Yolanda Samar Leyte

After Yolanda – new leaves growing on a vine in Guiuan Samar 6 weeks after typhoon

Widespread destruction in Tacloban above.  Christmas tree Dec 26 2013 below

Typhoon  Yolanda also landed in Samar – the southern edge of Samar Island across from Tacloban Leyte took a temendous beating from the winds and storm surge. Guiuan, Basey, and Marabut – many people lost everything – family and home

Marabut Samar

Southern Samar gasoline distributor – gasoline cost 70 – 75 peso per one liter bottle now (late December) Shortly after the typhoon the cost of available gasoline was 300 pesos per liter as there was a very limited supply. A trip on the back of a habal habal motorbike taxi from the San Juanico bridge to Guiuan was 10,000 pesos. Downed trees blocked the way the first few days so most transport was on foot. (news crews were the few customers) Guiuan below

It is refreshing to see how the people are energized to move forward and rebuild. There is no other option really.

typhoon – millions of coconut trees were blown over and many are being sawn into lumber to be used in rebuilding. The trees are a huge resource for lumber as all building materials are in short supply in Samar and Leyte and the Philippines in general right now ( late December 2013)

Cutting coco wood – hauling lumber that has been sawn from coco trees. Have a look at the roof above this motorbike so passengers do not get wet. These drivers have exceptional balance and carry up to 6 passengers at times.

tent shelter provided by relief agency in southern Samar – official estimates report 30 million coconut trees were destroyed in southern Samar and Northern Leyte –

roofless but not hopeless – Kings in Ormoc City

school in Nueva Vista Leyte – almost all schools in the area lost their roofs

outdoor classroom in the mountains in Leyte

relief shelters set up in a school yard – between Marabut and Guiuan Samar

UNHCR emergency shelters – most of the people do not have complete shelters such as this but have put together temporary shelters from debris that was scattered about.

Tacloban street with ship that was washed up on land by the storm surge.

Tacloban kids with energizing smiles ! It is amazing the energy the people of Tacloban have – Tacloban will emerge from this disaster with sparkling results – there is no other option – Bangon Tacloban !

Cell Phone charging station outside of Dunkin Donuts in Ormoc City – charging cell phone batteries from electricity from a portable generator. Communication was important after the typhoon as people were searching for family and friends – especially in Tacloban – Palo Leyte  note: the Dunkin Donut shop was not open for 6 weeks – this was just a temporary shop set up by an independent vendor. Getting electricity to charge the phones was critical.

typhoon relief at mosque in Ormoc City

Tacloban church on the waterfront

Basey Samar below

Basey Samar – this coastal fishing village on the southern shore of Samar took a huge hit with heavy loss of life

spare fuel – no longer necessary to carry spare gasoline as there are many road side vendors that sell gasoline by the liter for 70 – 75 pesos per. the pump price is about 56 pesos for XCS or premium gasoline

Road in Palo by the MacArthur Memorial

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