Raised by a father who’s a selfless medical doctor and a mother who’s a compassionate social worker and psychologist, being compelled to help is something that has been ingrained in me. I must admit though that each assignment that ranged from repacking and area surveying to counseling, teaching and raising funds has been different and faith-stretching but the recent volunteer work involving Yolanda survivors is something incomparable:
there were just too many “it just so happened” moments that were beyond me. And so allow me to tell a story that is not my own, but of the Hand Who moved behind every circumstance at Villamor Airbase last Sunday, November 17
th.
Our small group first went to the Villamor gym to repack relief goods. DSWD initially announced that it'll be an 8-hour shift but due to the influx of walk-ins, it was cut to 2 hours. Thus, we took a forced break and decided where to go next as volunteers.
We proceeded to the Grandstand upon hearing from Ruth’s mom that there is a need for counselors for the night shift. At Booth 11 where the centralized registration was done, we were required to undergo a brief orientation before officially signing up. Those who gave the orientation emphasized that volunteering meant business. It wasn't a means to view C-130s and evacuees “in the flesh,” and take photos to upload on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. “
Kung nandito lang kayo para magkuha ng pictures, umuwi na lang kayo,” was the straightforward instruction. We then stood up to register with the choice of either serving with certain tasks or being stationed at specific areas: Counselors (psychological first-aid), Marshalls, Medical Station, Food Runners/Distributors, Nanay Bayanihan (assist mothers with babies), Registration, Orientation, Daycare, Oplan Hatid (bring evacuees to their relatives in Metro Manila or nearby provinces).
7:00 P.M. I was about to write my name, Anton, Carmen & Saul’s under the list of Counselors when someone shouted, “
May parating na evacuees! Kailangan ng Marshalls agad para ma-assist sila! Marshalls! We need marshalls!”
The immediate need made us change our minds even without knowing what lay ahead of us. IDs were quickly given, and we went to the receiving area where some medics were also waiting with wheelchairs. Anton asked the one in-charge of volunteers, and learned that
as Marshalls, we are responsible for moving evacuees, ensuring their security, giving assistance especially for food and clothing needs, and connecting them to DSWD personnel for data tracking and possible endorsement for Oplan Hatid. Since we were 4, we decided to work in pairs: Anton & I, and Saul & Carmen. We agreed that we will only volunteer until 9:00 PM.
7:45 P.M. Evacuees then arrived in throngs, and upon seeing Anton greet a middle-aged man and get his bag for assistance, I followed suit.
We found out that the man was with his 2 younger brothers plus the girlfriend of 1 of the brothers. We led them up to Block 7 of the Grandstand and learned that they were from Tanauan, Leyte. Their home was totally destroyed but all members of the family survived by going up the roof of their neighbor’s house. Unfortunately, the mother of Thelma (the girlfriend; not her real name) was still missing. The former was in Tacloban with the latter’s stepfather when Typhoon Yolanda made a landfall. Situated very near the sea, their home was quickly washed away by the storm surge.
We also found out that the brothers still have several family members who weren’t able to ride the C-130 with them.
The parents and siblings simply agreed that they will all meet in Cavite where another sibling lived, and they will do so whatever it will take—whether by a free government or commercial flight, or land travel via bus. But because the eldest brother saw a few other family members left in line at the Tacloban Airport, he said that they will wait for the next planes to arrive at Villamor before they will consider being assisted by Oplan Hatid.
8:45 P.M. Another plane arrived but we were disappointed as only US soldiers got out.
Anton & I nevertheless went to the Oplan Hatid booth to inquire of the process for transporting evacuees, should the group of four decide to be brought to Cavite later that night. Those in charge of the booth said that the ride may either be “auctioned” for those who signed up for the said service, or if a marshall is willing, he/she can personally bring evacuees to their relatives.
We then agreed that we will volunteer to use my van to bring the family to Cavite, and Anton will just commute from my area in Laguna back to his place in Mandaluyong afterwards.
9:30 P.M. Another family at Block 7 arrived, and while attending to their needs, I saw Saul & Carmen busily helping other evacuees. N
o one bothered to bring up that we were already beyond the agreed time to leave.
10:00 P.M. The PA system announced that 2 planes full of evacuees landed on another part of the NAIA runway, and the people were now on their way to the Grandstand in buses. Marshalls were asked to prepare to welcome the new evacuees. The new ones were then ushered to blocks on the other side of the Grandstand.
Anton accompanied the 3 brothers to look for their other family members while I remained with Thelma to guard their group’s belongings.
It was during this time that I got to talk to Thelma.
I found it hard to start a conversation with her because ever since she arrived, her expression was one of mixed angst, annoyance and confusion. Simply put, she had a thick wall that was hard to penetrate. I began by asking her mundane things about her family and studies so she can warm up. And I tell you, this conversation is something that I'm still on the process of believing that IT really happened. Why?
Well the first 5 minutes consisted of Thelma’s replies in PURE WARAY. I didn’t understand ANYTHING. I struggled to listen for context clues and went on to ask clarifying questions. Then for the next 10 minutes, I suddenly heard Thelma speaking in STRAIGHT TAGALOG. Thus I was able to respond well and even give her advice regarding her career plans and her relationship with her boyfriend. She began to smile after I shared of how Anton & I regularly align our goals while relating it to the dynamic of her relationship.
Then believe me, she then started speaking in WARAY again for another 5 minutes and I would respond by saying, “I don’t understand.” She would shift again to STRAIGHT TAGALOG, as if possessing the accent of someone who grew up in Metro Manila. This cycle went on and on until Thelma was able to share her ambitions in life, and even until she was able to define her feelings towards not being able to find her mother in Leyte.
10:45 P.M. The brothers returned with sad faces. They didn’t see their other family members amongst the crowd from the two planes. Even after Anton asked the volunteer announcer to publicly mention the names of the family members, no one came forward.
The eldest brother then conveyed that they would like to avail of Oplan Hatid. In less than a minute, a DSWD personnel came to inquire if the family’s data was already recorded by a colleague. We said yes, and when she then asked if the family wanted to be brought somewhere from Villamor, I told Anton to wait with them. I ran down to locate Saul & Carmen to request for a favor. You see, they were supposed to ride home with me, but I asked if it’s okay that I’ll bring them to a taxi station instead so Anton & I can accommodate the family in the van. They agreed, and I quickly went back up to tell the news.
The DSWD lady beamed and told us, “Sige ako ang bahala, tutulungan ko kayo sa Oplan Hatid.”
11:30 P.M. The family was ushered to the Oplan Hatid booth for their release. I was made to sign a few papers for accountability and after a few minutes, the DSWD lady called for a volunteer Dispatcher--who currently had her back to us--so she can countersign the papers.
The Dispatcher then turned… and lo and behold, she was a batchmate from elementary & highschool! We both squealed after not seeing each other for many years.
11:35 P.M. A shout was heard. Cries of joy followed. We then turned from my classmate / Dispatcher to see the brothers and Thelma hugging 2 ladies. And guess who those ladies were?? They were the family members that the brothers have been waiting for!!! :) They indeed embarked from the planes that arrived last but were not able to hear their names being announced over the PA system. And since the family’s agreement was to meet in Cavite, they also chose to get the Oplan Hatid service. I fought to hold back tears of joy. The reunion was such a delightful sight!
12:30 A.M. Along with their belongings, the former group of 4 who now became the reunited group of six, had now been loaded inside the van.
I asked for the complete address of their sibling’s home in Cavite and after a few minutes of deliberation, we discovered that instead of an hour’s travel, the real address was just located 30 minutes away from my house!! The eldest brother initially said Dasmarinas but a younger brother verified that it was just in Molino!
1:30 A.M. We arrived at the sibling’s house and was greeted by another brother who was just too happy to see the rest of his family!
It turned out that he and the parents were able to catch free rides via Cebu Pacific to Manila, and they arrived at Molino past 10:00 PM that night. Before we left, Anton led us all in a prayer of thanksgiving, and an impartation of blessing for the whole family who survived Typhoon Yolanda, took the risk to go to Manila through different means, and was
easily reunited all because of the Sovereign Hand of God.
Dear reader, you may be wondering why I had to mention all those details.
I am sharing this because Sunday’s experience was such a big learning for me. I started my marshalling task at Villamor feeling a bit overwhelmed because it was my first time to be given such a task. But consider the following:
- It just so happened that Anton chose to assist a family who had the goal of going home to Cavite, an area that is familiar to us both.
- It just so happened that Thelma was left alone with me, thereby a given opportunity to COUNSEL a fellow Filipina whom I discovered to be very ambitious and driven to succeed. I believe that by the grace of God, she was spared because she still has a purpose to fulfill on earth.
- It just so happened that my conversation with her began with confusion but eventually bore into something very fruitful, and we were able to understand each other using our own dialects.
- It just so happened that the vehicle I used that day was enough to accommodate a medium-sized family, even despite us not signing up as Oplan Hatid volunteers.
- It just so happened that the Dispatcher was my batchmate when it could have been a total stranger.
- It just so happened that the other family members were also at the Oplan Hatid booth during the time our group was there to process release papers.
- And it just so happened that the drive to the destination was cut in half, enabling Anton & I to go home at an earlier time.
And so for those who are still in doubt on whether you can help even without prior experience,
JUST SHOW UP!!! Have your hands and feet ready to move, have your ears and mouth ready to communicate, and have yourself placed in a position fully dependent on the Lord Who can and Who will display His might through you.
And in the end, you will be in awe—just like I still am—of His power… His loving, there-are-no-accidents and miraculous kind of power. =)
Thelma at the Oplan Hatid booth :) Photo courtesy of Saul De Jesus
POSTFACE
A week and a half after Typhoon Yolanda killed thousands, and rendered millions homeless and jobless, there is still much to be done. Even us in Metro Manila can help our fellow Filipinos from Visayas on a very personal basis. If you are interested in volunteering at Camp Aguinaldo (relief operations have ceased at Villamor Airbase as of Nov. 21), the following FB page was set up containing shifting schedules, guidelines and other pertinent information:
https://www.facebook.com/OperationSalubongVillamor?ref=br_tf
Taking part in long-term efforts such as funding the building of sturdier homes, and providing employment opportunities by those with businesses will also be of great help.
