Typhoon Haiyan that struck Leyte province, in the Philippines, left many dead and some are still missing. A lot of homes are destroyed, and belongings washed away. There is food shortage and drinking water is scarce. It has no power and telecommunication is down. According to Gulf News Filipino readers in the UAE, who have families and relatives affected by Haiyan, the future is bleak for Leyte.
Maria Theresa Azores
Maria Theresa Azores, 30, is the eldest daughter in her family. She’s been working as a sales and marketing executive in the UAE for the past seven and a half years. Her immediate family lives in Antipolo, Manila, but her youngest brother, Fernando Azores Jr, is in San Jose, which has been hit by the typhoon, with his wife as they are both working there.
Azores’ parents in Manila sent her a text message on Friday, November 8, at 7am (UAE time) updating her about her brother, which read: “The typhoon has damaged his house and the fence is washed out by the typhoon.” But after that, there was no contact. Azores is very worried as her brother suffers from asthma.
She told Gulf News: “We along with tens and thousands of family, relatives, friends have lost homes.” There is no possible communication at the moment as the electricity and telecommunication is still down.
Azores and her immediate family managed to get updates from the local Philippine news. “But nothing has been clear till now. No casualties’ identification, and the number of casualties are not mentioned. The wait to get update is difficult. We cannot do anything,” she said.
“I sought for help from some friends and from the general public ...who may have the heart to give whatever is possible to be sent to Philippines at the earliest possible. I am not only asking help for my brother and sister-in-law that remain missing but for all the people of Tacloban and the whole of Leyte, as well as the other affected areas in the Philippines. Money is not important right now, what they need is ready-to-eat food, drinking water and medicine.”
Mark Jason Ygay
Mark Jason Ygay, 35, has been working as an interior designer for the past seven years in the UAE. He missed a call from his sister on Saturday, November 9, at 2am. When he called back, the line was getting disconnected. He said: “It took me a long time to get through. They are from Ormoc City, which was hit badly by typhoon Haiyan. When I was able to talk to my sister, I was told that all their belongings were gone and the house totally destroyed.”
Ygay was devastated by their big loss, but is thankful that his parents, brother, sister, two nephews and one niece are all safe. He is calling on Filipinos to extend a helping hand to the victims of Haiyan.
Madonna Cabalona
Madonna Cabalona has been working as a secretary for almost two years in the UAE. She came here to help her family back home financially and to build her own house in the Philippines. Cabalona‘s last communication with her brother was on Thursday, November 7, at 4pm (UAE time) via Facebook.
Her brother posted: “It’s starting to rain here and it’s windy.” After that, there was no communication from her brother and sister as the telephone lines are down. They live in Jaro, Leyte, She is relying on Facebook updates from her friends and cousins in Cebu about the situation of her brother and sister.
Cabalona added that she is waiting for feedback from Google to locate her brother and sister. She told Gulf News: “My heart is saddened and goes out to all Taclobanons City, Leyte because of the superstorm ...typhoon Haiyan ...Yolanda, where the eye has its first landing. I have been trying to contact my family, but to no avail, since all communications are down, I don’t care about the blown roof; all I care about is the lives of my family.”
Ronalisa Pamaran
Ronalisa Pamaran, 31, has been working as a coordinator in a interior design company in the UAE for six years. It was Pamaran’s birthday on November 10, and her only wish is to know that her mother, grandmother and relatives are all safe in Tacloban City.
She has been trying to call them since Friday, but with no luck. She said that the typhoon probably damaged all the telecommunication lines, so she is constantly watching TV news channels to get updates. She said: “I came here to help my family and for a better future.”
Pamaran said that based on the news, there is shortage of water and food in Tacloban, so she is requesting non-governmental organisations to provide people with food and drinking water.
Ritchelle Joy Jundarin
Ritchelle Joy Jundarin, 31, is wishing that her family and “kababayan” (fellow Filipinos) will have enough food and water. Jundarin has been working as a receptionist in the UAE for five years now and dreams of a better future for her family. She is very worried about her family in San Jose, Tacloban City, as it is badly hit by the typhoon. She last spoke to her sister Salvie Joyce, 20, on Thursday, November 7, at 2am (Philippine time) and was told “not to worry as it’s only drizzling and a bit windy”.
Jundarin told her sister and relatives to go to an evacuation centre and to charge their cellphones and be prepared for a huge typhoon. But, when she tried calling her on Friday morning, it was not connecting. She keeps on calling, but in vain.
She said: “I took leave as I can’t concentrate in the office. I’m weeping while watching TV, as people in Tacloban City are fighting for food and drinking water due to shortage of supply. I pray that I will be able to contact my family and know that they are safe soon.”
Maricel Sullano
Maricel Sullano, 25, has been working in the UAE as a sales associate for five months now. She told Gulf News: “I want to go back home now to see my family, if it’s only cheap to travel I’ll go home now but I can’t.”
She is the eldest of seven siblings and she plans to help her family and set up her own poultry business in the Philippines. Her last communication with her mother was on Thursday, November 7, at 9pm (UAE time), and she told her to prepare and to evacuate to a nearby school. But since then there has been no contact as the phone lines are dead.
She said: “My family is living in Bantayan Island, north of Cebu, which was hit by the fourth landfall of the typhoon. And I saw the pictures of the impact of the typhoon on TV and it was devastating. I hope that my family is safe.”
She was planning to work in Dubai for four years to save and then return home to set up her business. But, looking at the economic impact of the typhoon, she added: “I might stay here longer.”
