Earlier today, my sister’s classmate named Alma Jomaree A. Catalan, a resident of Macasandig, Cala-cala, Cagayan de Oro City, visited us. She was one of the victims of Typhoon Washi. She shares her testimony on how she survived during that dreadful night.
This is her story…
She arrived in their home pass 9pm last December 16, 2011. Around 10pm, she could hear their roof shaking. The rain was non-stop. Then suddenly, her mom and dad called on her because the water is rising up. So her mom and her siblings decided to evacuate, while she and her dad decided to stay in the house. After a few minutes, her dad was frantically calling her to go outside because some of the houses of their neighbors (those that were made from light materials) have already been swept away by the flood. They decided to climb a tree to hold on but one of their neighbor’s houses came to them knocking the tree down along with her father. She couldn’t breathe because a lot of tree trunks that went with the water and the house materials were over her head. She jumped and jumped until she was able to grab on a big log. She rode on it over Cagayan de Oro River until she saw a family floating holding a refrigerator. She asked for their help and they helped her cling to the refrigerator. There were 6 of them hanging including a child. Her father was nowhere to be seen already. After a few minutes of free flowing over the river and because of the rushing pressure, the refrigerator turned upside down. When she climbed in the refrigerator again, there were only three of them left – the child, the child’s mom and Alma. The other three were gone. Because it happened during the coldness of the night, they couldn’t see much but they could hear a lot of people crying for help. They passed by the bridges of Cagayan de Oro City but no one could help them because of the rushing waters. They rode on the refrigerator until they were pushed to Macajalar Bay. They rode on the refrigerator all the way. When daylight came, they noticed that there were a lot of dead bodies floating near them. It was scary but they were thankful they were alive. A few hours later, they were rescued by a barge and was brought to El Salvador. When she asked around, she was informed that 200 people were already rescued before her but none of it was her dad.
She survived that tragic night. His dad is still missing until now. Her left ear is still bleeding. The doctor at the evacuation center informed her that her ear drums were punctured because of bumps she got. She also got bruises and bumps all over but some of them are healing now.
We asked her if their house is still standing. She said no. They don’t have a house anymore and they are living together with her mom and siblings at the evacuation center at Macasandig Elementary School. Still hoping to hear news of his dad’s whereabouts.
Alma Jomaree A. Catalan is just one of the thousands of people who are in need of help here in Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City and other affected places in Northern Mindanao. They need not only food but also medical attention, medicines, underwear and a proper shelter.
If you want to help, there are many ways to how to send help for the victims of Typhoon Washi. If you want to help Alma, you may leave a comment here and I will make sure your help will reach her personally.
To all who have read this, please continue to pray for all the victims that they may recover from the lost of their loved ones and the trauma of their sad experiences brought about Typhoon Washi (Bagyong Sendong).
Praise God she is alive at sana makita nya pa father nya..I dont have much these days, all I can offer is prayer; May the Lord God comfort her and her family and be their Jehova Jirah!
She’s really blessed with a second life.
She is given second chance in life
kalooy tawon oi… di nako ma imagine nga gasakay sila ug fridge para ma save.
This is tragic 🙁 wala ko masabi, i just feel so sad 🙁
It’s heart breaking and just make you want to cry
reading this story made me feel so emotional. it feels like Alma is just in front of me
telling me what happened to her. prayers for you Alma, to your dad and to all affected and victimized of Sendong. in these times, we are never sure of what will happen to us all. its only God we can trust and endorse ourselves
Pray and pray. Lord will never leave us.
Never stop praying
tanan ilang mga naagian, makatindig balahibo jud.. Mommy Rubz. That’s why we are trying to help in anyway and I salute you for doing the same as well. You will be blessed more…
I got goose bumps upon reading her survival story mommy, as in. she is indeed one of the lucky one that being watched by angel and able to survived, imagina na natuwang ang ref pag balik 3 nlng sila, i really pray and hope and wish that her father is fine. they’re in my prayers all the time.
I hope she finds her father soon!
This makes me cry… 🙁 lost families
Any news about her father?
I will be keeping them all in my prayers. :heart:
Wow, thank you for the sympathy you gave though you are from other country.
How sad for the victims of the typhoon Sendong. So many lives have lost, be it children and adults.
Will send prayers for the less fortunate hoping they could recover quickly from the loss of their properties and loved ones.
Merry Christmas Rubz.
everytime I watch the news, I can’t help but cry.. this is really sad.. May God bless CDO. I’ll pray for all the victims of Sendong. May she finds her father.. i don’t know what say.. deep sigh..
It was a very sad story to tell 🙁 I feel so blessed that I am living with goodness though financially challenge
i can`t imagine how they fought with the coldness, darkness and strong current of the water. Thanks God she`s alive. I`m praying for her father as well as those who are greatly affected with the typhoon. it`s really heartbreaking…
Thank God she survived this ordeal. I hope her Dad can be found soon… praying for his safety, and for the safety of all the other missing persons. 🙁
I hope her dad is fine
can you give me guys a link about an individual story of a hero who help sendong in a way???….
i mean who help people in time of typhoon sendong
I wonder how is she doing now? did she find her father-_- 🙁
I hope there is news of her father