We will continue to hear horror stories in the wake of the devastation inflicted by typhoon Yolanda on Eastern Visayas, particularly Tacloban in Leyte and Guiuan in Samar. Riza, a niece of mine who works with the Tacloban fire department, related enough disturbing eyewitness tales to spoil anyone’s Christmas. But that’s nothing compared to what she and her co-workers have had to deal with.
Recovering decomposing remains of victims is enough to drive one to drink – which, according to her, was what they had to resort to at the end of a long day. To be able to sleep. To fight off the nightmares.
Two days ago, Riza posted this on FaceBook: “1 month since Yolanda and still haven’t finished the retrieval ops yet. Bukas ulit. Tsk!”
She also observed, with some resignation, that she had been told about the relief goods flooding Tacloban but she still had to see any. Of course, she hastened to point out that she and her fellow fire fighters may have been too busy retrieving dead bodies to line up for relief goods.
And with ghoulish humor typical of my clan, she added: “…but there’s a saying it’s better to give than to receive…and another new saying goes, ’IT’S BETTER TO RETRIEVE THAN TO BE RETRIEVED’ hehehe!”
This is the Filipino resilience that CNN’s Anderson Cooper talked about. The Pinoy’s ability to crack a joke in the midst of death and despair.
Death and despair can also bring out the best in people. The outpouring of generosity from all over the world, from governments and individuals, entertainment superstars staging fund-raisers and little kids cracking open their piggy banks to be able to contribute to the relief efforts. It’s just ironic that such caring and concern are manifested in the worst of times rather than the best.
The other night, over dinner with some old advertising friends, I heard a truly touching and inspiring tale resulting from the Tacloban tragedy. I’d rather have Tom Banguis, former CEO of AB Communications and now head of Media Force, tell it through an email that he subsequently sent me:
“From Despair in Tacloban to a Delightful Manila Welcome! – The title subject of this email just about summarizes the past week’s journey for a band of 4 very young brothers, rendered homeless and penniless by the storm surge in Tacloban, to the adoring response of an admiring, appreciative audience who were witness to their very first gig in Manila! Their renditions of 50s, 60s and even 70s music of the Beatles, Beachboys, Dave Clark 5, Bee Gees and other prominent bands of the era were effortlessly perfect, from the intricate instrumentation, to the demanding vocal harmonies! Those fortunate audience who saw their very first performance chipped in a surprisingly generous P37,000, led by Rannie Raymundo, himself a musician, as well as the other co-owners of Primos, a new music lounge at The Hub, Greenfield District (former EDSA Central), who gave the band the very first opportunity to showcase their talent!”
Tom had been asked by a former Johnson & Johnson client, Rey Fuentes, a Taclobanon, to help the young musicians who had survived Yolanda and had managed to find their way to Manila. Tom arranged an audition for them. Impressed by their talent, he pleaded with Bobby Caparas, GM of the Primos Music Lounge to allow them to play a set.
Tom’s inspiring tale continues: “When I walked into Primos early evening of the gig date, Bobby was all smiles and quite unexpectedly, Rannie Raymundo embraced and thanked me profusely for bringing the band to their place. Apparently, both of them had heard the band while doing the routinary sound check before gigs, and they were astounded even with the initial pieces that they heard. Importantly, Rannie had been looking for a way to help Tacloban survivors in a meaningful way, and he said, that as a musician himself, he finally found a group which he would be excited and happy to help!”
According to Tom, “the audience was so impressed; they started clapping wildly after every number and chipped in to the ‘donation box’ which the Primos management had provided! Nilo Raymundo, Rannie’s father who was in the audience, was so impressed with the band, he started a fund drive among his friends in the audience! He also promised to have suits tailormade for the band. Rannie, was so touched by the band’s story, but really so much more impacted by their virtuoso performance, pulled out a high-value ‘Vic Firth’ leather bag specially for drum sticks, which he has treasured for the past 18 years, and gave it to the band’s drummer.”
The young survivors, who call themselves the REO Brothers Band, are Ralph, (bass guitar) 17 years old; Reymart (rhythm guitar), 19; RJ (lead guitar), 21 years old; and Reno (drummer) 24. They are sons of Rey Otic, head of a family too poor to send the kids to school all at one time. They had to take turns, paying their tuition fees with earnings from their musical performances.
That night at Primos, at least two groups promised to hire the young musicians for their company events during the holiday season. They were also given Tuesday night slots at Primos, as regulars. But that wasn’t the end of it.
ABS-CBN learned about the band. As of this writing, a TV special, “Pagasa at Pagbangon” intended to raise funds for Tacloban, may have already been staged by the network at the Araneta Coliseum, featuring the REO Brothers, alongside top network stars. I was informed earlier that the plan was to install giant screens in Tacloban for the people to watch the spectacular. It would certainly have been an uplifting experience for my townmates.
The resilience and strength of character of the Taclobanons may be discerned in a song composed by a nephew of mine. Rex, elder brother of Riza, is a folk musician who placed at concerts and bars in Tacloban. He and his entire family were displaced by the typhoon but, mercifully, survived.
Upon arriving at my house in Manila, he took to his guitar and composed a piece that, perhaps, expresses the sentiment of my townmates. I’m reproducing the original Waray-Waray along with the English and Tagalog translation:
“Tindog Tacloban (Bangon Tacloban/Rise up Tacloban)
“An langit tigda nagsirom (Biglang dumilim ang langit/The heavens suddenly turned dark)
Waray buwas nga nakikit-an (Wala nang bukas na nakikita/No tomorrow in sight)
Guin palid an kalipay (Nilipad ang kaligayahan/Happiness was blown away)
Guin anod han sulog (Inanod ng alon/Swept away by the surge)
Mga bituon nagtutu-ok (Mga bituin umiiyak/The stars wept)
Napakiana kay ano (Nagtatanong kung bakit/Asking why)
Kay ano daw la kasugad (Bakit nga ba nagka-ganon/Why did this happen)
“Diri ka nag-uusaan (Hindi ka nag-iisa/You are not alone)
Adi ako ha im luyo (Nandito ako sa likuran mo/I’m right here behind you)
Bisan ano mahitabu (Kahit na anong mangyari/No matter what happens)
Adi kami nga masalo (Nandito kami para sumalo/We’re here to support)
“Chorus:
Tindog Tacloban (Bangon Tacloban/Rise up Tacloban)
Tindog Tacloban (Bangon Tacloban/Rise up Tacloban)
Ibalik an mga ngisi (Ibalik ang mga ngiti/Bring back the smiles)
Mga inop han kinabuhi (Mga pangarap ng buhay/The dreams of our life)
Pagla-om di mawawara (Pag-asa’y di mawawala/Hope will never fade)
Pagka urusa la kita (Magkaisa lang tayo/If we stand together)
“Bisan ano it kasubo (Kahit anong mangyari/Whatever may come)
May maulpot pa nga buwas (May darating pang bukas/There will still be another day)
It ak’ sugbong para ha imo (Ang masasabi ko lang sa iyo/All that I can tell you)
It im’ kasakit ak’ ginaabat (Nadarama ko ang iyong sakit/I can feel your pain)
Kada pitad dudunganan (Bawa’t hakbang sasabayan/With every step, I’ll be with you)
“An hinumduman aadi (Ang ala-ala narito/The memories are here)
Ha ak’ dughan aadi ka (Narito ka sa puso ko/You are in my heart)
Diri kita pababay-an (Hindi kita iiwan/I will not abandon you)”
Yes. Tacloban will rise again.
***
