What's left when everything's gone?

I just can't find the right words to say. I am disheartened knowing the fact that my hometown feels like a ghost town. The green turned brown and almost all that are up were now shattered: homes, trees, establishment, as well as the dreams. Some people were also gone missing for days because they are washed away together with their homes as the surge hit their homes. In my girlfriend's town, there was a student missing and was found dead after few days of searching. Though I don't know her personally, we are friends on Facebook and I pity the young girl's fate. She was also once a student of my girlfriend when she was still a grade nine student.

So yeah, these are just few of the heartbreaking things typhoon Odette had left.

We never expected it to be that extreme because we used to experience fair weather whenever there's a typhoon in our place. We are just too confident about it that we did not secure our valuable things. But never mind anyway because we are safe. Things can be replaced, life can't and yes, this is our reason to still celebrate Christmas. God has been so good that He did not left us before, during and after the typhoon.

I am over with the experience during the typhoon because we have overcome it. What is so hard for me to accept is the fact that my fellows here don't have homes or any comfortable shelter especially those who live by the shore. Their homes are totally washed out by the surge. I have a friend who lost everything they got and he was almost carried away by the gigantic waves.

This is how their place looked like. Literally like there's no home standing. All were crushed. Now how can they start? If I were in their situation, I would be crazy thinking about how would I start again especially that we have our baby Clea and she needs comfortable home to settle with everyday. This is just one of the many houses that were totally damaged. Almost all of the houses built near the shore vanished in a snap.

Yes we can build a house whenever we want but nothing can give warmth to us like what our childhood home gave.

Just to have something to rest on, they build a small shelter like this. Though this looks disorganized and unsafe, this is the only place that gives that gives them comfort whenever the night is cold or when it's raining. This small shelter is also cool on the inside no matter how sunny day it is around. That's how the power of leaves do.

Some families also use tent. I can't imagine them inside these tents during noon time because I know how hot it is inside. But, I did not see them complain about it. In fact, they are still thankful.

You know what surprise me is that despite what happened, people there are even got closer together than before. Everyone shared food whenever they have and they are happy eating together. This is one of the traits that I love as a Filipino. Despite the disaster, we still know how to be happy because we know we can overcome all the misfortunes. We stick to the famous saying, "IMPORTANTE BUHI!" (in English - What's important is that we are alive)

What saddened me most is seeing children on the streets with signage asking for help: food, water and hygiene kits. They are too young to experience such fate. They should be playing or studying.

It is really undeniably true that our province needs help. I don't know how the government will accommodate everyone but I hope they will still do. In these trying times, a helping hand is what we need.

I speak for them and not for my own because our home is not as damaged the others and we still have enough food on our table. We even have an electricity supplied by batteries. We are still blessed despite everything.

Now what's left when everything is gone? It's our faith in God.

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I apologize for not being here long time. It was just yesterday when the signal came back. I just hope the electricity will follow soon.