A MONTH AFTER
MONKAYO, Compostela Valley: Jocelyn Ginoo and her family lost their home when typhoon Pablo (international codename: Bopha) lashed in Mindanao, exactly a month ago, but she remains thankful because she, her husband and her four children, are still together.

Jocelyn and her family now live in a culvert pipe that they converted into a temporary house. The mother of four is hopeful that little by little, through hard work and persistence, she and her family will be able to rebuild their home and their shattered lives.

Jocelyn recalled that when powerful winds started whipping their town on December 4, 2012, their house, which was made of bamboo, collapsed. Floodwaters started to rise, thus, her family had to search quickly for a place to take shelter.

“Everything happened so fast. When our home was knocked down, we ran in search of a place that can give us temporary shelter,” she told the Manila Times.

Then they discovered the pipe.

“I’m thankful that we were near this hole. Even though the wind destroyed our home, we were able to relocate here. It is dark but at least I’m sure it wouldn’t tumble,” Jocelyn said.

When the typhoon eventually subsided, the Ginoo family was crushed when they saw their cornfield washed out.

“It was very disheartening to see the only source of our livelihood soaked in floodwaters. We were planning to harvest it on the second week of December, just in time to have money for Christmas,” Jocelyn narrated.

Now, in order to survive, she and other members of her family have to line up everyday for food and water. Sometimes, her younger children beg for relief goods on the streets.

“It is very hard to start all over again but we’re just thankful that we’re all alive. Despite the tragedy, the fact that we all have a second chance to live is enough to stay positive in life,” Jocelyn said.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that Pablo affected at least 711,682 families or over six million people in 3,064 villages in 318 towns and 40 cities in 34 provinces.

The Philippines is visited by an average of 20 typhoons every year and Pablo was the 16th last year.

With a report from Neil A. Alcober