Leyte 2014: Tacloban City After Typhoon Yolanda

The anniversary of the day that typhoon Yolanda (international name, Haiyan) devastated the province of Leyte is coming near, and we can't help but think back of what it has done to the country and how it united the Filipinos to help out our fellow "kababayans' who were stricken victims of the great typhoon. 

Per Wikipedia, Typhoon Yolanda, was one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded, which devastated portions of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines, on November 8, 2013. It is the deadliest Philippine typhoon on record, killing at least 6,300 people in that country alone. Yolanda is also the strongest storm recorded at landfall, and unofficially the strongest typhoon ever recorded in terms of wind speed.

I got the opportunity to visit the province of Tacloban 2 months ago and for me, I can say that the people are definitely back in their feet, though they say that a lot are slow in doing so. Why? Because they are not properly being assisted by our government in their rehabilitation. Lots of donations from all over the world came in but why is it not being felt by the victims. Who is to be really held accountable for this? The answer is a given. I don't want to say it anymore. 

Through my recent journey there, I would like to share what I have seen:

THE TACLOBAN AIRPORT

Upon going down the plane, you will be greeted with a plain sight. Plain meaning I don't see trees or structures that were previously there. I have been here in the province twice already in the past back in 2007. Sadness is the feeling that will immediately welcome you. But there is hope because the airport is being fixed, both inside and outside. Inside was a bigger mess.

SANTO NINO SHRINE AND HERITAGE MUSEUM

It looks very rustic from this point of view but when up close, you will see the damages that it has sustained because of Yolanda

LEYTE PROVINCIAL CAPITOL

It seems untouched by the natural disaster and hope it stays that way for a long time. 

Tourist-y shot!

The view in front of the provincial capitol

THE DOWNTOWN

Hard to imagine that high flood water and very strong winds was experienced by this place

SHIPS WASHED ASHORE

SHIP #1
I just had to take a picture. Hard to imagine that the storm surge washed these big debris far ashore. That's how powerful it was!

SHIP #2
Now, they are part of the "attraction" to tourists. 

SAN JUANICO BRIDGE

Now this is a very welcome sight! Last time I walked here was way back 2007 or 2008. The bridge was color grey back then, now it's red.

Hello Samar! Hello Leyte! 

Still was not able to walk the entire length of the bridge. But at least it was more than my last time. The bridge is a bit shaky when vehicles pass by but that's just it. No fear!

MCARTHUR LANDING

So nice to see them still standing up despite being in the waterfront when the typhoon hit. 

The calm after the "storm".

We stayed in Go Hotels and we enjoyed it. It was right beside Robinsons Place so it was very convenient.

We all bounce back from trials and hardships and that's what matters most. It's how you go on after that experience that will define you for what you truly are. So for Tacloban, or any other place that was devastated by typhoon Yolanda, just keep on living and soon this will just be a memory that you will reminisce that made you stronger. =)


~Lovelee~


CHECK OUT MY OTHER LEYTE 2014 POSTS:

Tacloban Foodtrip - http://thisislovelee.blogspot.com/2014/09/leyte-2014-tacloban-city-food-trip.html

Kalanggaman Island - http://thisislovelee.blogspot.com/2014/11/leyte-2014-beautiful-kalanggaman-island.html