It's been 2-weeks since the super typhoon Yolanda or Haiyan hit the Philippines particularly the provinces of Leyte, Cebu and Palawan leaving many Filipinos homeless.
I am not a first timer in Leyte as I've already seen it's beauty last 2011 and even years before that.
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| PHOTO TAKEN LAST 2011 |
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| TOWN OF JAVIER, LEYTE - TAKEN LAST 2011 |
When our plane landed on the runway of Tacloban Airport, I was in a complete shock. Stunned. The airport is a total mess. There is water on the floor, a big hole in the roof.
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| PHOTO COURTESY OF MIRIAM DELA CRUZ |
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| PHOTO COURTESY OF MIRIAM DELA CRUZ |
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| PHOTO COURTESY OF MIRIAM DELA CRUZ |
From the airport, we travelled one and a half hour to reach the house where we will all be staying for the next four days. As we proceed, all we can see is the hideous aftermath of what happened to the province...houses, business establishments, churches...all destroyed by super typhoon Yolanda.
The house is owned by one of our volunteer doctor's cousin situated in the town of Tanauan. This house also became the shelter of some foreign volunteers.
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| PHOTO COURTESY OF MIRIAM DELA CRUZ |
We conducted our medical mission and relief operation in four towns namely Tolosa, Tanauan, Dulag and Dagami.
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| PHOTO COURTESY OF MIRIAM DELA CRUZ |
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| PHOTO COURTESY OF MIRIAM DELA CRUZ |
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| PHOTO COURTESY OF MIRIAM DELA CRUZ |
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| WITH PEOPLE FROM LINGKOD KAPAMILYA |
Aside from medical assistance, we also conducted psychological help for children that were traumatized by the super typhoon.
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| ME AND ALEX |
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| PHOTO COURTESY OF MIRIAM DELA CRUZ |
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| PHOTO COURTESY OF MIRIAM DELA CRUZ |
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| PHOTO COURTESY OF MIRIAM DELA CRUZ |
On the last day of in Tacloban, as soon as the dawn paints some color in the sky...it felt like a ray of light being shown to all the people of Leyte. That it's never too late, that there is still hope.
I have to say that this trip is a very humbling experience. Made me realize to appreciate more what I have in life, not to whine on what I don't have, that we are born to help one another specially in times of crisis and that our hopes are as high as the sky. That no matter what happens, we can still manage to smile and just brush it off our shoulders as if nothing happened. That's the Filipino spirit.
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| PHOTO COURTESY OF DR. ROWIE |
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| PHOTO COURTESY OF DR. ROWIE |
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| PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHELLE BUENVIAJE |
I pray for the fast recovery of Leyte as well as the other provinces hit by the typhoon.
Bangon Pilipinas!
