With days of no electricity, I was thinking for quite some time if I should be sharing this story on Hive. It has been a month since the storm hit our place and I thought this is quite late for this story to be posted. It took even more days to post, due to a dull internet connection after the super typhoon. We had no acces and even until now, we had a slob data network that cannot suffice at times. But anyhow, I have decided to share it with thoughts in my mind that if not now, then the next day, or the next days to come, hoping you get something out from this.
*Photo made from canva app
Beginning of the end | We already had so much in the year 2021, and it wasn't even finished yet until this day. The strike of Odette in the Philippines, affecting particularly in the areas of Visayas and Mindanao had ripped off too many houses and left families in disraught and pain, not knowing how or where to begin.
Just as when we thought the year could have been better as we nigh unto the end of 2021, the super typhoon has scarred thousands of people and left houses, infrastructures and so many properties wrecked after the onslaught.
The super typhoon 'Odette' with an international name of 'Rai' had its landfall in the areas of Visayas and Mindanao last December 16, 2021. It entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) 2 days before it wreaked havoc in the islands.
Before the Landfall —December 15, 2021
We knew it would come. We watched the news just as when it was nearing the PAR. Next days after, we knew nothing had changed —the storm had no plans in changing its direction. A day before its scheduled landfall, everybody seemed hightened for preparation. Some were doing groceries ahead and oacked everything ready for the disaster. In our work, we even had the center temporarily closed and advised patients to stay at home on the day of the announced landfall.
The Landfall —December 16, 2021
I was scheduled for a follow up check up in the nearby hospital around the city. I can still see so many people around the streets (which made me think, with no recent update from valid news, that maybe, just maybe, this typhoon would be tolerable) day's gloomy and dark, on and off rainshowers in the town and wind a little bit calmer. Not until in the late afternoon. Heavy dark clouds started to pool from the skies, you will notice a lot of people were in a hurry, all fast paced and trying to go home as soon as they could. Some stalls and stores in the city were closing, offices and work were cut half of the day.
We, on the other hand like all of the others managed to do some quick grocery run to stock some foods solely for later that night and the following day only, not expecting the famine would last for a week and now, a little more.
Since my sister was one of the few who werent allowed to go home early, we had to wait for her until 17:00 PHT. We had to even drop by at some opened stores as we get near home to buy some other supplies like candles and rice.
19:00 PHT, wind was blowing harder and we were rushing inside the house as we carry our groceries. We somehow managed to settle and ate dinner.
Every 30mins the wind blows harder. It was told it was to get stronger at 21:00 PHT. And so it did. It did not fail. From the inside, you could see the shades of everything that flew —leaves, twigs, branches, roofs! Everything that the whistiling wind could blow hard, it was all blown away.
We heard our roof banging open until it totally let go of its hold. Water was gushing inside the house, dripping from the ceiling. All of our things soaked and drenched with rainwater. It was as if it was running after us from the inside and we've got nowhere to go. But the agony was in waiting for the torture to end —that, nobody knows when and how.
We had to wait and let the storm pass for who knows when, sitting on our dining chair in a corner where there's no spot of dripping water. We had to sleep on the chair too for a few hours until the storm had passed.
*Managed to take only these 2 photos to save phone battery life
All things new | December 17, 2021, 3:00 PHT
We woke up to a numb body after hours of limited motion and same position. Storm has calmed now. So we felt at peace and finally gave in to our sleepy eyes and decided to sleep on one side of the bed that isnt soaked.
6:00 PHT, we awoke to my brother's voice who has already seen all the damages around the house and the nearby neigborhood. (He has not taken a sleep since 3am he told.) Though still sleepy, we all went out to check the damages. From the inside, all we can see are branches and leaves from fallen trees. The house was literally surrounded with trees. Outside, is even a disastrous look when we saw a quarter of our roof was blown away and our DIY kubo (hut) totally down. Both of which my younger brother had invested in from his savings for more than a year.
Here are some photos I managed to take after the storm:
Most trees that surrounds and separates the neighborhood are gone, so you can see houses even from afar. Mountains are now visible from our place. Places are more visible, even those that are far.
Where to start and how to restart is a big dilemma for everyone —from cleaning up to restorations. But the most devastating part is losing all the important resources that is useful in everyday —potable and safe drinking water and electricity.
What is next to come, nobody knows yet.
But as I look around, there's only one phrase that suddenly came to my mind repeatedly: He will make all things new." And from there forward, all the fragments of loss and devastation visible around has given me nothing but pigments of hope that all things will be nothing short of better, and best.
We will all rise up and come back again.
Wishing everyone a late Happy New Year instead (and a late Merry Christmas too? Lol) and hoping all our brothers and sisters affected by the typhoon are now in a better and safe space than the previous weeks.
Bangon ug Padayon, Cebu! (Rise up and go on, Cebu)
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On my next blog, I will be sharing our moments of recuperation and the things we have seen as we go around some parts of our town after the onslaught.
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Love and light!✨
Kach