ECOWEBPH

“Didn uto mapungulaula paruman sa kabaya o Allah” he underscored.  [Allah will not allow it to happen again.]

An unfortunate experience is enough and not worthy to be encountered the second time around. Just as when it happens for the first time, the aftermath would be as destructive and more heartbreaking because of the question on how do we pick ourselves up again.

Every roadblock is a close manifestation of an endpoint, and when all is said and done, you can never cross the other side. However, the thing about thinking beyond limits and breaking the barriers is that you gamble your life with the faith that you have and save what’s beyond that line.

This is why giving up is not even a thought to the brave minds of the people who’s willing to break those barriers and be resilient in any ways possible.

That’s how tragic the damage of the raging waters that flushed the villages of Mindalano and Calimudan which caused distress to its people but still winning at second chances. This initiated EcoWEB and its partners to take a move and assist the affected community with the reinforcements they ought to think.

Reminiscing the experiences of Tropical Storm Vinta, let’s give life to the people’s testimonies on how they bounced back to the tragedy and helped one another with strong faith and hold firmly to the culture that they always have inside.

Local Government’s Action

Alinor H. Mitamadong is a dedicated barangay official. With their efforts to nurture their terms with programs to uphold, it surely gives benefit to the ones they serve.  But he has never realized, that with just one wave of the nature’s wrath will turn the tables into a painful experience.

“Noong dumaan na Vinta, biglaan yun eh. Sa simula, hindi namin inaakala na tatama yun sa amin kasi buong buhay ko hindi tumama ang ganon kalakas na bagyo. Noong kasagsagan ng bagyo, nag-bayanihan kami. Tinipon po namin ang ibang kasapi ng mga barangay, mga volunteers, mga kagawad at mga tanod na handang tumulong na walang kapalit. Sumugod kami sa ibang purok habang hindi pa mataas ang tubig.” he said.

[Vinta just happened in a sudden. In the beginning, we did not think that it will hit the village because I haven’t experienced such strong storm in my entire life. During the storm, we were helping one another. We gathered some officials, volunteers and village police that are ready to help without anything in return. We rushed to some areas while the water is not yet high enough.]

He emphasized that the EcoWEB team arrived not just bringing the relief items, but also the compassion to serve the people. Some of the volunteers have grouped the survivors and witnessed how each group get to understand every one’s situation.

“Napakarami naming natutunan sa EcoWEB. Hindi namin alam kung paano haharapin ang susunod na mga sakuna. Pero dahil sa kanilang tulong na ma-train kami kahit sa maliit na oras dahil sa busy sila sa pagdidistribute nila ng mga gamit, natuto kami na tumayo at tumulong na rin sa iba. Putimotimo kami langon.” he added.

[We learned a lot from EcoWEB. We do not know how to deal with the next disasters. But because of their help to train us even if they just have a little time because they are so busy distributing the relief items. We learned to really stand and volunteer to help others. We’re all in this together.]

Education Amidst Devastation

Norinsha M. Tomanto is a passionate and determined volunteer teacher. She is not afraid to fight the tides with her strong battle armors; the pen and the book! With her steadfast engagement to the children after the typhoon’s outrage, her will to enlighten and educate the generation that are underprivileged are still beyond her empowering control. Although facing a difficult time, she still wants to pursue a brighter movement.

“Hindi kami makadaan dahil naputol ang tulay. Pero sa pangalawang araw, sinigurado ko na dapat makakapunta ako sa barangay namin. Ang ginawa po namin ay psychosocial sa mga bata dahil sila talaga ang matagal na maka-recover at kawawa dahil sa trauma. Mga namatayan ng magulang at saka mga batang survivor yung target namin. Masakit po na makita ang mga bata na nagkakaganyan.” she said.

[We can not pass because the bridge is broken. But on the second day, I made sure that I will go to our village. We did psychosocial sessions to the children as they are the ones who are having a hard time to recover because of the trauma. Our target were the survivors and the ones who have lost their parents. It’s really painful to see them that way.]

She also expressed that she wants to buy learning materials and encourages others to volunteer in going around and facilitate the children especially in disaster risk reduction and management for them to understand the existing situation and other possibilities. She thinks that even at a young age, they are also capable and have the capacity to help and contribute practical ideas for the community.

“Actually, ngayon aware na po kami sa disaster dahil sa EcoWEB. Gagawin ko po yung responsibilidad ko at isi-share ko sa iba. At hindi namin makakalimutan na sa pamimigay ng EcoWEB dito, napagsama-sama namin iyon para iisa kami lahat na makakain at magamit. Sa advocacy ko na education, sana matulungan kami na madulog sa gobyerno na patayuan kami ng day care center kahit primary school. Marami po talagang estudyante na hindi na pumapasok or tumitigil. Handa po kaming mag volunteer at magtulungan.” she added.

[Now, I am aware about disasters because of EcoWEB. I will do my responsibilities and I will share it to others. And I will not forget the time when EcoWEB handed their help. We were able to combine it for us to have fair share of the relief items and food. About my advocacy in education, I hope the government can help us to construct a day care center or even a primary school. There are a lot of students who are not going to school or not studying anymore. We are ready to volunteer and help one another.]

Seeing More of the Bright Side

There are a lot of casualties in each affected barangay. The day seemed lifeless and lost. The shouts and cries were tingling and the sensations went to extreme goosebumps as lives were devoured in just a snap. Although shattered and helpless, the survivors poured endless sympathies for their families and friends who died at that time.

They saw the brighter side of every purpose of what life enables them to do. They showed their fearless faces and still wanting to stand up even the most painful sight of their lives. But as they say, each image of death is a beautiful struggling story.

Rahima Mustapha with three kids, narrates on how hard it is for them to live a life with a missing loved one. She was with her kids during the time of Vinta’s surge while evacuating them to a safer ground. She went back to her house as she knows that her husband was still there. But it was that time when Rahima holds her heart still.

“Pag-bakwit namin sa Madrasah, sinabihan ko ang mga anak ko na wag silang umalis dahil babalik muna ako sa bahay. Hinintay ko yung asawa ko. Pero grabe na ang baha. Paglingon ko wala na yung mga bahay namin. Tapos yung pamangkin ko, auntie ko, yung asawa ko bigla silang nawala. Hindi na sila nakatakas. Babalik sana ako para sagipin sila pero sobrang malaki na yung tubig parang bundok na dumating sa amin. Sabi ko sa sarili ko wala na itong pag-asa.” says Mustapha.

[When we evacuated in Madrasah, I told my children to not go anywhere because I will be going back to the house. I waited for my husband. But the flood is really extreme. When I looked back, our house has been taken away by the flood. And my niece, aunt and husband suddenly disappeared. They did not escape. I was supposed to go back to save them but the water was high enough that it looked like a mountain coming at us. I told myself that this is really hopeless.]

The second day of the incident, Rahima was being told by her neighbors that her husband, niece and aunt were found dead. It turned her world blank. She could not fight the tears rushing unceasingly. But her way out was with the help of the people of the community who did not stop rescuing them and searching for their loved ones.

That’s when she realized that it is time to get up because her neighbors are starting to do it also. When EcoWEB came to their barangay, they were keeping the things that was given and whenever one needs the other, giving is always their key. She thought that they are capable of choosing to penetrate goodness in life, and that’s how they became a more united community.

Meanwhile, Soaib Lininding, embodies a leader of perseverance. He did not stop rescuing along with his officials and even initiated the search and rescue operations even before the government bodies arrived. He bursted out a lot word of gratitude to EcoWEB because of the hygiene kits and non-food items that was given to them. It was that time that they needed it to heal the wounded, clean the unwashed and assist the needy.

“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa ECOWEB sa binigay po sa amin sa Barangay Calimudan. Yun yung ginamit namin sa kasagsagan ng pagtulong dahil may iba na kailangan talaga. Mahirap po talaga dahil maraming namatay sa amin. Ang hirap po talaga. Hinihingi namin na didn uto mapungulaula paruman sa kabaya o Allah” he underscored.

[We are really thankful of the help that EcoWEB has distributed. Those were the things that we used during the times that we need it especially that some really need it. It is really hard knowing that there are a lot who died. It is really painful. We are really praying that Allah will not allow it to happen again.]

The Family That They Are

It is the M’ranaos’ overwhelming culture that breaks the chain of impossibilities. This is how they worked freely as they know they are able and they empower one another to cross bridges bringing everybody to the safest haven.

One of the reasons why it is fascinating to see how their culture arises, because it dominates not just the spirit of oneness but the faith that lives within them. Even if the situations wheels up and down, selflessness is a thought to believe in.

Sapia L. Tomanto saw everything. It was never easy for her to dive in to conclusions that everything will be hopeless. A peaceful agricultural land of their village has turned into a sea of mud enveloping the whole area. But she saw how everyone stands taller than the clash waters.

“Sa wala pa ang Vinta, nagtanom mi ug mais, mangopras, mamaligya ug saging. Muapil pud mi para masuhulan lang para naay ikabuhi sa pamilya. Pag-agi sa Vinta alas dose sa udto, dako na kayo ang tubig. Akong mga anak nakasagip ug uban tawo nagtabang mi katong naay pisi ang ilog, mao to nakaagi ang uban tapos gatinabangay. Sige sila ug hilak. Mura kog nalimot sa akong kaugalingon, di ko kahilak, di ko kaistorya, di pud ko kasyagit, sige rakog tan-aw unsa kasakit katong mga nangamatay.” she said.

[Before Vinta, we used to plant corns, coconuts and sell bananas. We really have work to gain income for our family. When Vinta striked at noon, the water was so high. We helped each other especially in the river where there are ropes for everyone to cross it. They are always crying. I even forget myself. I cannot cry, talk and shout because I was just watching on how painful it is to lost our loved ones.]

Sapia realized that the disaster has caused them too much destruction and agony. But they never gave up.

“Mitatabangae a datar o tutunganaya.” she emphasized.

[We are not even relatives but we helped one another like a family.]

She added that EcoWEB immediately responded weeks after the Vinta’s destruction. She can still remember that the team has distributed non-food items and gave financial assistance to some survivors.

“Naa mi nadawatan sa ECOWEB, nagpulong pulong mi na ipunon namo ang kwarta. Dili tanan nakadawat maong amo dayong gibahin bahin sa tanan para makapundar sa ang matabang. Gibahin bahin namo bahalag gagmay basta makakuha tanan. Miskan unsa pa among madawat na tabang gikan sa EcoWEB, manalamat gyud mi. Manghinaot unta mi na dili sila musuko sa pagtabang sa amo.”

[We received an assistance from EcoWEB. We even planned to gather the money. Not everyone received financial assistance that is why we gather it and distribute it equally to buy something for themselves. We really parted it equally for everyone to receive even a small amount. Whatever help that we will receive from EcoWEB, we will always be thankful. We are really hoping that they will not give up on us.

Through times, the testimonies proved that even after the storm there will always be a rainbow that will illuminate hope and perseverance. With the approach that EcoWEB has been advocating, they know that they have the capacity and it is always them who knows how to address the problem and progress triumphantly.

With their intimate connection to their faith and their undivided M’ranao culture, they were not defeated. They fought and thrived together amidst all conditions and circumstances. As they always emphasized in their local term, “da kambabagaka”, which inspiringly means that no one should be left behind.

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