Long Term Initiatives to Typhoon Haiyan Victims

          Grief can be a roller coaster, full of ups and downs, highs and lows, but, for Joey, 34, he had to struggle to stand despite all the painful circumstances that were pulling him down.

           In 2013, his young wife died of a bone disease leaving with him their three-year old daughter, Marjorie. The loss triggered a host of worries and fears. He feared about his own mortality, of facing life without her, and the responsibilities he had to face alone.

            As if her death was not enough to bruise him, the onslaught of super typhoon Haiyan before the end of the same year destroyed their properties including their house. Without anything left, his fears tripled, not knowing how they could survive. Still, he had to be strong for his only child.

            Days after the catastrophe, he rebuilt their house using wood that they gathered from the pile of trash everywhere. A galvanized iron sheet covered them from the rain. Food, too, was scarce. They largely rely on coconuts for water and food to endure the ordeal. He was just thankful that his daughter was alive since several people died in their area near the sea.

             Today, Joey has slowly recovered from the losses. He tries his best to provide Marjorie her needs. “An akon la baga damo ko hin sideline  kay baga pakabuhi, danay ako sumulod han construction, an akon man la magsulod ko han construction kon ano makakaya trabahoon waray naman  hadto naman  ha dagat,  kunwaray ha dagat adi naman pagkuan ha  pawod buhat amo lang hadto. (I have had several jobs to earn a living. I am a construction worker and a fisherman. If there’s no work at the construction, I go fishing. If there’s no catch, then I’m at home, making nipa roofs.),” he said with a sigh.

            There are better days especially when he comes home to his loving daughter.“An akon kuan ginkuku an kusog an akon anak kay syempre kuan ko sinin pa nga akon kukuan tak  trabaho makukuan lang hiya hiya man nakakabawi tak guol, tak kagul-anan , hiya man la , maaram hiya kung guol ako , minamasahi bungkog amo man liwat  ton hiya . Nasiring to hiya Papa guol ka no? Ingon ko “oo” sigi kulob kuno kay mamasahian amo man la to hiya maaro lang to hiya piso, dos pagkatima pagmasahe. (My strength comes from my child. Sometimes, I’m so busy with work and she senses whenever I feel down. She tries to compensate the sorrow that I feel by giving me a back massage. She would tell me, “Papa, you are sad. Go lie down and I will massage your back. After that, she would ask for a peso or two),” he shared laughing.

           Marjorie currently attends the day care program at the school building that GlobalGivers helped establish for the Haiyan children victims. Parents like Joey are thankful for the support citing that the provision of school supplies also helped them save their money for other needs.

           “Malaki talaga ang aking pasasalamat. Sana damo pa nag iyong mabuligan , damo pa iya matagan sugad ha amon nangangailangan salamat kaayo , damo damo na salamat. (I am very thankful. I hope that you can reach out to more people who need your help just like us. Thank you so much).”