“Nagpasalamat ako sa Diyos, kasi kahit isang buhay sa amin, walang nasawi”
“Gusto ko po silang [children] makapagtapos, basta wag lang silang matulad sa amin, kasi mahirap. Katulad namin, walang mapasukan na trabaho, hindi ka makapasok dahil high school graduate ka lang.“
The house of Shiryl Culiam stood in front of the sea wall along Brgy. Población Uno, Burgos Surigao Del Norte.
On December 15, the night before the typhoon, Shiryl, her partner, and three sons felt the hauling winds, the sound of the big waves, and the non-stop rain around their house. It was a long scary night for her family. At first, when the rain was not as heavy, they stayed at their house, afraid they might lose everything they had built. But when the storm intensified, they were compelled to evacuate by the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO).
Before leaving their house, they heard that the evacuation site was almost at full capacity. Shiryl and her partner then decided to bring the children to the cockpit arena instead (right next to the evacuation center) since this was also an elevated area. Just before the typhoon hit, Shiryl had prepared dinner but her children lost their appetite because of fear. Moments later, the typhoon grew stronger, the roof and the walls of the cockpit arena started to fall apart. Her family had to crawl because they wanted to transfer inside the comfort room. It was the only safe space she could find for her children. She fed her hungry children there. They even used the two foams they got from the center to cover themselves to avoid getting hurt from all the falling wood. Shiryl and her children held hands and prayed, “Lord ikaw na ang bahala sa amin, ikaw na ang bahala kung mabubuhay pa kami.” It was the scariest night for her and everyone else.
THIS IS THE COCKPIT ARENA, WHERE SHIRYL AND HER FAMILY STAYED WHEN TYPHOON ODETTE DESTROYED THEIR HOME IN BURGOS SURIGAO DEL NORTE. SHE RECALLED THAT THERE WERE ABOUT 200 PEOPLE WHO EVACUATED TO THIS SITE. AT THE TOP RIGHT IS WHERE SHE COOKED RICE FOR HER CHILDREN. AT THE BOTTOM LEFT WAS THE COMFORT ROOM THAT KEPT HER FAMILY SAFE.
After the typhoon, Shiryl took care of her children who were soaked wet because of the rain. Shiryl had to squeeze the water out of their clothes. Luckily, one of their neighbors had some extra clothes packed inside a plastic bag that they had lent to her children. After putting her children to sleep, she and her partner returned to their home.
Nothing stood before her as they reached the place they called home. Stones and rocks from the sea wall were inside her house. All of their belongings were gone and washed away by the storm. She didn’t know how they would start over. They had nothing, but she was still thankful no one in the family died.
Food and shelter were the immediate needs of her family. But as they recovered slowly from the effects of the typhoon, Shiryl had to process her family’s legal documents, which the typhoon also destroyed. She only found bits and pieces of it together with their bible. She knew it would be useless, so she only took the bible with her.
Shiryl is among the beneficiaries who were assisted by IDEALS, Inc. in claiming replacement copies of their legal documents, especially those that are needed in her children’s education. She dreams for her three sons to finish school to have a better life. They can apply for a better job when they have a diploma. She didn’t want them to be like her, who was only a high school graduate. Most companies won’t accept her because she doesn’t have a degree.
TY Odette Emergency Response is funded by the EU Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid (EU ECHO) and is implemented by Save the Children Philippines, Humanity & Inclusion Philippines and Indonesia, Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services (IDEALS, Inc.), Sentro para sa Ikauunlad ng Katutubong Agham at Teknolohiya (Sikat Inc. – Siargao Islands, Surigao del Norte), and Oxfam Pilipinas.
IDEALS Inc. conducted several legal missions and community awareness sessions to the residents and victims of Typhoon Odette in San Isidro, Burgos, Socorro, and Pilar Siargao, Surigao Del Norte, in response to the need for replacement of lost, damaged, and destroyed copies of legal documents (such as birth, death and marriage certificates), as well as late registration of unregistered residents.
