I am certain, nobody calculated that the storm will induce a destruction as massive as being strucked by a nuclear bomb. To the locals, having experienced countless typhoons, they thought it would just be another storm passing through the islands of Leyte and Samar. My family and I thought so too. I did not have yet a better understanding on the gravity of the situation, until i saw TV Patrol on TFC. The first glimpse of the aftermath in Tacloban, the ground zero, left me dazed and confused. Having grown up in the region, i could barely recognized the place that was once so familiar. The streets were lined with fallen trees and cars thrown like tumble weeds. Debris of every type and size filled every corner there is to see. Dead bodies littered the streets, uncollected. People were getting hungry and desperate. Its as if I was seeing things in a different time and place. It was no different in my hometown Tanauan. The scenarios were just as seemingly hopeless and devastating as it was in Tacloban City. Communities of several thousands of people were flattened with an enormous loss of lives, property and infrastructure. The effect was really unexpected and unprecedented. The horror of the storm's wrath continued to unfold day by day before my very eyes with the vivid footages and photos of the media and social networks. CNN was feeding a more in depth coverage. And it was, oh my Lord, very painful to perceive.
The past four days after the storm's rampage were spent with sleepless nights, endless crying and anxiety. Not knowing if my family survived this horrific ordeal was way beyond my capability to deal with adversities. Keeping my composure and sanity at work and home was a struggle. I prayed like i never prayed before, and held on to the little hope that was left of me. I was basically tired, wearied and broken. People and friends have been trying and striving to pacify me as I weep like a lost child. It was after five days when i finally acquired an information about my family's whereabouts. They made it, alive. Praise God! The sweetest piece of news i have ever received in my entire life.
A couple of weeks after the strongest storm on record left my province in ruins, communication lines has slowly been restored. Listening to my sister and my childhood friend as they narrated and recounted their worst encounter with a typhoon, made me teary-eyed. They survived the tsunami-like storm during the onslaught of the typhoon. Each of them endured and withstood the storm's fury and all came out alive and in one piece. Like a thief in the night, the monstrous typhoon caught them off guard. They've been to hell and back, and now recuperating. Each has their own story to tell on hope and despair.
“God must be somewhere else when Yolanda struck,” Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte was quoted saying after he saw the devastation in Leyte. I wanted to believe the same thing too. I wanted to bombard God with questions on where was He and why did He allow all these to happen. But NO, who am i to doubt God's will? As a human being, i cannot and never will i be able to fathom the depths of His wisdom. It would take me a lifetime and beyond to discern and rationalize the whole concept of what He has done. God is too wise to make a mistake. I believe we are being tested by God to see how strong and how far our faith would go. Faith in Him should not only be during good times, but precisely in bad times as well.
Inspite and despite of, God is genuinely good. There will always be a reason to thank Him. Everything happens for a reason. Sounds cliche i know, but an absolute truth. Life must go on. We pick up the pieces and make do with what's left. Let us move on. May it be forward or backward, it doesn't really matter as long as we are moving on, slowly but surely. In time, God will heal spirits that has been crushed, beaten and broken.
Lessons learned. I came to realize that a beautiful life now means having an intact family. It no longer means having a house, cars and all other material things that goes with it. They are just but fleeting and temporary. No color, creed, race and distance can derail unity and love. The outpouring of assistance from nations all over the world and international communities are just overwhelming. Back home, help is visible and felt in almost every corner, may it be big or small. We are after all children of God in one planet.
I yearn to see my place snap back to its old form, happy and livable. I long to see its people back on their feet and with smiles on their faces once again. I pray for better days. I pray for complete healing and peace of mind. Its a long road to recovery but we'll get there, one day.
Lastly, i hope to see McDonalds (after being wiped out) rise again in downtown Tacloban. One of my simple joys in life. Hahaha.. :)
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| San Juanico Bridge - connecting the islands of Leyte and Samar |
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| Leyte Landing Memorial Park |
Note: All photos were taken from the web. The blogger does not claim ownership of the photos used in this blog.
I enjoyed reading your reflection on the typhoon Lei. I am really touched at your understanding and acceptance of God's will because this too is my belief. I hope you continue to write, I feel like I am sitting with you and chatting like before :)
ReplyDeleteHi Alma. Thank you for taking the time to read and appreciate my work. I write when i can because it makes me feel good. It speaks so much of who i am as a person. Miss having you around. :)
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