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Lead Image created using CANVA
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I am glad to be back writing here again after two days of forced hiatus because of Typhoon Tino, which caused a complete blackout and total loss of data connection in the towns of northern Cebu for two days. We did not expect to lose phone signals, especially during a calamity when communication was most needed to contact rescue teams and authorities. Fortunately, as of this very day, both power and internet connection have been restored. Finally, I can share with you my Typhoon Tino experience and how northern Cebu looked under complete signal loss.
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I credit this image to [PAGASA](https://www.facebook.com/share/1B9viZPrtj/)
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Typhoon Tino made its landfall on November 4 at 4:00 P.M. in our town, while we started to experience heavy rainfall and slight wind on November 3 at 11 o'clock. I tell you, no one dared to sleep in our house at those hours; everyone was awake, except our babies, monitoring the forecast and alerts of what might happen. We have experienced many destructive and dangerous typhoons in our town, one being Typhoon Yolanda, which killed a large population and destroyed establishments worth millions. Now, we are very aware of it, taking steps advised by NDRRMC, and preparing emergency bags complete with essential needs.
The wind became stronger by 4 A.M., but it was still dark. That made us feel worried because a complete blackout happened, and we couldn't even see outside while roofs were banging. I am grateful our house did its best to protect us and didn't even flinch, just to assure us we wouldn't get harmed.
By 5:00 A.M., it started to rain while the heavy winds were still present. We were less worried to know that it was bright outside, which allowed us to see the impact of the typhoon. The typhoon wasn't actually strong, but it was because many people in the north were securing their shelters after the earthquake, and some weren't able to find one. And to be honest, what made me scared was that our houses here aren't 100% safe and capable of withstanding typhoons after losing their firmness in the earthquake. I didn't hear any news of death in our town, and I am happy about that. However, in cities of Cebu, we heard news of death and lost cases because the typhoon was stronger there and left and right floods occurred.
This is us watching the situation outside. We didn't sleep and during these hours, I could feel my body gradually losing its energy and my eyes felt heavy. We just made some jokes and assured ourselves that we are safe to make ourselves awake. Conscious and alert, we continued to wait for the daylight to come on the window that served as our watch spot to be aware of our surroundings.
I heard loud bangs during the night and it continued until morning. So we found out that it was this roof sheet who made the sound. It was banging non stop and eventually, was disconnected to the roof and flew away.
I got out of the house by 7:00 to check the outside area. Luckily, our house is not touched even a bit. My prayer did work against the typhoon. The first thing I saw when I headed outside was this tent from the rescue team. It flew over on our front part of the house, leaving its owner. It is kinda silly to find it there as if it took a heavy leap.
I noticed also the big tents of the San Remigio Evacuation Camp were dismantled as well as the tents of evacuees collapsed on the ground. They made a good decision to evacuate on trusted houses because some tents flew away with the blow of heavy winds. Some houses posted beforehand on social media that they are accepting evacuees to stay on their houses as typhoon Tino landfalls while some evacuees initiated to ask some households if they could stay over temporarily.
The gymnasium of our town was also affected, ripping its cover below the roof. This gymnasium was first destroyed on the front side during the earthquake but what you are seeing now is the back area of the gym. Lives are lost here, 13 players to be exact, who died during the earthquake. Just passing by this area whenever we go to the market gives me goosebumps.
Some of our neighbours' houses were also destroyed while some trees fell apart. I hope they can recover quickly, despite the turmoil we experienced from the earthquake and typhoon.
When I took these photos, we were experiencing a complete blackout and signal loss already. No contact from our relatives. No connection to check important news. No radios. No cellphones. Only a family inside a house who fervently prayed for everyone's safety. The whole day, we slept after not sleeping the whole night. We had no connection anyway so our phones were just put beside and our batteries ran out. By night, we searched for establishments who offered free charge but we didn't find one. I guess the gas for the generator was hard to buy after the typhoon. So we slept early all night without any information still on our loved ones in the city.
Yesterday, we decided to go home to our original place just near our house. Just a 20 minute ride to check on our relatives there on my mother's side. The place we stayed over after the earthquake if you remember it or if you have read my blog of the earthquake. One of the neighbors there offered a charging station but we offered some money for the gas. Still no signal but phones charged.
When we cooked in my Auntie's house, foods to let time pass by quickly and ease our worries, we had a breadfruit harvested after the typhoon, so we prepared it to make a recipe of it as caramelized breadfruit. We had simple ingredients such as sliced breadfruit, grated coconut from the yard, and brown sugar.
Aside from the breadfruit, we also steamed a bunch of unripe banana. We then bought a fermented and salted fish to pair it on the banana or famously called in our place as "ginamos". This is what we look like in days with no signal and electricity - finding comfort in simple meals and each other's company.
And look who is bored also of the situation. This is Usher, my cousin's newest puppy, a pure shipoo with curled fur on the tip of his ears. He was bored so I played with him, and gave him a Lego piece to bite as we play. This cute little creature is doing his best to persuade me to carry him but I couldn't because my cousin was not around and I haven't asked if he is vaccinated already.
After playing with him, I stood by my uncle’s vehicle. And minutes after, there was a commotion outside that grabbed my attention. It was my other uncle, on the motorcycle, who came from the city, bringing us the latest news we were trying to get but the no internet connection made it impossible. He shared bad news that their houses are partially destroyed, and it took him longer hours to travel from the city because there were landslides on the other towns blocking the road and careful driving was advised because of debris. By this time, I was very worried about my older brother and his family because we didn't get any information about them. Just my uncle's little news gave us a peek of what happened in the city.
We are now on day 3 with signals, and we've finally been able to check up on our relatives and older brother. Thankfully, they are all safe, although there are reports of deaths and worst flooding in some areas. It's a time of hardship, but with hope and taking care of one another, I wish we could recover from this together. Let's look forward to better days ahead, and may we continue to support each other through the healing process.
