Here in Manila, miles away from Leyte and Samar, we felt Yolanda’s wrath. Not only in terms of storm signal, but the pain of our kababayan as well.
It began on television as we watched waters starting to flood the streets of Tacloban City early Friday morning. Through their coverage, Atom Araullo and his team brought us along to Tacloban to witness the landfall of Yolanda. And then, we lost communication with them. No news. There was just darkness.
The initial death toll was three. Many of us gave ourselves a pat on the back that this time we were well-prepared for the super typhoon. However, at that time, we still haven’t heard from Leyte and Samar.
When reports started coming in — we were dumbfounded. It was the worst nightmare.
Bodies everywhere, and people screaming for help. Looting. Desperation.
We witnessed the agony, and we shared in their suffering.
A colleague compared Super Typhoon Yolanda to Pablo and Sendong.
Yolanda did remind me of Pablo that hit Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley, wiping out everything in sight. Coconut trees split in half, houses toppled over. Land left barren.
Sendong, on the other hand, killed many people in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan primarily because of the flash floods and landslides.
Personally, this was the most difficult coverage I’ve had because so many lives were lost. Everywhere I went, people were in need of consolation. It pierced my heart.
Yolanda did what Pablo and Sendong did, add to that the Zamboanga crisis, in the sense that there were reports of violence and the breakdown of peace and order. Pain. Agony. Grief and then, fear.
It was Ondoy, Pablo, Sendong and the Zamboanga crisis rolled into one.
It’s indeed one of the worst typhoons in the history of the earth. And it is so difficult for us to cope. No blaming. Just frustrated.
This is our Japan tsunami.
This is our Hurricane Katrina.
I can’t believe it’s only been just over a week. It seemed like it was taking forever for help to reach our kababayan. But thank God for finally aid is pouring in. It is reassuring that the whole world is with us in this struggle. From desperation, I am becoming more hopeful.
Out there, people are still waiting for help to reach them. I am praying that they remain steadfast.
But then again, we always have been a resilient people, and I remain faithful that we will overcome this.
It’s not just the people of Leyte and Samar, and the others devastated by Typhoon Yolanda that I’m talking about, but all Filipinos. Because we care, we have all become part of the lives of the survivors — and so has the rest of the world.
Anderson Cooper said on Twitter @andersoncooper: “The Philippines is an awesome country. I’m in awe of the strength and spirit of the people I’ve met.†In another post, Cooper thanked us.
“Maraming salamat for all you’ve shown us. Maraming salamat for showing us how to live. “
You’re welcome, Anderson. Maraming salamat to all the people of the world for caring about the Philippines.