Faith in Humanity RESTORED – Survivor’s Story from Super Typhoon Yolanda / Haiyan
Below is a heart breaking, yet inspiring story of a woman who lost it all from the super typhoon Yolanda / Haiyan, yet was still willing to give what little she had.
Survivor’s Story from Super Typhoon Yolanda / Haiyan – WOW
I fell in line for 8 hours at the Tacloban City Airport.
I had not taken in any drink for the last 24 hours and hadn’t eaten anything. I was very hungry, very thirsty and very tired.
And then I sat by a bench, next to a woman, a young mother. She had a kid, around 8-years-old. I asked her what her name was, she said “Nelia.”
She saw my water container was empty, so she fished out, from her relief pack… the bag with her… she said: “drink.”
Because I was SO thirsty, I immediately took the water since she offered it. I hadn’t drank the water yet as we started to talk. I said: “Ma’am, what are you doing here?”
She said, “I got in line to get relief packs.”
“Where is your family?”
“We were there at the Astrodome (that collapsed during typhoon) when the typhoon happened. “
Actually, one of her kids, is still there at the Astrodome, but is now a corpse, and she’s missing two children. She has five kids, her husband is a fisherman.
Her husband, herself and their kids, all started to drown at the same time. She was holding her youngest baby, she told me, a 2-year-old baby girl.
She said: “The last thing I heard my baby say was – ‘MAMA’ then I lost my hold of her.”
The next day, when she saw her daughter again, she was dead.
I asked: “What do you plan to do?”
She said: “I don’t have money to bury them, so maybe we’ll just let them be together.”
Meaning she at least hopes that her baby girl will be buried in a mass grave along with the hundreds of other dead people.
She said: “At least there, I can visit my baby. My other two kids, I still can’t find.”
I could not fathom or think of, how one mother, who lost her kids, and had to wait hours to get a relief pack, was willing to give me, a bottle of water. Me, who could have gone back to Manila. I knew I was going to go back to Manila, I knew I was going to be ok.
But her, who lost her house, almost died, lost her kids, was willing to give me that bottle of water she had lined up hours for.
I said… well I gave back the bottle of water of course… how thick skinned am I if I still took that.
But I gave her back the water and I said: “Please keep it, you need this more than I do.”
Because honestly, the contents of the relief packs, even if she fell in line five times, it still wouldn’t be enough for her. That was one week ago, and I feel like she still hasn’t eaten til now.
I said: “Ma’am, I’m leaving now.”
She asked: “Where are you going?”
I said: “To Manila.” And I asked: “Ma’am, do you want me to tell people your story?”
She said: “Yes, and please tell people to help me find my babies.”
It was a promise I made I don’t even know if I’m gonna fulfill, I have no means. But if I can tell my stories to you, and if I can compel you to help, even just a hundred pesos like Vince said, the I think, I’ve helped in some way.
Each relief pack that we are giving out is for two weeks. It’s good for two weeks, the relief packs from World Vision.
I think, that’s a big deal for the people who need it.
Also we’re setting up child friendly spaces so that the children can be debriefed from the trauma that they experienced.
I’m humbly asking, to those who can help, please, this is a really important thing, no matter how much you can give.
Again, thank you so much Vince. Thank you thank you everybody.
Heart breaking yet inspiring story from a survivor of the super typhoon Yolanda / Haiyan, that will restore your faith in humanity somehow.
This story brought us all to tears. The strength people have shown along with the generosity, kindness and selflessness of those who already have nothing, is breathtaking.
#faithinhumanityrestored #hope
This was taken at the Blogapalooza event on Nov 16, 2013, where WhenInManila.com and OurAwesomePlanet.com were able to raise Php82,000.00 and donated it to World Vision and the #PiggyBankMovement for the victims of the super typhoon.
Here’s how you too can help – https://www.wheninmanila.com/verified-legit-ways-to-help-super-typhoon-haiyan-yolanda-victims-how-to-donate-or-volunteer-with-legitimate-organizations/
Survivor’s Story from Super Typhoon Yolanda / Haiyan – WOW
