The Twinkle of Hope in Carles, Iloilo.
(top) Calm after the Storm. How can a peaceful sea turn into a destructive force of nature?
After typhoon Haiyan barreled through the country last November, national and international interests were predominantly focused on the city of Tacloban and municipalities like Guian and Ormoc in Leyte province. As such, few is written about equally-devastated areas along super typhoon's path. Unknown to most Filipino urbanites, also badly hit were the provinces of Iloilo, Capiz and Aklan. Fortunately, people were spared from the horrors of belated relief goods. Unlike Tacloban City and the rest of Leyte province, Iloilo, Capiz and Aklan are rice granaries that fortunately just had their harvest season. But then there are areas that were not as that lucky. The worst hit are the fishing villages in Northern Iloilo that rely heavily on the sea for livelihood. The fishing industry in the coastal towns of Carles and Estancia suffered severely as hundreds of fishing boats were destroyed by the storm surge. This is despite the fact that most fishermen dry-docked their fishing boats days before the typhoon struck.
(top) New Hope for Carles. Islander kids play innocently in the disaster's footprint.
Last summer I featured in this blog the beautiful Higantes islands of Carles. This time, however, my blog will report the devastation that befall the islands and dedicated effort by kind souls in rekindling the lives of its inhabitants. Super typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Typhoon Yolanda) battered the Higantes and nearby islands for several hours. In one strong swoop, it decimated the islanders' source of living. The once picturesque coves and beaches are now full of debris.
Last Sunday, I witnessed a group of philanthropic siblings and their admirable effort to bring aid to the far-flung islands of Carles.
(top) Oplan: Causing Relief. Admirable private sector effort by the Causing siblings exemplifies the Filipino Bayanihan spirit.
The Causing siblings (Twinky, BG, Prince and Kryza) heeded the call of the local government. They organized continuing relief operations that brings relief goods to the out-lying islands of Carles. Headed by Twinky who is currently connected with De La Salle University- Dasmarinas, they solicited donations from co-workers, friends and relatives in order to buy rice, canned goods and basic necessities that are badly-needed.
For this leg of the relief operations, they invited me to tag along and take photos of the devastation. Feeling the need to contribute to an admirable effort, I quickly agreed.
(top) Private Sector Initiative. De La Salle (DLSU) alumna Twinky Causing distributing goods to the islanders of Sitio Batuan, Barangalan, Carles.
We left Bangkal Port in Carles early in the morning. Our group consisting of nurses and volunteers took two motorized bancas to reach two island barangays. Sharing the boats with us are sacks of rice, packs of canned goods and medicines that Twinky and her siblings gathered and repacked. Thank God that the vast east Visayan sea was calm and nobody got sea sick. We reached the first island barangay in about an hour. Sitio Batuan in Barangay Barancalan beckoned like post-atomic bomb wasteland. With houses flattened and fishing boats turned upside down, it is a glaring footprint of the super typhoon. Just after we landed, Twinky gathered the islanders in a makeshift stage and started distributing relief goods. Aside from basic goods like rice and canned goods, she brought slippers, undergarments and kids clothes that were very much appreciated.
(top) Big Help from Big Brother. Hovering overhead our motor banca are British Royal Navy Sea King helicopters air dropping supplies to far-flung islands.
After Barangay Barangakalan, we proceeded to Isla de Cana that is around half an hour away by sea. En route, we saw the British Royal Navy aircraft carrier, HMS Illustrious with its helicopters busy taking off and landing. We also saw impressive flying machines like the Sea King and Lynx helicopter bringing supplies to other islands. The British military was one of the first to arrive in the country. HMS Illustrious or the "Lusty" was the second ship that arrived to deliver relief goods in Northeastern Iloilo. It must have cost them millions to fly those helicopters and ferry relief goods. Bless these men of the Union Jack for being helpful.
(top) They came like mountains. This is how islanders at Isla del Cana described the storm surge that leveled their village.
Isla de Cana reminded me of a scene straight from the Terminator movie. It was like a horde of cyborg soldiers has routed it. Houses are torn down, trees uprooted and fishing boats thrown several meters inshore. We interviewed islanders who still have traces of terror in their eyes. "The waves came like mountains!" One lady added that she had to crawl in order to get to a secure area and not to be carried by strong winds.
(top) No Class Today and Tomorrow. Destroyed elementary school building at Isla del Cana.
Again, Twinky and the Causing siblings did their thing: distributing rice and canned goods to the islanders. All were gathered at the village's basketball court and happy about what the relief volunteers brought them.
(top) Relief volunteers posing for souvenir photo after distributing goods at Isla Del Cana.
At the end of the day-long relief operation, I stared at Twinky and her tired crew. Even before i get to ask her how she was feeling, she lets go an untiring pledge - to come back after soliciting more donations from her friends in Manila and overseas. Whatta gal, Twinky!
(top) The Beauty and Kind-Hearted. Twinky Causing vowed to continue soliciting donations from friends and co-workers and bring relief goods to more devastated areas in Northern Iloilo. (Photo from Twinky Causing's Facebook Account).
Photos by Andro C. dela Cruz