Journalist recalls Yolanda ordeal

CEBU, Philippines - Days before super typhoon Yolanda pummeled the island of Samar with devastating ferocity, 39- year old journalist Ricky Bautista of the Philippine Star was busy reinforcing his house located at sitio Bangon in Barangay Canmanila of Basey town in Samar.

At 7 a.m. on Nov. 8, Yolanda unleashed her wrath on Basey and nearby areas leaving indescribable damage aggravated by 10- to 30-meter-high storm surges. In a series of text messages, Bautista described his experience noting that his reinforced house felt like being massively pelted by stones and sand when Yolanda passed through.

“Sa lakas nito (Yolanda) parang buhawi na anytime ay pwedeng liparin ang bahay ko,” he said, adding that he secured his wife and two boys, aged 5 and 7, by staying under their dining table, praying.

Bautista, also the editor-in-chief of Samar Weekly Express, was reached by PromdiNews on Sunday after getting his contact number from Ariel Sebellino, executive director of the Philippine Press Institute (PPI).

A journalist for 18 years, who covered a number of disasters including the aftermath of an earthquake in Bohol, Bautista said Yolanda was different and its devastation comparable to hurricane Katrina in the United States.

“This is the most tragic and devastating natural intervention I have seen, it can be compared to Katrina in the U.S.,” he said.

Bautista, describing the devastation left behind by Yolanda, said that in his village, only four houses were left standing. “In my village at least apat lang bahay na natira nakatayo including mine.

Sa coastal barangays ng Bacubac and San Antonio, both facing Tacloban City, 90 percent of houses, of light materials and concrete, were wiped out. In Brgy. New Road, ganun din. in Jinamic island, it is reported na konti lang ang naka-survive,” he said.

The devastation came despite the preparations of local government units. Bautista said: “Obviously our town and the rest of Samar were prepared for Yolanda. All LGUs and local DRRMCs have readied rescue, relief, evacuation centers.

“But we were caught off-guard by the storm surge with waves as high as 10 to 15 meters or lampas pa sa taas ng niyog or kasing-taas ng two-storey building,” he said, adding that if not for the storm surge, Basey would have less damage and casualties.

“Kung lakas ng bagyo lang, baka walang ganoong patay. Pero dahil sa storm surge or tsunami-like waves, marami ang namatay. Our town of Basey was wiped out by water. Public market, tourism office, municipal hall, PNP building, evacuation centers, commercial establishments were all wiped out,” he said.

Basey and the rest of Samar island are still mourning but the agony is far from over. “It’s been more than a week, dead victims are still left untouched in some areas, some are buried like dogs in Basey. No proper accounting of dead bodies, some areas are still asking for relief from government,” said Bautista.

He said Yolanda also took its toll on community press and journalists. He himself was not able to send any stories for the Philippine Star after November 7 because power lines were down. This means, community newspapers and radio stations will have to wait a little longer to resume operations.

“Local papers and radio are still off to this time. They have problem on management personnel, working press, office supplies, machines, and electricity,” Bautista said. —-Dino Balabo/PromdiNews