Faith is Stronger than Yolanda: A Year After the Storm

"In deep pain, people don't need logic, advice, encouragement, or even Scripture. They just need you to show up..." ~Rick Warren.

Mass grave in the Palo Cathedral grounds

I was not in the Philippines when I heard the news about typhoon Haiyan (locally called Yolanda) wrecking havoc in the Visayas region. The towns there were cut off from electricity and communication. For the first few days, anxiety was high as we waited for news from relatives living there. It was heartbreaking to learn that family members of some of my friends did not survive. One of my cousins decided to fly to Cebu and from there, took a ferry to Ormoc. It was the only way to reach Alang-alang and Palo, where our relatives live. I do not want to sound insensitive, but my family is grateful we have not lost loved ones in Typhoon Yolanda last November 08, 2013. All my relatives in Leyte survived. But I feel their sorrow for the people that meant to them who perished that day. I listened to the stories of my cousins' harrowing experience that fateful morning when the super typhoon ravaged their town and damaged almost everything in its path. I talked with some other survivors when I visited Palo, Leyte about two months ago. Their stories still echo the deep sorrow of losing those dear to them. I guess it's easier to say you've moved on, but in reality, the anguish will never totally go away.   

One of the dormitory rooms at
St. John the Evangelist School of Theology

How do you comfort the bereaved? No words can ever be enough to ease the grief of someone saddened and deprived by the death of a loved one. Especially one that is due to a natural disaster. Sometimes, taking time to visit them suffices. I have proven that to be true when I went to Palo. The survivors I spoke with expressed deep appreciation for being remembered to be checked on. One mother was even in tears as she thanked me for my gesture of flying all the way from Manila just to meet and talk with them. 

Bro. Ryan Salvacion

I got to speak with some seminarians of the Saint John the Evangelist School of Theology in Palo, Leyte. One of them, Bro. Ryan Salvacion of San Joaquin Parish, Palo, recounted that he and his brother-seminarians were up early that day. He was serving in the morning celebration of the Holy Eucharist. He remembered it had been raining the whole night, but they were not particularly worried about the typhoon. The Philippine islands are battered by storms every year, and Yolanda did not really alarm them. Bro. Ryan said he thought the storm-surges were unlikely to reach the seminary. But when it did come, the water rose up so high they held on to the ceiling joists of the dormitory. 

Bro. Ryan said a verse from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans kept ringing in his head while they were all afloat and expecting death: "For if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. (Romans 14:8). He said it was a moment of abandonment to Divine Providence, because in life and in death, we are all in the hands of God.

Bro. Jonathan Saavedra showed me
what used to be his dorm room

Bro. Jonathan Saavedra, another seminarian in Palo, but hails from Tagum, Davao del Norte, said he also found comfort in the promise of God as he held on to dear life. "The Lord says, 'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; You are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you... For I am the Lord your God.'" (Isaiah 43:1-3). 

In Bro. Jonathan's words: "This passage from Isaiah is a promise from the Lord that He will really save us from any calamity. Faith is stronger than Yolanda. I told the Lord that if it His will, if it is His plan that I become a priest, I prayed Lord save us! Save us from death!" 

When the waters subsided, he said he knew God still has great plans for them. 40 seminarians and two priests inside the dormitory, all survived the fury of Yolanda.

Women I had the honor to speak with

One year after the supertyphoon hit the Philippines' Eastern seaboard, the outpouring of love from people from around the world is still overwhelming. Some housewives I have visited and spoken to said the assistance and donations that everyone sent will never be forgotten. They particularly remember the very big help that the Catholic Relief Services has done to alleviate their suffering. One of the women told me that the mere presence of the volunteers from different nations who responded days after Yolanda made landfall, gave them reason to hold on. They knew someone cared enough to come and help them. They felt loved and not forgotten.

Basey, Samar, a few days after Yolanda made landfall
Photo credit: Fr. Ronnie Santos of the Diocese of Cubao

The courage and heroism of those men and women I spoke with are truly remarkable. Their warmth and smiles were genuine even between holding back tears. The fortitude that got them back on their feet again to rebuild and start anew shows heroism and strength of spirit. They have shown me what resilience and hope is about. One year after, the rehabilitation of the towns devastated by Yolanda is not totally done yet. And help still pours.

Clergy & Lay volunteers of the Diocese of Cubao
filling up a 10-wheeler truck
of relief goods for the survivors of Yolanda.

How can we contribute? Our compassion must take us where our hands reach out to touch, where our hearts listen and empathize, our mouths uplift, encourage and speak love, and where our feet move us to meet those who are suffering. Our feeling of deep sympathy must cause us to act and to do something to alleviate their pain, no matter how small the deed would be.

This, I realized, was what Jesus did during His ministry. Jesus gave us the example to follow: we are called to become like Him for others, to show His mercy and love; to be His hands and feet to those in need. Compassion must move us to take action and ease the sorrow of those who are broken and hurting. 

Before and After pictures: Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish
in Brgy. Abucay, Tacloban City
(One of the parishes adopted by the Diocese of Cubao)

As we share our time, treasure and talent in the rehabilitation of the towns ravaged by Yolanda, let us also always remember to pray for those who perished, and those they have left behind.

Let us pray with the families affected by the supertyphoon: Most Loving Father, One year ago, the fury of Typhoon Yolanda made us experience darkness and the pain of losing everything; it made us understand the meaning of despair. But in the midst of all these, You never have forsaken us. In the most special way, You gifted us courage and strength to rise again. In the most loving way, You shielded us with mercy and compassion. And You accomplished miracles through those who came to our aid. And as we remember that day today, we thank You for the gift of faith, hope and love. We thank You for bringing us closer to You. We thank You for letting us live another day. Spare our nation from the wrath of nature, as we find ways to care for Your Creation.

Glory to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.