Around the World with CFCA

By Malou Navio, CFCA Antipolo project coordinator

Rachel and her parents describe how the family was impacted by Typhoon Ketsana. Rachel’s older brother died while saving children in a day-care facility.

Sponsored girl Rachel is one of the many survivors struggling from the severe impact of Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng (Ketsana and Parma). She and her family are in deep pain and in severe difficulty. After saving little children from the day-care center of their neighborhood, her 19-year-old brother, Roy, was killed by the mudslides with big boulders.

Six people in their neighborhood were killed. Three were rescuers. Their bodies, including Roy’s, drowned in the horrible flood and could not be found. The flood washed away Rachel’s home and many homes in their neighborhood.

“I’m praying to God to help us and strengthen us to surpass this difficulty,” Rachel said.

Rachel is a third-year high school student. She is the youngest among the six children. Three siblings each have their own family. They live in the same neighborhood. A brother is working as an on-call helper in another province.

Her father, Ricardo, used to earn a living as a contractual construction worker or on-call driver. Her mother, Corazon, as well as her married siblings, used to earn money from accepting laundry work. Both sources of livelihood are impossible. Her father lost his carpentry tools, identification and license to flooding. Her mother could not accept laundry because of the cloudy river water.

They cannot be accommodated in the evacuation centers because the centers are already full. They must live with Rachel’s sister and her family in a small makeshift abode. They are very congested. They take turns sleeping on a wooden cot. Water is rationed. No comfort rooms. Her mother is becoming thin and sickly.

Their community is called Labahan, a place known for people whose livelihood is doing laundry by hand at the nearby river. Their previous livelihood was scavenging from the garbage dumpsite.

“We have a good neighborhood,” Corazon said, while crying. “We help each other. However, at present, all of us have nothing. We are equally affected by Typhoon Ondoy.”

Ricardo, though very sad, is hopeful to start over again.

“We are praying for Divine assistance and to the people not affected by the typhoon to help us rise,” he said.

“Thanks to the presence of the CFCA staff,” Corazon added. “They lighten our heavy feelings.”

“Thanks for being concerned and for helping,” Rachel said.

Related links
Donate to the Disaster Assistance Fund to help families like Rachel’s
My experience with Typhoon Ondoy
View pictures of the disaster and CFCA’s relief efforts
Stranded for 11 hours