The Seraspes damaged house in barangay Maya, Bogo City after supertyphoon Yolanda’s fury two years ago. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Simple noche buena for survivors
Christmas will never be the same for us Yolanda survivor. Everything can change with a snap of one’s fingers.”
This was how Marianita Seraspe described her Christmas after surviving Supertyphoon Yolanda two years ago in barangay Maya, Bogo city in north Cebu.
Nevertheless, she said her family was grateful to the Lord for giving them another chance at life.
After Yolanda, they would celebrate Christmas with a simple noche buena — roast chicken, dried fish, and malunggay soup, said Marianita, the youngest daughter.
The Seraspe family live near the seashore.
This was a far cry from past celebrations. The village was filled with festivity and smiles.
“You could see karaoke booths in every house. You would hear the laughter and Christmas jingles of children, and our neighbors would invite us for dinner,” she said.
But after the typhoon hit the country on Nov. 8, 2013, the smiles have waned, she said.
Families would still celebrate, but the festivity and merriment of the people is different.
Seraspe said the only special thing they did for Christmas was complete attendance in nine days of Misa de Gallo masses.
Anselma Seraspe, Marianita’s mother, said she thought she would not survive Yolanda.
She thanked God for giving her and her family another chance at life.
She said the super typhoon’s winds were like the screams of a cat.
She stayed in a neighbor’s sturdy house where she saw her home pummeled and destroyed by the winds and waves.
After the typhoon passed, she found her house still standing but with roof parts missing.
The house was leaning on one side.
Seaweeds and coconut leaves covered the place. Homes of neighbors were were damaged by fallen coconut trees, she said.
She said they were thankful that no one died in their barangay.
Residents received assistance from private agencies to rebuild their damaged house.
They received 8 pieces of plywood which were used to fix the interiors and 16 roofing sheets of galvanized iron.
Her older sister, Eloisa, who works at Timex Philippines, received cash assistance and relief goods from the company.
Yesterday, two years since Yolanda struck, the family received P10,000 as emergency shelter assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Marianita said the money will be used to pay off their debts and their mother’s monthly check-up for her heart condition.
They also plan to buy a sack of rice and housing materials to fix the house, she said.
The remaining cash will be used for the education of her nephews and nieces.
Marianita said that she will never forget what happened on November 2013, and that she will always be grateful to the Lord for letting them survive the supertyphoon.