The Tacloban Chronicles: "Someone died here"

Residents charging their mobile phones at the town hall.

Our team from the city of Muntinlupa arrived past dinner time in the town of Alangalang in Leyte province after over a day's travel. Our mission was to survey the town and find out what was needed as part of the city government's commitment to help in the long-term rehabilitation of the area. The team also brought with them as much food, clothes, supplies, and medicines that two buses and a ten-wheeled truck could carry, as well as much-needed generator sets and chain saws.

The moment we stepped off the bus, we went to work. As part of the documentation team, I was tasked to give a detailed account of what was happening on the ground, 20 days after the worst storm in recorded history blew through the area with unimaginable fury. We immediately saw the long line of people huddled over several electrical extension outlets, charging their mobile phones and rechargable lamps, courtesy of the town hall's newly-donated generator sets. Several youths waved for the camera like it was the coolest thing ever; most just looked down on their possessions, as if silently wishing us to go away and let them grieve their losses in peace.

Someone died here. Photos by the author.

We proceeded to have a look-around. Our team spied a few people just a stone's throw away from the town hall, content to be in the darkness and watching the circus unfold. We decided to approach and have a chat with them. My flashlight beam immediately revealed the wreckage of a collapsed wooden house to my right. Underneath one of the piles of wood was a rain-soaked stuffed bear.



"Someone died here," one of the residents told me as he saw me contemplating the ruin. "The house collapsed on her at the height of the typhoon. She was only 42 years old."