Arjayssa Reyes (firsthand account) I saw a familiar face on TV. I remember her so clearly. Ill never forget. It was the 12th day after Yolanda struck Tacloban.We arrived exactly at 7am in the airport. I was with my partner, my younger brother and his girlfriend. We were about to go out of Tacloban and the only way for us was to patiently fall in line for the c130, which was bound for Manila. We were early but the line were already meters away from the gate. A lot of the people there were from Tacloban and other typhoon stricken nearby towns. It was a sad exodus from the place I was born and grew up with. My hubby and I were only there for 3 days. We had managed to pay for the inbound flight but not for the outbound flight, because we spent everything that we could for food, water, infants milk, baby needs, medicines and light supplies. Everything were given to my family, relatives, neighbors and to some strangers that needed help. We needed to help. We really needed to help. We were falling in line when I noticed this woman in white who got out from a newly waxed van. She was from a local TV channel that I often watched. I assumed that she was a reporter because minutes later she was holding her mic and did some reports in front of the camera. She later went to a nearby tent to have some shade when the suns heat was unbearable for her. Hours later we were still on the same line, under the scorching heat of the sun. No tents. Not even a single shade. Even the soldiers who were guarding the line when we got there were already out of sight. I guess they care a lot about their complexion too. (lol) We caught a sight of relief when we saw some tents being put up, but when we needed it, it was already gone. Literally, gone. I was hoping for rain. And yes, it rained. Silly me, I never thought of the others who didnt have umbrellas with them. I saw some old women/men and parents with small kids who immediately sought refuge from a nearby Red Cross tent. Then some had used tarps for cover. Then the rain stopped, then the sun came out again. Then the rain stopped, then the sun came out again. I cant remember now how many times it happened, and yet no efforts from the soldiers who were there. They could have built a big tent and accommodate everyone who were patiently falling in line for hopes of fleeing. I dont know how silly politicians/ government officials can be, to not think about those people who were too exposed from the heat and from the rain. Imagine this, we were in a line were some parents were carrying their kids. I saw an old woman with a swollen feet being assisted by her grandson. I met a father who had survived, yet was bearing the pains of his bruises and wounds after trying to save his life from the flood. I saw a young boy with a crutch and without a foot, who just stood there, waiting for his turn. Some were from Tolosa, who carried nothing but their clothes. Some were from San Jose, who carried nothing but their own, and some food and water. Some of them had lost their father in law, grandson, siblings, mother, and father. Different people but with the same eagerness to escape the nightmare that theyve gone through. We were almost near the gate, when some fu**** man announced that they would only allow people to enter and board the c130 if they have been listed under the DSWD list or dependents of government officials/employees. Imagine the chaos theyve made. Their late announcement was a big mess. People started to complain. The single line that we were in became a no line. It became a big crowd. We were pushed back and forth. We were really upset. They should have announced those rules earlier when people started to line up, and not when people waited for hours just to get inside those golden gates. I tried to think of a way. I asked the soldiers who were near the tower gate where we can be listed if we were dependents of a government official/employees because my dad was a former coast guard official. The soldier that I talked to told me to talk to the soldiers who were in the front gate. It was not an easy task, because we were still being canned in the middle of the crowd. However, we still managed to get out of the crowd and talk to one of the soldiers who were on the front gates. To my dismay, that soldier said to me that I should talk to the Air Force soldiers, who were guarding the tower gate. I headed again to the soldiers at the tower gate, they pinpointed again the soldiers at the front gate. We were like a ball, being bounced back and forth. And because of that, I lost it. I shouted at one of the soldiers, complaining how they are toying people. That soldier said that they were just taking orders. I actually dont know if theyre officials ordered them to toy around people, because they were really doing it to us. My partner, who was really more patient than me, talked to the same soldier I shouted. The soldier told him that we could enter the gate if my dad would come over and show his I.D. I dont know how they do those rules. My dad was 10 kilometers away from the airport, so we waited for him. When he arrived, the soldier told us that we could go inside. We were really about to enter the gate when suddenly, one of his officials made an announcement. All the people needed to line up again in 4 rows. He was shouting madly at all the people. We didnt participate. We figured out that they were going to make a show. People started falling in line. The military official told them to follow the soldiers that were ahead of them. The soldiers who were ahead of the line started moving, away from the gates. Then, people were being transferred to the waiting area. Our instincts were right, it was just a show. They just transferred all the people to the waiting area so that the area would be cleared up. We were just waiting near the gates when some people (evacuees) who were waiting inside the gate, fell in line outside. Crazy right? They were already inside the gates but they were told to fall in line outside because they needed to be interviewed by some DSWD personnels. I think they need to be back in school again and enroll in Organization 101. My partner instantly blend in and fall in line again. We also followed him. We were about to be interviewed by DSWD personnels. We actually found out that once youre interviewed, you will be part of the list whos going to enter the gates and board the c130. We were interviewed. We were fortunate not to be part of those people who were in the waiting area. They were hundreds of people. Most of them were there since 3 am. And all of them didnt know that those military soldiers was just playing around with them. They should have made the interviews when people were filing up in a single line. It was more organized. But, they never did. We needed to help. So we advised some of the familiar faces we saw earlier at the single line to fall in line where the DSWD personnels were conducting interviews. They actually followed our advice but minutes later, the line was dispersed. Hours later, it was already night time when one of the soldiers announced the names who were on the list. My partners name was announced, and 3 of us were under his name. The feeling was like when you were passing a bar exam. Everybody rejoiced when their name were announced. It was an assurance that youll board the c130. However our hopes crumbled down, when we were not still allowed to enter the gates, the announcer (soldier) to just sit back and relax. They were still waiting for available planes that could accommodate us and they will just make announcements. It was already 8pm when the rain started pouring, we sought shelter from a nearby tent. It was a tent for a local media. A family with some kids also sought some shelter there. They were soaking wet. The media staffs were eating when we were there. I saw the lady reporter there. She was smoking while sipping as well on her cup of coffee. I felt my tummy grumble. I guess the kids and the mother felt the same way too because they were staring at the food the staffs were eating. But, we were ghosts to them. The rain had stopped, we immediately went back to the crowd, who were waiting patiently for the announcements. There were c130 planes that arrived, but minutes later,it departed. We were waiting and sitting in one corner. We fell asleep, then the rain started to pour again. We were awakened by the raindrops. We immediately fled and sought shelter in the same tent. The family that was there hours ago was still there. The kids were now lying down in their makeshift bed composed of bags. One little boy was almost sleeping on the mud. It was a sad scene. If we only had blankets to give. If we only had mats to offer. But, we didnt have any. One of the media staffs tried to help. He didnt bear to watch the boy sleep on the mud. He got a piece of carton and gave it to the moms boy. That was a heroic act indeed. I remember how I saw tons and tons of relief goods and mats/ blankets being given by different people/ organizations on this certain TV channel. Where are those now? Millions of donations were given to them. Why not spend a single cent on building tents where people can seek shelter? We managed to roam around the airport. It was already 11pm. We were looking for a dry place were we can sit on. We saw some UNICEF tents being used by another TV channel staffs. They could have brought their own tents, right? Small kids could have slept there. Most of them were lying on the wet floors, only a single blanket separating them from the cold. We tried to ask help from the soldiers, asking for cartons or tarps that we could give to small children. They didnt have any. I saw some soldiers, having a good time at the tower. How can they have fun? A lot of people were shivering with cold. A lot were waiting for hopes that their names would be announced. The rain poured hard again. We managed to find a dry spot. We tried to sleep. But, we couldnt. The raindrops were splashing on our feet. Then another c130 arrived. It was from the U.S. air force. My hubby found out a hole where we can pass so that we could enter the tarmac. After checking that hole, he found out that the U.S. Air Force were letting some refugees board their aircraft, which was heading to Manila. They were told to fall in line under the pouring rain. We went through the hole. The rain was pouring so hard again and the winds were getting stronger. We were shivering. My hubby said, Kaya natin to. I just smiled. We were waiting for the people in the line to move and we planned to just blend in, act as if we were one of them. The plan was done. We were already on the line but I guess the soldiers noticed us. We were told to run to the c130 plane. We ran and we were soaking wet. We were about to board, the entrance was just 2 meters away from us, when we were told to go back to the line. Imagine the efforts weve made. The water and wind were literally splashing all over our face. I utter a short prayer to GOd. Please let us go home. Were almost there. I guess our prayers were heard. The U.S. Air Force personnels allowed us to board their aircraft. We were so thankful. We were given proper care inside the Villamor Airbase. There were a lot of volunteers. There were a lot of food and water. I hope it was the same way in Tacloban. Then I saw her face the next night. She was on the news. She acted as if she cared for the people she was talking about. I know now how they act in the real world. Theyre just reporters. Literal reporters. I dont want any of my future grandsons/ granddaughters to be just reporters. I want them to be the REAL PEOPLE with REAL HEART.
Posted on: Wed, 27 Nov 2013 13:53:52 +0000
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