MONDAY was met with a heavy heart, as the horrors of the tragedy that struck Central Visayas last Friday began to unfold.
Whether firsthand experience at the site or at home through the media, Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike shared the same sentiments — that of shock and sadness for the victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan (local name Yolanda) — the strongest storm to make landfall in recorded history.
We were aghast at the stories of devastation in Tacloban City and other towns in Leyte, in Guiuan Samar; in Coron, Palawan and in other Visayan provinces, which felt the rage of Yolanda.
We realized the gravity of the situation, as images and video footage showed how the massive storm reduced these beautiful and bustling towns into wastelands, and turned peace-loving townsfolk into distressed survivors, who had to scavenge (sometimes, even loot) for food, water and basic necessities, in order to survive.
Dead bodies still fill the streets of Tacloban and other towns in Leyte, while their grieving family members strive to survive on a day-to-day, fighting for life despite a general feeling of helplessness.
The death toll continues to rise, as more dead bodies are recovered from the site. From a hundred reported over the weekend, the numbers have risen to 2,000 deaths.
Earlier, The Philippine Red Cross estimated that the death toll could reach 10,000. Millions of lives are affected, with damages amounting to billions of pesos.
With no lines of communication nor electricity, meager supplies and the stench of dead bodies, survivors are becoming desperate.
This is yet another major setback for the Philippines, given that it is still recuperating from the 7.2 magnitude earthquake which rocked Bohol and Cebu almost a month ago on October 15.
But in the midst of despair, life must go on and hope springs eternal.
It is in the lowest of low moments that the Filipino bayanihan spirit becomes stronger and more resilient.
Various fundraising and relief drives for the typhoon victims have been put in place by Filipinos, both in the Philippines and abroad.
International organizations such as Red Cross, World Vision, Habitat for Humanity, World Food Programme, UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders, Care.org, Catholic Relief Services, ShelterBox, Salvation Army (to name a few) have also set up their own campaigns for donations.
There is also the overwhelming support from people across the world. Notable celebrities and world leaders also offered assistance through prayers and words of sympathy for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan. Pope Francis I and President Barack Obama in particular, took time from their prior engagements to encourage others to express support for the Philippines.
President Barack Obama said: “I know the incredible resiliency of the Philippine people, and I am confident that the spirit of Bayanihan will see you through this tragedy,” Obama said in a statement.
Pope Francis I asked his followers to join him in prayer and to do “concrete” deeds to help the victims of Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda.
Meanwhile, foreign aid continues to pour in as well. The Philippine government is thankful to those who pledged financial assistance for the relief operations. Malacañang expressed gratitude towards Filipinos around the world for “the show of solidarity that gives Filipinos comfort and a sense that they are not alone in their efforts to recover from the tragedy.”
#BangonPilipinas on posts showing the effects of Typhoon Haiyan trended worldwide on various social networking websites, telling the world that Filipinos will triumph over tragedy.
Bangon, Pilipinas (Rise, Philippines) has been the epithet of the Filipino spirit in these trying times and has been the mantra of every Filipino to recover from back-to-back catastrophes.
It is time to stand up once again, as a nation.
(AJPress)
