Outrage of Super Typhoon Odette In Our Place

December 24, 2021

Greetings everyone. How are you all? To my fellow countrymen, I hope you are all safe.

Last December 16, 2021, super typhoon Odette with international name Rai hit our country. As of now, life casualties reached 200+ and billions of infrastructures were destroyed. Millions of people were affected by the said typhoon. Many houses were severely damaged. Many trees had fallen and destroyed that made the mountains looked so near and visible. There were many landslides in high areas that made us hard to pass. Electrical posts were down.

Two days after the typhoon, I visited my parents because their place was under signal number 5. I was so worried about them because I heard that there were many people died in our province. The day after the typhoon there was an earthquake happened that added up my worries. Our way to our province was not passable because there were many big landslides in some areas so we look for other route just to be there. Luckily there was one route that was passable and it took us more than 4 hours to travel for us to arrive in our place. My partner and I took that chance. While we were in our way to my parents place, I couldn't hold the tears in my eyes while looking the houses that torn into pieces. My heart was so broken with the view I was looking. When we were already near in my parents town, I cried looking the devastating view. Our town looked like a ghost town. It looked so lifeless. I can see the grief in the face of every person that we passed by.

The devastating images above are the situation in our town. I captured these when I we were in our way to my parents house.

When we arrived at my parents place, I was relieved because I saw them safe. I'm happy seeing them in one piece but at the same time I am sad because our house was also destroyed. I feel pity for my father and mother who tried to pick up the debris of the house that can still be useful. Our fruit trees and coconuts were down because of the very strong wind. They said that there was also a hurricane during the typhoon that made the houses totally damaged. Good thing my sister was able to buy groceries before the typhoon. They have something to consume for the meantime. But it worries me because their food supply is good only for a week. They gave some to our neighbors that has nothing to eat. So, I promised them to be back and contact to our other family members and relatives to asks some help. After I made sure that my family is fine, I checked my cousins and relatives to make sure that they are safe. But my eyes witnessed a very heartbreaking view. Our place is situated near the coastal area. It was the most heavily affected by the typhoon because of the storm surge. Just like what happened to typhoon Yolanda way back in the year 2013, there was a storm surge occurred.

Three houses of my cousins were totally washed out and leave nothing even the cement floor or a post. The storm surge took every piece of the house. My cousin were so devastated because they almost finished their dream house and there were only few things to do for them to move this month, but the typhoon took it in just one snap. The hard work they exerted were gone to waste. They weren't able to save their clothes and things especially for her baby. They have nothing to eat because their one sack of rice that was newly bought was also washed out by the waves. My heart was so crushed looking at them. They can't contact their other family members because there is no electricity and the network connection was also cut. I promised them that I will contact their family members when the internet connection will be restored in my partner's place.

The photo above is the house of my cousin that is totally wrecked by the big waves during the typhoon.

Tomorrow is Christmas day. I feel so sad thinking about my family, relatives, friends and all victims of the typhoon that they are going to celebrate Christmas without electricity, no shelter, no delicious food in their table and cannot contact their family to greet them. On the other hand, I'm still thankful to God that there is no life casualty in our barangay.

Final Say

This time many Filipino people are heavily challenge by the nature. It is literally true that when nature speaks its anger, we, humans can't do anything. But despite this situation that we are facing right now aside from the COVID-19 that is continuously affecting our country, I know we can rise again. We, Filipinos are resilient and brave enough to face any struggles that is being thrown to us. All I want and ask from you who is reading this is to include us to your prayers. Help us pray that we can surpass this calamity and we can survive our situation.

I want to extend my gratefulness to all of you who supported me continuously. Thank you so much.

All images above were captured by me including the lead image that I edited using the Foto Grid app.