Typhoon Reming

I was 14 years old when super-typhoon “Reming” hit our province of Albay, and I was right there amid all the devastation it wreaked. Tons of mud and huge boulders cascaded from Mayon Volcano, destroying numerous villages. Hundreds were killed and many families lost their homes and loved ones. For many hours, we cowered in our homes, praying for a miracle that would deliver us from harm.

When I came out of our house the next morning, I saw almost all the other houses without roofs. Posts were lying on the streets. Leaves were strewn all around, stripped from trees that fought bravely against the intense winds and rains of Reming. Everything looked desolate and hopeless.

For many days after the typhoon struck, I couldn’t do anything. Power and telephone lines were out for months. I couldn’t go to school, watch TV or use the computer. I couldn’t call my friends to ask if they were doing fine, or even listen to my favorite songs on the radio. Reming didn’t kill me, but boredom almost did.

Since I was just a high school sophomore then, most of my life revolved around our school. Unfortunately, the Tabaco National High School was severely damaged by the supertyphoon which left the buildings roofless and destroyed armchairs, tables and cabinets.

I thought my schooling would be disrupted. Our government couldn’t make the necessary repairs quickly, I said to myself. I did not know when I could again sit in a comfortable armchair and spend time with my other classmates. I was not even sure if all of my classmates and teachers were alive.

These thoughts haunted me day and night. I couldn’t stop myself from having all those fears.

My family and I had to eat every night by candlelight. We didn’t have cold water to drink. We had to do all of our household chores without the aid of a machine. There wasn’t even enough water for our use. There were times when I had to use a basin to wash the dishes to save on water.

Although our garage had been flattened, I was thankful that the rest of our house remained intact, unlike those of other unfortunate families who were exposed to the cold breeze and the rains that fell almost every night.

What posed the biggest challenge for me was the feeling that I wasn’t emotionally stable. I didn’t know if I liked to continue living. I couldn’t make myself think that there was still a chance for me to move on after Reming. I was traumatized and I needed a shrink.

It’s a good thing I had my parents with me during and after the calamity. They talked to me, and they never stopped comforting me and my two brothers day and night. They didn’t want us to be scared. They constantly told us that the Lord would always be there whenever we needed Him. My parents held some kind of a therapy session every night, where we would just talk about anything and try to remember pleasant and funny things that happened in our past. The intention was to take our minds away from the darkness and the silence.

When the Yuletide Season came, our family decided to go to Manila instead of spending Christmas in total darkness and discomfort. It gave us the chance to talk with friends and relatives who sought to comfort us after our traumatic experience. The people we visited during our vacation really helped even just by listening to us. I hardly noticed that I was being healed slowly from my harrowing experience with Reming.

Right after Christmas, my family and I went back to Albay. It was there where I welcomed 2007, and fortunately, I was back to my old optimistic self by then.

In February, electricity was restored in our place. Classes resumed soon, and the school year ended in April.

For most of the year 2007, I kept worrying that something similar to Reming would again devastate our country. My fear was aggravated by frequent weather forecasts saying there would be more super-typhoons hitting the country on account of global warming.

While Reming was a terrifying experience, it taught me that much of our sufferings are brought about by our own doing. Mudslides wouldn’t happen if we kept the trees intact. Many kinds of ailments wouldn’t afflict people if we kept our environment free from pollution. The boring moments I had while classes were suspended taught me that I should not depend too much on high-tech stuff. I can still enjoy evenings even without the Internet or TV because I can read books or talk with other members of my family.

It’s a good thing that nothing as serious as Reming happened in 2007. Now we are in the middle of 2008, and I still wonder whether the rest of the year will bring some surprises and challenges. Will typhoons and other calamities strike again? Will there come a time when I feel that I need a shrink again? Only God knows. But I can live each day hoping and trusting that the Lord will take care of me. I can also live responsibly, protect the environment and enjoy the blessings that come each day.

Irene Jo Arzadon, 15, is a third-year high school student at the Good Shepherd Christian School.