Mother, infant son survive mudslide

LEGAZPI CITY — A woman and her 10-month-old son were among those who survived the nightmarish mudslide that rampaged through villages at the foot of Mayon Volcano last Dec. 7, authorities.

Senior Inspector Rolly Esguerra, police chief of Sto. Domingo, Albay, said 37-year-old Lilian Balaoro was found clutching her son Gian when they were dug up by their neighbors inside their house in Barangay Buhatan six hours after the mudflow which was triggered by super typhoon "Reming."

Esguerra said mother and son were surrounded by the bodies of seven other people.

Balaoro’s husband Glen recalled that he was outside their house to rescue his mother, Merceditas, who was being swept away by the mudflow, when a big chunk of the hill overlooking their concrete house collapsed and fully covered their abode.

"I heard a strong noise. Then I saw our house already buried under the earth. I yelled for help from our neighbors and we dug into the rubble for five to six hours. Thank God, we found my wife and son still alive while all the rest were already dead," he said in the dialect.

He said he and those who tried to rescue his other family members had to endure the extreme cold while digging for over six hours.

"We did not mind anymore what might happen to us. That time, I was very sure that my wife and son were still alive," he said.

Esguerra said mother and son are confined at the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital here.

The mudslide left more than 500 villagers dead and more than 700 others missing.