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Haiyan Stories: Leyte (Gerry Abas)

by Paula Nierras

“Ipinagdarasal ko na hindi na talaga maulit. Nagpapasalamat din ako sa Diyos na nabuhay pa ako. Tiis-tiis na lang muna ngayon, at makakalipat din kami.” (I’m really praying that it won’t happen again. I am very thankful to God that I am alive. Right now we have to endure a bit, but soon enough we will be able to relocate.)

Mang Gerry Abas Sr. believes that it was indeed a miracle that he’s still alive. With his house standing very near the sea, it was clearly in the pathway of Yolanda’s storm surges. When his family decided to finally go to the evacuation center, it was already too late. The black flood had already come for them, and all they could do was just float on - survive.

Swimming with debris, he sustained cuts and bruises all over his body. A deep gash in his ankle became nearly fatal as it got infected by tetanus. Medical assistance was rare to come by days after the storm, and so he had to walk all over to seek for help. Fortunately on the fourth day, mission doctors reached Tanauan, and started operating on him. His condition was so severe that he had to be sent to Manila via C130 plane to get further medical assistance.

Until now, Mang Gerry is burdened by his injuries. He is not as strong as he used to be, his movements somehow limited. But that doesn’t stop him from rebuilding his life. He is one of the Brgy. San Roque residents qualifying to relocate to a GK home.

“Sikap at tiwala lang,” he says.
(We just need to have faith and persevere.)

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