Tacloban Survivor: 'My parents were so happy to see me alive'

Marcelo Maloon Jr. was getting ready to take his nursing exams when the typhoon hit. He left his belongings at his home in Tacloban to take shelter with friends in a nearby hotel, hoping to return after the storm. He came back to find a pile of debris where his home had once stood.

At least 2,000 people are now known to have been killed by one of the most powerful storms in recorded history. But according to the UN, local officials say the final death toll may be as high as 10,000. On the ground, relief agencies are struggling to meet the staggering humanitarian needs of people in the worst-hit areas. It’s reckoned that the coastal city of Tacloban sustained the most damage.

Photo taken by Marcelo Maloon Jr. on Friday, November 8 in Tacloban.

“When I went to see my house, it wasn’t there. It was completely gone.”

Speaking from his hometown of Cebu, our Observer told FRANCE 24 how surviving Typhoon Haiyan in Tacloban left him and his parents traumatised.

I came to Tacloban on September 18 to prepare for the Philippine Nursing Licensure Exams. I was scheduled to take my exams in December. On Thursday night, I was at home in my room. The home that I was renting was near the Santo Niño church and the school where I was studying. I thought I would be safe in my home: I had imagined it would just be some flooding. Then our landlord came and told us we had to evacuate. I packed some food and water, enough for three days. I left all my possessions in my room, but I took them off the floor to stop them getting damaged by any flooding. Then we went to the school where we study to take shelter. That’s when some classmates called me and told me it was safer to shelter with them in a nearby hotel. I guess I was blessed. I could have been dead by now if it wasn't for my classmates.

 

Video taken by Marcelo Maloon Jr. and uploaded onto Instagram.

By 6am I saw strong winds and a huge storm surge. An hour later, when the storm hit, debris was flying everywhere. I saw pieces of roofing and trees being blown around, but you didn’t know where they would go because the wind was blowing in every direction. We were completely speechless. It was worse than a disaster movie. The people I was sheltering with were crying. We felt helpless watching what was happening; we couldn’t stop worrying if our friends and neighbors were safe.

 

Photo taken by Marcelo Maloon Jr. on Friday, November 8 in Tacloban. He added: "This was what was left of the boarding house that I was renting. Unfortunately, I lost everything."

 

When I left the hotel after the storm, I couldn’t recognise Tacloban anymore. There were cars scattered everywhere, there were trees and electrical posts lying in the streets. There were parts of houses everywhere. I saw the bodies of dead animals. I could see the bodies of people who hadn’t survived. Before, it was clean and peaceful. When I left my hotel room, it was like hell. The city was devastated.

 

“They were crying when they saw me. They were so happy to see me alive.”

 

When I went to see my house, it wasn’t there. It was completely gone. I lost everything that was inside. Afterwards, I stayed with some friends in Tacloban for three days. Today I arrived back in my home town – Cebu – to stay with my parents. They were crying when they saw me. They were so happy to see me alive. What's important for me now is that I am safe here in Cebu. For now, I will just enjoy the company of my family and friends so that the trauma I felt might be lessened.

 

In our city [Cebu] there is a centre for coordinating the relief efforts. My parents are traumatised by what happened, but if it’s ok with them, later I’m going to go back to Tacloban City to volunteer. I may be safe here in Cebu, but what about the people in Tacloban that need our help?

Article written by FRANCE 24 journalist Andrew Hilliar (@andyhilliar)