LIMAY, Bataan- Children of families from Leyte heavily ravaged by Yolanda but who have found Bataan as their new home still suffer from trauma a year after the supertyphoon unleased its fury, parents revealed Tuesday.
Lita Simborio, 35, of Barangay 59, Sagkahan, Tacloban City, and her three young children now stay with a sister in Sityo Tacloban of Barangay Lucanin in Mariveles, Bataan. “Nagkaroon ng phobia ang mga anak ko. Kaunting ambon, hangin ay nagtatakip sila ng tainga at sasabihing ‘Yolanda na naman po’,” she said.
Simborio used to cook bibingka on the sidewalk of Tacloban City. “Inanod lahat-lahat, bahay pati oven ko. Nawala lahat. Sana magkaroon uli kami ng bahay at maibalik ang hanapbuhay,” Simborio said. Her husband lost 11 relatives.
Grace Manrique, 35, of Barangay 89, Baybay, San Jose, Tacloban City with her husband and two children are now residents of Saint Francis II in Limay, Bataan. Her husband works in Limay while their two children are studying in Orion, Bataan.
“Na-trauma ang mga anak ko. Natatakot sila kapag bumabagyo. ‘Mama, bagyo na naman’, sabi nila,” she said. Many from the side of the family of her husband were killed in the super storm, she said. “Kapag maayos na ang Tacloban, gusto naming dumalaw ang mga anak namin doon para makita nila na naka-recover na at mawala sa isip nila ang karanasan nila noong sinalanta ito ni Yolanda,” Manrique said.
Merlita Dumaran, 37 and sister-in-law Gilda Sevilla, 40, both from Palo, Tanauan, Leyte with their husband and children have evacuated to Saint Francis II since November 21, 2013. Merlita has four children while Gilda has eight.
They lost six relatives. Their husbands are both fishermen. They have siblings who have been residing in Limay for some years. “Sobrang trauma ng mga anak namin, hindi makalimot,” the two women said. Asked if they would like to go back to Leyte, they said that it might be possible if their houses will be rebuilt.
“Kaya lang wala na kaming babalikan doon at isa pa, ang mga anak namin nag-aaral na sa Bataan. Maganda naman ang trato sa amin dito,” Dumaran and Sevilla said. Barangay Chairwoman Salvacion Alon of Saint Francis II said that Limay Mayor Lilvir Roque has treated the evacuees like old residents of Limay.
The women have the same story on what they experienced during the height of Yolanda. They recalled how houses were destroyed and the air filled with stench from dead bodies. ‘Napakahirap. Matapos ang bagyo, walang makain, walang tubig, nag-iiyakan ang mga anak ko,” Simborio said.
“Kung saan-saan kami nakikikain pero parang wala akong naramdamang gutom , ang naiisip ko mga anak ko,” Manrique said. “Kumukuha kami ng tubig na maiinom malapit sa mga patay,” Dumaran and Sevilla said.
