Norman and Genario

It was November 7, 2013, the day before the strongest Typhoon Haiyan hit Philippines. It was also the day before Greg’s eldest son Santi’s birthday. I was so busy preparing that I didn’t even noticed the day passed without calling my son. I have been away from my son DR since he was 3 years old working abroad and the telephone is my only option to check on him every day and the rest of my family. Doing this makes me feel home with them. But that day I was concentrating on my work so much that I didn’t even know that typhoon Haiyan is going to hit Philippines the following day. I finished working around 10 pm that night and like my normal routine before going to bed, I checked my FB. There I have read a lot of prayers been posted by my friends for their families back home and for all the people in the Philippines to be spared from the incoming typhoon to hit the Visayas region. I immediately opened You Tube and watch any latest news. I finally confirmed that the strongest typhoon ever is going to make a landfall on Earth particularly in the Philippines. My whole family were in this region so I started getting so worried about their safety. I did try calling them but all connections were cut off already. It’s about 7 am already of November 8 in the Philippines so the typhoon has started taking its way into the Philippines area of responsibility and has probably damaged so much already. I just prayed and went to bed. Though my body was so tired I didn’t manage to sleep thinking about all of them back home especially my son.

November 8, the day Typhoon Haiyan ravaged most of the Visayas region. Since all contacts have been cut off, that day I just focused myself on Santi’s birthday party. I cannot concentrate completely on what I am doing but somehow I have manage to set aside my worries first. I didn’t even mention anything to anyone even to Greg. Party was over and as soon as I have done my washing and tidied everything all up I went straight to our room to check whether I can get connected to anyone back home. To my despair still of no avail. I went to bed again that night with so much worries that I even cried thinking about my brothers. I know my son will somehow be fine because our house is made of concrete and we are in the city area but my brothers who live in the province (countryside) were living in a house made of light materials like bamboo. Easy to get blown away by a strong wind as it is announced to be the strongest typhoon ever. I am imagining how they all going to face it. The only thing I can do that night is to pray for their safety.

Another sleepless night for me. I woke up the next morning, came to the kitchen, made my tea and sat for a while thinking of anyway I can get hold of my family. I opened my Facebook and You Tube and all I can read and see were heart breaking news. The devastating result of typhoon Haiyan. In the video, a lot of people died and I was deeply moved by what I am watching. A father looking for his wife and 4 children who were washed away by flood, children crying looking for their parents, dead bodies just lying everywhere and the whole city was completely gone. We are used of typhoons in the Philippines but nothing like it we experienced before. While watching, I didn’t realise that I was already crying. I felt the pain of this people who lost their homes especially their love ones. I started getting anxious again about the safety of my family.

It was about 8 am when Greg came downstairs with Santi and saw me in tears. He started getting worried that he sat me down and asked me what had happened. I told him a very strong typhoon had hit Philippines and I didn’t manage to contact DR or any of my family members for 2 days already. He then turned the TV on and gathered that indeed a typhoon has badly hit Philippines. He came back to me and started comforting me and said “ let’s wait until we manage to get hold of them. I am sure they are all safe” and gave me a hug.

Night of the 9^th of November when I tried to call my son again to know how they are. At last I managed to get connected. He told me it wasn’t that bad in the city but in the province especially coastal areas were badly hit. A lot of people died and many homes were destroyed. He also told me that all my brothers and their kids survived except their homes. It was completely destroyed. They all find refuge in the church nearby. As if my heart jumped for joy knowing that they all survived. I cried for joy. I immediately told Greg about the good news. I have been supporting my whole family like Norman does for years and Greg knew it. He has been very supportive on us knowing that we work abroad so we can send money back home. He treated us as part of his family already so when I said that they all survived, he himself was relieved too. Then he asked me about their homes. I told him they lost everything. It was completely destroyed. I didn’t manage to control my emotion that I hugged Boss so tight while saying, how am I going to help them now? For years of being employed by Greg I have been a living testimony of how generous he is but I didn’t expect him to say at that moment that he will help my brothers. He held me on both my shoulders and said, look at me Rose,” I will help you build your brothers home again and  give them hope for a much better future.” I cried even more but for joy because of what he said. I hugged him again and thank the Lord for giving me a kind and generous boss like him.

Right there and then, he called his PA to facilitate the help. I called my son right away to tell him the good news. He started sending me pictures of their homes and how they are coping somehow. They tried to salvage materials from the wreckage and build a shanty as temporary shelter. I immediately sent money for their food and other needs. After a week the money for the materials was sent back to Philippines so they could start building their homes again. It took them more than three months to complete the construction. He then decided to go to Philippines so he can hand over these houses personally to them. That was his first ever visit to our country so, me and Norman flew out first to prepare the hand over. That visit was very special to me because he even took his Mum with him. I felt that I and my whole family owed him so much gratitude that we made that visit somehow inspiring and memorable to everyone who came to witness the handover ceremony. It has been part of Filipino traditions that someone like Greg should be recognised by the whole community and be given an honour. Our municipal Mayor Ligaya Apura together with the rest of our municipal councillors, welcomed Greg and his mother in our town. For me the best part of the celebration that day was when Greg also mentioned that my brothers were not only given a home each but also a home showcase surprise. He completely changed their lives. They won’t be worried anymore when typhoon comes because they are now living in a typhoon resilient structure.

I am so happy and grateful for my brothers that day but also guilty that I manage to help them but not others. I left Lemery that night with Greg with mixed emotions. I was happy but sad for others. They will not get the opportunity to receive the same help like my brothers had. In the car on our way back to the city he whispered to me and said, “I know you are happy for your brothers but you also thought about others there because they are also victims and crying for help. I can see in your eyes. Don’t worry Rose, we will come back to this place after one year and build a village so we can help more”. I thought to myself, if only those people heard what he just said just now, I’m sure they will jump for joy too.  Our first trip with Greg to Philippines were so inspiring that we saw people who were victims still manage to smile though their hearts suffered so much. And that first trip became the beginning of all good thing that happened right after.

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