Surviving one of the most powerful Typhoons on record (2013) | Foreign Correspondent

Summary

The video script documents the aftermath of Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, focusing on the northernmost part of Cebu. It highlights the struggles of locals on smaller islands like Bantayan, which were severely impacted and received little media or government attention. The script captures the efforts of former governor Gwen Garcia in relief distribution, the community's resilience, and the political implications of aid distribution. It also raises concerns about climate change, the loss of coral reefs, and the uncertain future for these island communities.

Takeaways

• 🌪️ The super typhoon had a devastating impact on the northern coast of Cebu and the smaller islands, causing widespread damage and leaving many without homes or basic necessities.
• 🏝️ Bantayan Island, directly in the path of the typhoon's eye, suffered extensive destruction with hotels, businesses, and houses severely damaged or destroyed.
• 🚸 The local government and private groups were the primary sources of relief, with the central government's response being slow and inadequate.
• 📉 The typhoon's aftermath exposed the vulnerability of the region's infrastructure, including communication and power lines, which were severely affected.
• 🌎 The geographical spread of the Philippines, with its many islands, poses challenges for disaster relief efforts, as some areas receive less attention and support.
• 🏛️ The destruction of coral reefs and overfishing have already made life difficult for the island communities before the typhoon, exacerbating their plight post-disaster.
• 🌊 The timing of the typhoon, which struck at low tide, was a fortunate coincidence that saved Bantayan Island from a potentially worse fate.
• 🌡️ There are concerns that climate change may lead to more frequent and severe storms, posing a long-term threat to the islands and their inhabitants.
• 🏥 The local community's resilience was evident in their efforts to rebuild and recover, despite the lack of resources and the enormity of the disaster.
• 🕊️ The typhoon's impact was not just physical; it also had emotional and psychological effects on the survivors, many of whom lost loved ones and everything they owned.
• 🌱 The script highlights the importance of sustainable living and the need for global action to mitigate the effects of climate change, particularly for island communities.

Q & A

What was the impact of the super typhoon on the north coast of Cebu?

The super typhoon caused widespread damage, leaving people without homes or shelter, and destroying hotels, businesses, and houses.

Why did the area receive little attention from the media and government?

The area is part of a nation with seven thousand islands, of which only two thousand are inhabited, making it difficult to focus attention and resources on one area.

What was the former governor Gwen Garcia doing to help the affected areas?

Gwen Garcia was trying to bring relief to the area, and she managed to get a truckload of rice onto the ferry.

What was the name of the typhoon that hit the Philippines?

The typhoon was known as Typhoon Haiyan, or Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines.

How did Typhoon Haiyan affect the city of Tacloban?

Typhoon Haiyan brought the strongest wind ever recorded to Tacloban, causing a surge of seawater that demolished buildings and killed thousands.

What was the situation like on Bantayan Island after the typhoon?

Bantayan Island was directly in the path of the storm's eye, and the aftermath left the island with destroyed hotels, businesses, and houses, and many people without homes.

How did the local government respond to the typhoon warning?

The local government took the warning seriously and tried to move everyone to shelters.

What were the challenges faced by the people of Bantayan Island in terms of relief and recovery?

The island faced challenges such as lack of food, cut internet and phone lines, insufficient fuel, and destruction of water pumps.

What role did politics play in the distribution of relief supplies according to Gwen Garcia?

Gwen Garcia suspected that local party bosses were withholding relief supplies from areas that voted against them.

What were the long-term concerns of the islanders regarding climate change and its impact on their livelihood?

The islanders were concerned about the worsening environment, including coral bleaching, overfishing, and warming waters, which were affecting their fishing grounds and livelihood.

How did the typhoon affect the education of the children on Bantayan Island?

The typhoon destroyed schools, and children had to attend classes in temporary shelters or evacuation centers.

What was the role of private groups and charities in providing relief to the affected areas?

Private groups and charities played a significant role in providing relief, filling the vacuum left by the government's response.

Outlines

00:00

🌪️ Typhoon's Aftermath on Cebu Islands

The script describes the aftermath of a super typhoon in the north coast of Cebu, Philippines. People are fleeing the devastation, and relatives are desperately searching for their loved ones. The region, often neglected by media and government, is part of a nation with thousands of islands. The typhoon, known as Haiyan or Yolanda, was the strongest ever recorded, causing widespread damage and claiming thousands of lives. The former governor, Gwen Garcia, is trying to bring relief to the area, which has received little attention. The script also highlights the lack of infrastructure and resources, with people left without homes and basic necessities.

05:03

🏝️ Struggles of Bantayan Island

Bantayan Island, directly in the path of the typhoon's eye, has been severely affected. The island, once a tourist destination, is now filled with ruins of hotels, businesses, and homes. The local government, led by Mayor Chris Ascari, is struggling to coordinate relief efforts with limited resources. The script discusses the challenges of providing aid to such a remote area, where communication and transportation are difficult. It also touches on the political implications of relief distribution, suggesting that some areas may be overlooked due to political affiliations.

10:03

🌊 The Impact of Typhoon on Local Lives

The script delves into the personal stories of those affected by the typhoon. It discusses the challenges faced by the people of Bantayan as they try to recover and rebuild their lives. The impact of the typhoon on local industries, such as fishing and egg production, is highlighted, with many still recovering from previous disasters. The script also raises concerns about the potential long-term effects of climate change on the region, with some residents expressing worry about the increasing severity of storms.

15:06

🌎 Global Warming and Its Local Repercussions

This paragraph discusses the potential link between global warming and the severity of the typhoon. It includes a plea from a Filipino delegate at a UN climate change conference, urging for action to prevent such disasters from becoming the norm. The script explores how climate change may exacerbate natural disasters and affect the livelihoods of island communities. It also touches on the broader environmental challenges faced by the region, such as coral bleaching and overfishing.

20:10

🏡 Rebuilding and the Struggle for Survival

The script follows the efforts of the community to rebuild after the typhoon. It describes the challenges of obtaining funding for reconstruction and the impact of the disaster on local economies. The story of an old man and his wife, who are struggling to survive on their own after their home was destroyed, is highlighted. The script also discusses the role of local leaders in organizing relief efforts and the resilience of the community in the face of adversity.

25:12

🌱 Hope and Resilience Amidst Devastation

The final paragraph focuses on the resilience and hope of the community in the face of overwhelming devastation. It describes the efforts of individuals and organizations to bring relief and support to those affected by the typhoon. The script also reflects on the strength of the community's spirit and their determination to rebuild and move forward despite the challenges. It ends with a call for greater responsibility and stewardship of the island, as well as a recognition of the broader global impact on such communities.

Keywords

💡Super Typhoon

A super typhoon is a tropical storm with sustained wind speeds exceeding 150 mph (240 km/h). In the video, it's discussed as the cause of widespread devastation in the Philippines, particularly affecting smaller islands like Bantayan Island. The script describes the aftermath of the storm, with people trying to flee and the community struggling to recover.

💡Typhoon Haiyan

Typhoon Haiyan, known locally as Typhoon Yolanda, was one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded. The script mentions it as the storm that caused catastrophic damage, flattening buildings and resulting in thousands of deaths. It serves as a central theme, illustrating the scale of the disaster.

💡Disaster Relief

Disaster relief refers to aid provided to disaster-stricken areas and people. The video script describes the efforts of former governor Gwen Garcia and others to bring relief to affected areas, highlighting the challenges in coordinating and distributing aid.

💡Island Communities

Island communities are groups of people living on islands, often with unique challenges and vulnerabilities. The script emphasizes the struggles of these communities, particularly in the Philippines' archipelago, as they grapple with the aftermath of the typhoon and the slow response from the government.

💡Climate Change

Climate change is a long-term change in the Earth's climate patterns. The video script connects the increasing severity of storms like Typhoon Haiyan to the broader issue of climate change, suggesting a potential link between global warming and extreme weather events.

💡Evacuation Centers

Evacuation centers are designated places where people are moved to for safety during a disaster. The script describes how one such center, a sports hall, was destroyed during the typhoon, illustrating the inadequacy of some preparedness measures.

💡Sea Surge

A sea surge, also known as a storm surge, is a rise in sea level during a storm. The video script mentions the sea surge as one of the most dangerous aspects of Typhoon Haiyan, capable of causing widespread destruction along coastlines.

💡Infrastructure

Infrastructure refers to the basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise. The script describes the extensive damage to infrastructure, such as buildings, water pumps, and transportation, which is a major challenge for recovery efforts.

💡Livelihood

Livelihood refers to the means of earning a living. The video script discusses how the typhoon has disrupted the livelihoods of island residents, particularly those dependent on fishing, due to destroyed boats and depleted fish stocks.

💡Resilience

Resilience is the ability to recover quickly from difficulties. The script highlights the resilience of the island communities as they work to rebuild their lives and infrastructure despite the overwhelming devastation caused by the typhoon.

💡Global Warming

Global warming refers to the long-term increase in Earth's average surface temperature. The video script includes discussions about global warming and its potential impact on the frequency and intensity of storms, linking the local disaster to a global issue.

Highlights

Ferry port on the north coast of Cebu is a site of mass displacement due to a super typhoon.

Residents of smaller islands are struggling without media or government attention.

Former governor Gwen Garcia is working tirelessly to bring relief to the affected areas.

Typhoon Haiyan, known locally as Yolanda, was the strongest storm ever recorded in the region.

The typhoon's aftermath left hundreds of kilometers of land and sea in ruins.

Bantayan Island, directly in the typhoon's path, saw catastrophic damage to infrastructure.

Mayor Chris Ascari Oh is coordinating limited relief efforts due to a lack of global attention.

Private groups have been the primary source of aid, with supplies brought in via ferries.

Communication and power infrastructure are severely damaged, exacerbating the crisis.

There are allegations of political favoritism in the distribution of relief supplies.

The typhoon's impact has been compounded by previous disasters, such as a severe typhoon two years prior.

The community of Bantayan is resilient but faces an uphill battle in recovery and rebuilding.

Locals are concerned about the increasing severity of storms and their effects on livelihoods.

The typhoon's timing, striking at low tide, may have prevented an even greater tragedy.

The community's response to the disaster has been largely self-organized and independent.

Relief efforts are slowly improving with the involvement of businesses and private charities.

The long-term impact of climate change and its potential to increase the frequency of such disasters is a concern.

The people of Bantayan are determined to rebuild and adapt to their new reality.

The community's spirit and resilience are evident in their efforts to restore normalcy.

Transcripts

[Music]

[Music]

at a ferry port on the north coast of

Cebu hundreds of fleeing the aftermath

of a super typhoon we're going against

the tide

five days on we're heading to some of

the smaller islands ravaged by the worst

storm in memory also making the trip are

exhausted and worried relatives trying

to find their loved ones this part of

the Philippines has had little attention

from the media or even the government

but that's not surprising this is a

nation of seven thousand islands of

which 2,000 are inhabited the typhoon

caused such widespread damage that some

areas are just starting to get help

the former governor Gwen Garcia has been

trying to bring relief here for days

she's finally managed to get a truckload

of rice onto the ferry this is the first

time that we've had such a variable

typhoon such as this yes sir this area

got the full force of the typhoon that's

right and since the typhoon or the super

typhoon was moving northwards this area

which is the northernmost part of the

province that really really hit very bad

the Philippines has always suffered

violent storms but typhoon haiyan known

here as typhoon Yolanda was off the

scale he came out of the Northwest

Pacific and when it made landfall it was

the strongest wind ever recorded it bore

down on the crowded city of Tacloban

bringing a surge of seawater that

demolished buildings and killed

thousands the cyclone continued across

this impoverished archipelago slamming

into Island after Island destroying

whole towns tearing their flimsy

dwellings apart by the time it was over

the disaster zone stretched hundreds of

kilometers across land and sea

[Music]

our destination bantayan island was

directly in the path of the eye of the

storm

we arrived to find more people trying to

flee

this was a tourist destination and home

to a hundred and thirty thousand people

but all we see now are the remains of

hotels businesses and houses amid trees

that were snapped like matchsticks I

can't believe what I'm seeing it's

beyond words people don't have shelters

they don't have homes it's shattered the

holes shattered lives at the Town Hall

there's a flurry of activity have you

had any help the mayor Chris Ascari Oh

is coordinating the little relief there

is because most of the attention is

global and other places we know they

really have but we needed help possible

so far almost all the help has come from

private groups and everything's had to

be trucked in on ferries this might look

like a lot but it has to feed a hundred

thousand people on bantayan and all the

smaller islands around us internet and

phone lines are cut and there's barely

enough fuel to run a generator so people

hungry later they're really hungry and

r5 Island Valentine's those have water

now despite the island having a

functioning airstrip

Maris Carrillo has given up hope of help

from the central government which is

trying to deal with what's effectively a

multiple catastrophe

each island is a disaster in itself

whatever comes in will happy happy well

I'm bringing in at least 50 bags of rice

even in the midst of awful human

suffering

grubby politics may be in play when

Garcia was Sabu's governor for three

terms and now sits with the opposition

in the National Congress she suspects

local party bosses are withholding

relief supplies from areas that voted

against them I've been going to the

other towns that were affected too and

I've seen a pattern it seems that those

towns where the mayor belongs to the

ruling party they get all of these help

those are not aligned with the

administration they get a nice neat

token of help the government denies

favoritism with as many as ten million

people affected in 44 provinces

scattered across the islands any one

would struggle but many believe the

relief effort has been chaotic uneven

and grossly inadequate it's getting

cruel

in this particular case hunger and

sickness even death do not choose

whether you're aligned with a political

party or not

bunt I am was still recovering from a

severe typhoon that hit two years ago

the damage forced fishermen and

businesses to take out heavy loans

especially in the islands main industry

of egg production most are still paying

them off nobody expected an even greater

typhoon to hit so soon

the mayor's cousin Mincy scary Oh who's

helping coordinate relief says even the

island's elders couldn't believe the

storms fury we've had pretty strong

typhoons in the past but never of this

kind

[Music]

a lot of people who live in the islands

thought that they would weather the

storm they could weather the storm but

obviously from what you see we were all

wrong

the astonishing destructive force of the

typhoon can only be sensed from on high

this is different this is 275 kph to

wind bringing with it water and sand so

you can imagine how massive of course

that was ripping off houses flattening

them out bringing building structures

down

[Music]

up to four million Filipinos have been

left homeless

[Music]

it's going to take years and billions of

dollars to rebuild but there are fears

this devastation could be a sign of

things to come

have you ever seen a storm like this

before

naughty naughty cousin bug young

amazonica Casona

there what patanjali fear okay he hasn't

experienced a storm of this magnitude

because he's still alone here they're

more worried about Outsiders encroaching

on their fishing grounds than scientific

concerns about climate change some

people talk about global warming have

you heard about global warming have you

seen any changes in the in the climate

kamati goodness tapenade and our journal

are enough know I love to learn some

kind of thing else and we got our King

Oliver sitting here

I mean I love you while the islanders

sifted through the rubble from the storm

politicians ten thousand kilometres away

argued over its significance

a Filipino delegate made this

impassioned plea to the UN climate

change conference in Warsaw

mr. president I speak for my delegation

but I I speak speak for the countless

people who will no longer be able to

speak for themselves after perishing

from the storm

I speak also for those who have been

orphaned by the storm we can take

drastic action now to ensure that we

prevent a future where super typhoons

become a way of life it's impossible to

say with certainty of global warming

affected this typhoon

but most scientists predict rising

temperatures and sea levels will bring

greater storms and sea surges the

Islanders already face a worsening

environment not just because of climate

[Applause]

the fishing grounds have become much

much farther they no longer fish nearby

because there's nothing to catch at all

they used to see really big fish species

around but they're all gone so life has

become really hard for them the weather

dictates their catch and what they eat

every day and because the weather

changes have been very very strange and

unpredictable their catch and their

livelihood has become unpredictable as

well a cross bun tie on the community is

working hard to clear the wreckage and

rebuild but some things will never be

made right this is what's left of the

house Josephine Kasper shared with her

husband of 21 years Pedro he died when a

wall collapsed on top of him I traded to

us help but the wind was so fast I lost

my house I lost my husband I lost

everything

then I I do not like I don't know where

I were where I started everything lost

any children no children that's why I

said it's very it's very painful for me

because I don't have child I don't have

children I lost everything

[Music]

sipar Cunha nowadays nobody christo.pas

but home Garcia Oh Antonia you don't owe

me yourself

[Music]

the neighbor has given her clothes

shelter and a place to farewell her

husband

[Music]

in the local tradition there's an open

casket and a long wake of singing and

praying before the funeral service this

mass was one of many on the island but

bantayan was spared the horror of other

towns where thousands died so far this

community has lost 21 people in part

it's because the local government took

seriously the warning of a category 5

typhoon and tried to move everyone to

shelters

but it soon became clear that all the

preparations meant little against the

might of typhoon haiyan

[Music]

this is what happened to one evacuation

center a sports hall

it's a story repeated across the island

Armel in limping dog is staying with her

children at their local primary school

it's become a temporary refuge for

dozens of homeless families

she and her mother-in-law Marita feel

lucky to be alive the school was also an

evacuation center but during the typhoon

it started to tear apart around them my

my pain again cut make a muchas cosas

hanging on a Makita

to bonamo such a hard look per good yeah

Hanukkah question I carried it is I

belong in a loop at Nang I'm wrong room

among room with to commit ago say allah

allah moosa a.s ilyas i see less than

anyone back and i see are determining

ago Diane who won a baton abou economy a

Madonna come in Amal in committee

Tokugawa family in Laguna Miki say

welcome Sudan some collision okay I'm

listening I'm listening a basic are you

man a guru guru personally son and I

know nothing of machine

in the end it wasn't good preparation

that spared the massive casualties it

was an accident of fate the islands are

surrounded by tidal flats the typhoon

struck at low tide when the sea was

hundreds of metres from the shore the

sand and mud stopped the storm wave and

that is what saved bantayan the wind was

devastating but it was the sea surge

driven by the storm that posed the

greatest danger if the typhoon had

struck at high tide just a few hours

later this whole community could have

been wiped out

Vince Ascari Oh believes bantayan was

blessed

he's a former seminarian like many in

this devoutly Roman Catholic country

he's been giving thanks for deliverance

it could have wiped out the entire

island if if the tide was high at the

time not a single building would be seen

today and not a single soul would be on

this island now

[Music]

he took me on an outrigger boat to some

of the stricken smaller islands he was

shocked by the state of them this was a

beautiful beautiful place before the

typhoon hit this area here was a thick

forest of people evil trees so thick

that sunlight could hardly penetrate

into the canopy of trees and now all you

see is a parched land the villagers are

glad to see us they don't even have

drinking water not only is the power out

the storm destroyed the water pumps this

fishing village suffered even more

damage than towns on the main island

though there's no sign the kids mind

just yet that this school was blown away

what you see now are just a service

boats the big boats that they really use

for fishing and for other livelihood are

all gone despite the destruction the

island is already getting back to work

people here are determined to continue

living by and from the sea but even

before the typhoon life in this fishing

community was getting ever harder we are

right in the middle of the Philippine

archipelago the Spaniards called us

Madre de los Pescados mother of the

fishes because back in the 15th century

this island was surrounded by coral

reefs but now they're all gone coral

bleaching overfishing warming of the

waters we were once called the mother of

the fishes that title does not belong to

us anymore and it will never be again

vince is normally a business and tourism

consultant trying to build up employment

on the islands he worries how small

communities here can survive if as most

scientists agree the climate really is

warming it's a question of funding first

and foremost people here have existing

loans they even haven't paid for yet so

the question now is with this

destruction and devastation where do

they get the money will the government

provide them with cash will banks come

in and help them and with a question of

climate change

more storms bad fishing there's no hope

for these people and there seems to be

no answer to that question where do we

get money to rebuild our lives climate

change affects us directly because we

are surrounded by water the sea defines

who we are if you have storms like this

becoming more and more frequent we might

as well vacate and look for a much

better place on this earth because

certainly there won't be any future to

look forward to

our island tour is cut short by a

medical emergency

this old man seems to have suffered a

stroke his distraught wife asks if he

can take them to Bantayan hospital

as we sail back she can barely get out

her story she tells us they had just

been to town to try to get supplies but

as soon as they returned to their ruined

house he collapsed their children are

not here they're all in Manila and she

says that they couldn't find help from

anyone so they've had to survive on

their own just the two of them he's

slightly better by the time we reach

bantayan Wharf perhaps it wasn't a

stroke after all just the overwhelming

stress of the past few days

by day nine large-scale relief is

finally coming through businesses and

private charities have stepped in to

fill the vacuum of government it's not

enough food for everyone but it's enough

to keep hope alive

[Applause]

today Maryse her and her daughter-in-law

our Marlene are moving their family back

home they live next door to each other

in a small shantytown behind the ruined

school Marita's husband is a carpenter

in little more than a week he's managed

to repair most of the storm damage to

the houses yet our Merlin's deeply

worried about her daughter's yeah what

are their names

Frances princess Diane Rose and princess

they seem cheerful enough but the memory

of that terrible day is always with them

- in a Momo cuando my golem my in

silicon syllabus ah ha ha ooh you wanna

see La Merced and Ibaka today's Isola

Bukharan semana back we sure

Oh Anna mommy bug you nella but on my

syllabus

no one gave silom a hard look Karen

Kelly Sugino Oh like so good Cammisa uno

number one number one magnet family

Usagi demo a movie an oppa is our mocha

valium for now they're getting on with

the business of living that means making

money to feed their children while the

men look for work out sighs the women's

spend the days making candles

I try to sell them at the main church

for five pesos each that's about nine

cents a candle would like it will be

enough for tomorrow's meals malukas in

Gaza Maggie liu yun baba yaga market

animals are mostly questioned away

Malloy and I said I'm obese angry nag my

lung levena get to pneumonia kalyana

phenomena monka bang was like um it was

like wave Mahatma Gandhi when it messed

up and bullying animal Familia Vince's

carrier has worked round the clock to

help bring in relief never once losing

his cheer we had to organize ourselves

we had to make that tough decision to

stand up on our own two feet but

something changes when he takes me to

another church that was opened just

months ago the statues are intact the

roof has gone and unexpectedly Vince's

stoic mask slips there is no typhoon

strong enough to bring us down and we

will rise again to see what was once a

beautiful island suffer such devastation

when there is no hope seemingly coming

but to see your ordinary neighbors

ordinary people with very literally life

but so much richness in spirit and in

love what greater power is there than

that

Oh

[Music]

the islands main Church has been here

for a hundred and fifty years built from

the very coral that surrounds the shore

it's twisted and shattered but still

standing strong for centuries the people

of bantayan have endured natural

disasters that were once called acts of

God the next generations may also face

the legacy of acts of man

[Music]

if we are to look forward to the future

we have to take things into control we

have to control how we live and live

more responsibly and be real stewards of

this island that kind of future

unfortunately is not in our hands that

kind of future is in the hands of the

much bigger more powerful more developed

nations we just can't continue to be

responsible and suffer this kind of fate

that we are suffering today

[Music]

[Music]

you