Daan Bantayan: A melancholic town after the destructive Typhoon ‘Yolanda’

Hope is the only thing that people is holding on to survive within the municipality of Daan Bantayan, the northernmost tip of Cebu province. After thousands of families have lost their houses, belongings, and food supplies, the residents were also drenched in the rain. A sight of hopelessness except to hold on only to prayers.

Unsafe thoroughfare to Daan Bantayan

The usual four hour travel from the Cebu North Terminal Bus to Daan Bantayan turns out to be a five hour travel to ensure a safe trip. Upon entering Liloan, one has to start being careful and cautious on the drive way. There are still debris lying along the road and lots of bended huge trees that block half of the road lane. There are also lamp posts which are not fully removed from the road. More  precaution is done if one desires to travel up way north to check on the situation there after Yolanda hit the area.

‘Help us’ placards

On the way to DaanBantayan, children bringing placards bearing messages like “We need help”, “We need FOOD and WATER” and “We need SHELTER” on charcoal or pen, wave it through passing motorists to catch their attention hoping to direct aid to their area. Rain or shine, they stand on the road just to bring aid to their affected families, loved ones and neighbors. This poses a threat though as accidents can happen. Due to their dire and urgent need, they might accidentally be hit by approaching vehicles.

No more schools, chapels  and courts

Aside from thousands of houses that were destroyed, ‘Yolanda’ also rampaged schools, chapels and covered courts. Both public and private schools in the municipality were all devastated by the super typhoon. Classrooms no longer have roofs. Chairs, tables and chalkboards are also damaged and drenched in the rain. Covered courts in the municipality are no longer ‘covered’ since the strong winds of the typhoon took away the covers. The same goes with the public markets and cultural complex. Chapels are devastated and some parts of their famous attraction Sta. Rosa de Lima Parish Church was destroyed. Debris from shattered establishments and trees surround the area. One cannot even recognize the plaza of Daan Bantayan anymore because some of the cemented lamp posts around it were all broken. Benches and the playground in the plaza are buried under huge trees that fell, roofs and garbage which were blown away during the storm.

‘Expect the unexpected’ 

“Wala dyud mi nagdahum nga ingani kakusog ang bagyo!” said Landa Secuya, a resident of Daan Bantayan, Cebu, whose house was also destroyed by the typhon.

She did not expect a much stronger typhoon like ‘Yolanda’ after she experienced the Super Typhoon Ruping. She concluded that ‘Yolanda’ is worse than ‘Ruping’ after she witnessed more than a thousand shanty houses in their area were all reduced to wooden planks. She was also able to make such conclusion as an estimate of only five houses remained standing in their barangay with light damages.

“Sus! Murag tulo o lima ra ang nagbarug diri sa amoang barangay nga gamay ra ang damage. Mas kusog dyud ning super typhoon kontra sa una..,” added by Secuya.

Narrating, Secuya primarily received warnings from her relatives to be ready with the typhoon however, she just took it lightly and wasn’t moved hat much. She prepared for candles and foods in case of brownout but then, what happened to them was more than what she expected.

“Nagsige pa mi og katawa.. unya pagtan-aw namo sa gawas, dili naman dyud makit-an ang mga puno-an og kalsada unya pagka aod-taod, napawong na ang suga ug kalit nisyagit ako-ang mama nga gilupad na ang amoang atup, mao nagdali-dali na ko og tabun sa amoang mga butang…,” narrated Japheet Secuya, son of Landa. Japheet received minor injury after the typhoon.

After Yolanda passed the town packing winds of 235 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 275 kph, residents were left shocked at the state of their devastated houses.

Scarcity of food and water

Water stations in Daan Bantayan was swarmed by residents of the town hoping to bring home water supply to their families. People from the mountain barangays have to walk for 30 minutes to one hour get water from a deep well. Food is scarce in the area.

The need for carpenters and construction materials

The residents are still hoping that the government will help them rebuild their homes. They are hoping for a fast recovery as they know Cebuanos are one in praying for them and hope for a fast assistance from the local government so that they can begin to move forward and rise again.