MPT Disaster Response to Typhoon Nesat and Nalgae

3 Fierce storms hit the islands of The Philippines starting September 27, 2011 that left countless of homes devastated and a toll of casualties and billions of pesos worth of damaged agricultural farms and infrastructures.

The first major turbulence that shocked the entire country is “Pedring” (international name: Nesat) which hit the metropolis unguarded. Strong winds shattered the Manila bay structures and ruined business establishments and hospitals. Patients from Manila Medical Center had to be transferred to neighboring hospitals for the areas occupied by the elderly and children patients were already flooded. 3 Fierce storms hit the islands of The Philippines starting September 27, 2011 that left countless of homes devastated and a toll of casualties and billions of pesos worth of damaged agricultural farms and infrastructures.

The first major turbulence that shocked the entire country is “Pedring” (international name: Nesat) which hit the metropolis unguarded. Strong winds shattered the Manila bay structures and ruined business establishments and hospitals. Patients from Manila Medical Center had to be transferred to neighboring hospitals for the areas occupied by the elderly and children patients were already flooded.

Adjacent provinces in the north were not spared, for they were flooded to the roof that required rubber boats and helicopters to rescue them. About to be harvested rice and corn farms were washed away and overlayed with ferocious mud.

Just as when they thought it was over, another storm “Quiel” (international name: Nalgae) entered the Philippine area of responsibility September 29, 2011 when “Pedring” exited, giving more fear and destruction to the entire country.

A slum area near the pier called Baseco where HOPE worldwide Philippines operate was severely affected, leaving hundreds of shanties blown away.

Hundreds of children were left with no house to protect and keep them warm and dry. Small boys had no choice but to help their parents in repairing and rebuilding their houses.

You can still see in their faces the uncertainty of the situation because it is common to every Filipino that in every year, thirty storms are the consistent visitors.

After the assessment and coordination of our satellite program manager, the Disaster Risk Reduction arm of the Mobile Puppet Theater funded by Children’s Hope Fund (Hoffnung Fur Kinder) responded at once through the directive of the Executive Director. About 120 families were handed food, clothes and foot-wears. We also provided hot porridge to them especially the kids.

The distribution took place at the Center of Hope - Baseco early in the morning of September 29, 2011, after a brief survey in the affected area where most of the team members were caught teary – eyed, wishing they could do more to ease up their agony. Happy faced we left them with a decision boiling within us to come back some other day to address those others who belong to the 1,120 families affected.

After a week, some partners and volunteers supported us in serving 350 families with food, blankets and clothes. Team members of the Mobile Puppet Theater would go directly to the repacking site which is in Baseco after a seminar and advocacy shows unmindful of the exhaustion knowing that out there, thousands of people were severely affected, hungry and cold.

The distribution at this time was more challenging because heavy downpour threatens to hinder the beneficiaries to go to the center, but the survivor that they are and the necessity that must be grabbed…they braved through the rain heading to the center.

It was October 8, 2011 when we saw 350 satisfied and relieved brothers and sisters who once again felt cared for and just cherishing every bit of concern they can get from us who in return, brushed off all the weariness from delivering, packing and distributing upon gazing at these faces staring at us with a smile.

While this distribution is occurring, a third storm “Ramon” is raging havoc in the southern part of the country, feasting on the helpless people where numbers of casualties are being reported daily due to flashfloods.

The Alisto Kid Van that used to entertain thousands of kids with the puppet shows is now responding to empty stomach and shivering skins by travelling from Laguna to as far as Pasay and Manila just to see to it that the package intended for the victims of disasters would arrive just on time.

Last October 12, 2011 we had to rush through the heavy rains just to deliver the goods from Pasay City to Baseco for final packing and arrived at the Laguna center only to find out that we are also being flooded. We had to park the vehicles outside of the center securing them not to be trapped when the water rose higher as what we experienced 2 years ago where the entire center was inundated for 3 months.

But the relief operation must go on, as early as 4:00AM on October 15, 2011 the team travelled as far as Bulacan after spending the night in Baseco to attend to 600 families. It was more emotional than the previous trips because these families were forced to their roofs for days leaving only rubber boats and helicopters to reach them. We were able interview some survivors who described the lurid experience that leave us to be grateful that we are still talking to these people alive.

Susan Perola of Sandoval, Iba, hagonoy, Bulacan had to leave their house during “Pedring’s” vindictiveness on water above her head deep for them not to be trapped by rampaging current for a higher place they call the “memorial”.

On the other hand, Dominador Halili showed me the level of the water when he was forced to flee to the memorial with his wife and five kids. One of her daughters was with him when we had this short conversation and I even asked her to pose for me, I can still see the gloom in her face after their horrendous ordeal.

As I was walking back to the distribution area, I happened to walk along with Lucia Halili, she will turn 70 years old this December. She had 8 kids and grandchildren she can’t even tell me how many. She is living with her 74 year old husband and a son and adopted child when a breast deep water force them out for a much elevated place before her relatives from Hagonoy fetched them.

She wasn’t able to bring even a single dress when they fled. All their belongings were damaged including a half hectare rice field but she never stopped telling me how grateful they are for their lives being spared. Optimistic that all those material things will soon be acquired again and reiterated how she looked forward on her coming birthday.

They said that they were waiting for their parents to return from looking something to eat, that is why I told them to go to the distribution area. Their house was just repaired because the walls were ripped off by the surging current during the flood.

The little girl looked very hungry but they insisted to wait for their parents and I was happy to see them followed me as soon as their father arrived.

Not even the most evil storm could keep these little ones from flashing one of their sweetest smiles.

Although we made an express lane for the elderly, pregnant and small kids…still, they have to endure the scorching heat of the sun to be able to get their share…and leave with a smile.