Family Rehabilitation Center, a total of 194 population in 54 tents who are now working in Cebu.

A Waray native from Alang-alang town in Leyte, Mita used to be a street vendor in Cebu City, near Cebu Coliseum selling peanuts. He returned to Leyte after his wife died five years ago, and brought his four children now aged 13, 11, 9, and 8.

“Human sa bagyo, nanakay mi ug eroplano gikan sa Tacloban padung Cebu. Dala nako ako upat ka anak. Adtong musugod na balik ang klase, ako silang gidala balik sa Leyte kay desidido man sila mutiwas ug eskwela. Mao ako nalang isa diri sa tent,” Mita said.

Unlike other transients, he did not stay in any of the evacuation centers established in different barangays in Cebu City.

“Home-based mi. Didto mi sa akong amigo sa Tinago. Pagkadungog namo nga naay tent city unya pwede ra muapil ang wala sa evacuation center, nagpalista ko. Nadawat ra man pud,” Mita said.

Mita recognized the fact that the tent city will have to end in a month.

“Inig ka human dinhi, muuli siguro ko sa amoa. Kamao man pud ko mamanday. Mao ra tingali na akong buhaton aron mabuhi akong mga anak,” the grateful Waray said, adding he is very thankful to Cebuanos who have extended help to super typhoon victims like him.

Tent city in charge, Red Cross Lapulapu chapter president Vic Jay Gonzal, said the orientation they did to transients from Eastern Visayas was that their stay is temporary and eventually they will have to return to their home province.

“Tungod siguro sa trauma, majority dili na ganahan mubalik sa ilaha. We are trying to convince them that they will eventually have to go home,” Gonzal said.

Understanding the plight of the Yolanda survivors, he added that Red Cross is contemplating an extension of the Tent City.

“We are studying the possibility of extending but we have not really decided on the matter. We acknowledge that the city government is giving us three months. We started December 23 and it ends March 23. We still have to look for other ways if ever we decide to extend,”Gonzal explained.

Majority of settlers at the Family Rehabilitation Center are at working age from 20 years old to 59, there are 50 males and 57 females.  (FREEMAN)