Long Term Initiatives to Typhoon Haiyan Victims

Aling Rosita, age 62, is the grandmother of Edelyn and Edchel, both day care pupils of Danao Day Care Center, one of the day care centers funded from the support of GlobalGiving donors in the province of Leyte, Philippines.

The life of Aling Rosita is noteworthy to examine.  Her hardworking character is not a common quality to grandmothers especially at her age.  She performs as the breadwinner of her family with his two granddaughters living with her whom she supports their needs and her sickly husband whom she also takes care for his needs and attention.  She works extra hours in her farm and in their house to meet the needs of her family especially for food.

Her two granddaughters Edelyn and Edchel have been living with her for more two years after their parents have parted their ways in separation due to misunderstanding.  The mother who is the daughter of Aling Rosita left the two siblings to Aling Rosita’s care.

Her family was among the thousands of families badly affected by typhoon Haiyan three years ago.  At the onset of the typhoon Haiyan in Nov 8, 2013, Aling Rosita was at their house waiting the typhoon to impact its might. She narrated that three days before the super typhoon hit their place, she heard over a radio set, warning the residents that the typhoon is very strong.  She could still remember that the announcer was saying that “magbutang kamo tubig sa palanggana unya tutuki ninyo electric fan, kun unsa mahinapo sa tubig, mao kuno kakusgon sa bagyo.” (put a water in a pail and place a running electric fan, what will happen to the water is how strong the typhoon is).

Early morning of Nov 8, the typhoon hit their place.  Her daughter and her granddaughters cried in panic.   Her daughter’s husband was almost carried away by the superb wind.  Good enough he was able to hold on to a tree trunk that saved him.    Aling Rosita and her husband would have been carried away when the strong wind hit them had they not able to hold on to a wooden post. “Basta ato na bagyo wala pa ko kakita adto pa, kay nagbagyo man gamay pa ako diri makapareho ha ato na bagyo, adi na bagyo ang makusog kusogay.” (Ever since from my childhood, it was the first time that I experienced such a very strong typhoon).

Life for Aling Rosita after the typhoon was so difficult.  Her small house made of light materials was completely decimated. Coconut trees and other crops in the farm were destroyed.  She alone made an effort to set up her dwelling out of the available materials left in her surroundings.  At that time her husband was sick and so she had to secure a place so her husband could rest. Good enough she was able to store some rice and potable water that was still in tacked after the typhoon that made them survived for few days.  She was thankful that relief food sent to their barangay where she availed a handful of it as many of her fellows in the barangay grabbed for their share. 

She was afraid that if such typhoon would come again she would die.  Her strength of survival was for her grandchildren that she could still help them to continue their studies that someday they would live a better life. “Para ha akon pamilya, it akon masakiton na asawa na makakuan ko pa maagapan, it akon mga apo, makabulig ako hira pagbuhi kay baga waray man (I got my strength to survive for my sickly husband that I could still help him, my grandchildren, to continue help them, no one will help them except me).

Three years after the typhoon, Aling Rosita still taking care of his two grandchildren.  She has slowly recovered from the destructions brought by the typhoon.  She got a house made of local materials donated by an INGO to typhoon victims in the community. She earns their living from the produce of her farm.  On occasion, she would engage herself in doing farm labor works for 130.00 pesos (around 2.77 USD) a day to buy other needs.  Her daughter, the mother of her two grandchildren who worked in an internet café job occassionaly would send money for his grandchildren’s needs to buy milk. 

Edelyn and Edchel continue their schooling at a day care center constructed through the funding of GlobalGiving.  “Dako na damo ito nabulig ha akon apo, kay ang kuan mga supplies, mga tsinilas.  Waray sa una mapaso, karon diri na mapaso kay baga maluag na hira baga diri na hira damo sa sulod ha eskwelahan, may ada na electric fan diri na mapaso” (Before the center was hot, now it’s not hot anymore because the space is big and wide, there is an electric fan inside), described Aling Rosita of the new day care center.

“Kay ada nga tanan, adat mga mulayan, an day care dako ito kabulig ha amon tapos han feeding sa inyo to feeding, amo ton gihap dida mga bata nangangaon han tanan.  Oh dako na save, waray nako makapalit hin bag, waray nako makapalit hin ira tsinilas kay may tsinilas na hira, mga krayola dako na iton bulig (Everything are there, there are toys.  The day care center is a big help to us. Then you also have feeding program that all kids have eaten. We save a lot from our budget, we did not buy bag, we did not buy slippers because there are slippers provided, crayons, other supplies. It help us a lot). Said a contented Aling Rosita.

“Ang masiring nla damo nga salamat an inyo paghatag na mga bulig, maupay inyo pagdara, maupay hit iyo pagkuan it ira pagtudro ha ira nakabulig gihapon kamo dako kun baga komento ha ira pagkabata, damo ira hin ipagkanumat, amo ini didto kami ini maupay to didto amo tro ira masiring ha iyo.  Amo kato na dako akon pasalamat na ada kamo naga suportar ha amon.” (What I can say is thank you so much of your help, you manage it well. The teaching method is good. It has a good impact to the children at their young age they won’t forget it, they would tell it when they grow up that they have a good school.  That is why it is our great gratitude that you are there for your support.)  Said a very thankful Aling Rosita.

We would like to inform our dear GlobalGiving donors that the day care centers funded from your donations got an accreditation certificate from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) of the Philippine Government after the accreditation process was recently conducted.  It means that the day care centers have complied all the basic requirements by DSWD, the agency mandated to supervise and regulate the operation of day centers in the country.

Again, in behalf of the families, parents and children that benefited the impact of day care centers, a million thanks from them.  Let us continue supporting them.  Many destitute Filipino children are in dire need of your support.

Thank you.   

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