Makabuluhang Paglalakbay: Cateel, February 2013
2012 was an adventure-filled year for me. I was on a road trip or plane ride somewhere every single month with no real purpose except to get away from the city. So I figured that my first major trip of 2013 shouldn't just be about me and my random quest for adventure, and that's what Cateel was for me - isang makabuluhang paglalakbay.
Before getting to what our trip was like, you should know that I am currently blogging from the Davao International Airport, which is actually really nice and comfy. I am writing all this RIGHT NOW because I lost the journal I brought along with me somewhere between the check-in counter and the boarding gate. :( (Spot the nicely labeled charger!)
Cateel is located around 6 or 7 hours away from Davao City. I traveled by plane to Davao and spent the night in this nice little inn along Quimpo Road called Frances Inn. At around 8 am the next day, we took a van to Cateel via the Mati route (More on Mati later!) which was just rehabilitated recently. We were on a nicely paved highway the entire time, but you pass some zigzag roads and bridges that are still being fixed after being wrecked by Typhoon Pablo. We even got to make a few pitstops at the "The Sleeping Dinosaur Island" and the church of CARAGA, which claims to be the oldest church in the Philippines.
It was a nice smooth sailing road trip most of the way, but when I woke up during the last hour of the trip, I found myself surrounded by what can only be described as pure destruction.
Those matchstick looking things are coconut trees. One of the main sources of livelihood of the people from Davao Oriental. Each tree takes 7 years to reach maturity after being planted. Typhoon Pablo passed right through their fields and mountains and uprooted what seemed to be thousands of trees. What's more is that the ones left standing are also pretty much "dead" and will no longer bear fruit. So if all those trees didn't have a single chance against Pablo, it kinda makes you wonder how people and their houses survived.
We had to go through about another hour looking out our windows silently, and then we reached Cateel.
The reason we were visiting Cateel (a municipality composed of 16 barangays) in the first place is that when Typhoon Pablo struck, it took with it 98% of every structure you can imagine - houses, schools, and even the town church. The 2% left consists of a pretty sturdy structure of Jose Rizal and the municipal hall, which suffered a lot of damage as well.
Prior to leaving for our trip, 11 of us volunteers (occupational therapists, speech therapists and SPED teachers) underwent a training for psychosocial debriefing. Psychosocial help is such a great need for affected areas 3 or 4 months post-disaster. At this time, survivors realize the weight of what they went through and they need people to listen to their stories and help them recover from the trauma they experienced, maybe even more than food or other material donations.
It was straight to work for us upon arriving to Cateel. We were able to meet a group of around 30 teachers from different barangays and we gave them an idea of what we were here for and what they could expect from us. The goal was to debrief them then teach them how to debrief the people in their communities, most especially the children.
Eventually, it began to get dark and we realized that the school was still without electricity, so we continued the session the following day. With the help of our friends from teachers of Holy Child College of Davao and psychologists from Ateneo de Davao, we were able to guide our participants in sharing their stories by asking them what they felt, how they made sense of what happened,what steps they've taken to recovery and what their routines are like at present.
Each person had a different story, but what I picked up in essence is that most of them are still scared of what the future holds, but more than anything they are hopeful that "Ginoo" (God in Bisaya) has a better future laid out for them. One thing this showed me is that if you were allowed to be anything in the midst of disaster, you should definitely choose to be a FILIPINO. Our race is made up of seriously tough stuff. :)
I also got some work done as an OT-slash-kids yoga teacher, while my fellow OTs got to hang out and advocate the value of play as an occupation with the wonderful kids of Cateel. Taught 2 groups of around 40 kids each. It was a riot but you'd be surprised how well yoga gets kids to listen up and pay attention!
What made this trip awesome is that it provided us volunteers to get some real, genuine insight on what it's like to be one with a community that has just experienced difficult times. It also allowed us to impact other people's lives by just listening to their stories and spending time with them. As a Filipino occupational therapist we most certainly have no excuse not to fulfill our role in ensuring the health and well being of our nation, most especially in areas that have experienced disasters.
Along with the people of Cateel, I am hopeful that in the next few years things will get better. Proof? On our second day in Cateel, while setting up on the third floor of our venue, I saw my first FULL rainbow rising right above all the wreckage. If that doesn't spell out HOPE for you, I don't know what will. :)
Some questions you might have about helping Cateel:
1. Want to volunteer, donate or advocate?
You may contact the Occupational Therapy Association of the Philippines by emailing us at [email protected] to express your interest in helping out so that we can send you regular updates on when our monthly trips are scheduled.
2. I thought OTs only deal with those who are disabled?
Losing your home and livelihood is disabling in its own way, and being in an unprotected area (all the trees holding back lighter winds and rain are gone) has placed this community at greater risk for future physical and psychosocial disability.
3. So you mean they don't need our donations in kind anymore?
Sure they do! In fact, we visited a school in Cateel that is still in need of school supplies and teaching materials. However, these, along with clothes and food, are immediate needs more commonly brought in by other NGOs, while people who are trained to provide psychosocial help aren't always around to address the long term effects of disasters.
4. If all houses were destroyed, where will I be staying if I want to volunteer?
Some homes still have their walls intact and have started roof reconstruction. The locals in Cateel have been more than willing to welcome us into their homes. It would also help to come ready for anything, so have your sleeping bags, tents and ponchos ready!
5. Is it all work during the trip?
Yes, but Davao is beautiful! And if time and weather permit, maybe you can make a pitstop like we did for some surf or skim at Mati! Also, Davao is the perfect place for a FRUIT TRIP, so you'll make a stop for some durian and pomelo for sure. :)
