Nearly a month after Typhoon Mankhut (Typhoon Ompong as known in the Philippines) hit a once thriving mining community in Antamok, Itogon, Benguet, Philippines, all there is, is a gloomy feeling.
Passing by the damaged roads, houses and mining facilities, all you see are people trying be strong to get their lives back to normal, although not sure what normal is, knowing that life will never be the same again. Residents are salvaging whatever is left that can still be used.
Passing by the makeshift bridges and eroded pathways, reconstruction is still a far cry.
Many house are totally wiped out and many had their foundations shaken which makes it no longer safe to live in.
Relief operation from both the local government and Non Government Organizations (NGOs) have already reached the people and hope that people get back to their knees the soonest possible although as of now the people don't know what that means because mining operation has been stopped by the Government.
Like many other places that suffered the same fate during the onslaught of Typhoon Mangkhut, this is just one of the hard hit communities.
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