September 18, 2024
1,119 Antipolo residents claim relief after Typhoon Enteng
By Joy Rojas
Two weeks after Typhoon Enteng (Yagi) caught Antipolo residents unawares with its heavy rain and fast-rising flood, leading to irreparable damage to homes and several casualties, Tzu Chi volunteers held a relief distribution on September 14 in three areas for 1,119 families affected by the severe weather disturbance.
In Barangay San Jose, the distributions for sitios Gipit and Hinapao took place in the covered court of Sitio Buhanginan, while residents of sitios Pag-asa, Kabisig, and Charismatic received their aid in Sitio Pag-Asa’s covered court. Lacolina covered court in Barangay Mambugan served as the distribution site for residents of sitios Sucaben and Ruhat.
Representatives from each family claimed 20 kg of rice, a blanket, sleeping mat, clothes and undergarments, shampoo, body wash, laundry soap, coffee, sugar, salt, cooking oil, soy sauce, vinegar, condensed milk, biscuit, and bleach. Those whose homes were completely destroyed by the typhoon received stubs for construction materials, which they claimed from their respective barangays the following week.
“This is the second week since the storm, and almost every day, help still comes. Tzu Chi’s is one of the biggest that we’ve received,” says San Jose Barangay Chairman Montero Azur Tolentino. “Even those whose homes were totally washed out were helped.”
It’s certainly the first step to moving forward for Russel Abacahin and Ereca May Sabares, who both lost their homes to Enteng.
Abacahin was asleep when her mother woke her to evacuate. The flood had just entered their home, but rose quickly. Before she knew it, it had reached chest level. Unable to take anything with her, she and her brother’s partner dog-paddled to safety to their neighbor’s place. When the flood subsided and they returned to their home, it was gone.
“It’s like a piece of paper that was folded,” describes Sabares in tears of how her home collapsed during the storm. Unmindful of the rain at first, she and other family members could only save themselves as flood made its way to the roof of their home. “You can only cry while looking at it. We spent months and years working for these things, then suddenly, in a matter of minutes, they’re gone.”
Lives were just as easily lost. Maricar Limbantino was at work when her husband rushed to pick her up. A landslide covered their home entirely in mud; it also buried her two teenaged sons, Lee and Lester, who were inside when disaster struck.
“It hurts a lot. They are so kind. They're both so sweet. We go to the market together. We do laundry together. Then, suddenly they're gone,” she says wistfully.
“They’ll be my heart for as long as I'm alive. One day, we'll see each other again. We'll be together again. That's why I’ve accepted it.”
Indeed, amidst sadness and despair, life must go on. Rosalinda Legarde, a resident of San Mateo, Rizal, and a Tzu Chi volunteer since 2012, is no stranger to the unceasing rains and monster floods brought about by typhoons. “Cleaning is hard, especially when you don’t have enough water,” she says, dabbing tears from her eyes. “And you invest in things that only end up destroyed after a flood. It’s hard.”
Inspired by Tzu Chi after they came to her community’s aid following Typhoon Habagat in 2012, she now finds purpose and joy giving selflessly and wholeheartedly, the way Tzu Chi volunteers do. “Even if I don’t have money,” she says, “I can help others who suffer after a storm.”
To provide relief to over 1,000 beneficiaries in Barangays San Jose and Mambungan, Antipolo, distributions were set up in three areas and at different times. Tzu Chi volunteers unload relief items from the trucks.
To provide relief to over 1,000 beneficiaries in Barangays San Jose and Mambungan, Antipolo, distributions were set up in three areas and at different times. Tzu Chi volunteers unload relief items from the trucks.
To provide relief to over 1,000 beneficiaries in Barangays San Jose and Mambungan, Antipolo, distributions were set up in three areas and at different times. Tzu Chi volunteers unload relief items from the trucks.
To provide relief to over 1,000 beneficiaries in Barangays San Jose and Mambungan, Antipolo, distributions were set up in three areas and at different times. Tzu Chi volunteers unload relief items from the trucks.
Each affected family received 20 kg rice, a blanket, sleeping mat, clothes and undergarments, shampoo, body wash, laundry soap, coffee, sugar, salt, cooking oil, soy sauce, vinegar, condensed milk, biscuit, and bleach.
Tzu Chi scholars (left) assist in the issuing of claim stubs to beneficiaries.
Tzu Chi scholars assist in the issuing of claim stubs to beneficiaries.
Tzu Chi scholars assist in the issuing of claim stubs to beneficiaries.
Residents learn all about the Tzu Chi Foundation in a short program before the distribution.
Residents learn all about the Tzu Chi Foundation in a short program before the distribution.
A volunteer’s cheerful assistance eases this woman’s woes.
Relief is given in an orderly manner, with beneficiaries using their pail given by Tzu Chi to collect items from volunteers.
Beneficiaries are all smiles as they leave the distribution area with Tzu Chi’s relief goods.
Beneficiaries are all smiles as they leave the distribution area with Tzu Chi’s relief goods.
Beneficiaries are all smiles as they leave the distribution area with Tzu Chi’s relief goods.
Beneficiaries are all smiles as they leave the distribution area with Tzu Chi’s relief goods.
Tzu Chi Charity Department Head Tina Pasion led the short program at the Lacolina covered court in Barangay Mambungan.
In Barangay San Jose, Tzu Chi volunteer Julie Collado shared her experience as a typhoon and flood survivor of Marikina.
Beneficiaries like Ereca May Sabares, who completely lost their homes to floods and landslides, received walling and roofing materials from Tzu Chi.
When floods at her home reached chest-level, Russel Abacahin dog-paddled to a neighbor’s place. In her haste to save herself, she took nothing with her.
Having experienced major floods in the past, San Mateo resident and Tzu Chi volunteer Rosalinda Legarde is happy to assist Antipolo’s typhoon victims.
Tzu Chi volunteers and scholars pose with Master Cheng Yen’s portrait at the covered court of Barangay Mambungan.
Tzu Chi volunteers, Antipolo’s local leaders, and Typhoon Enteng beneficiaries gather for a group photo at the covered court of Sitio Buhanginan, Barangay San Jose, Antipolo.