Living in northeast United States I have experienced my fair share of storms, or so I thought. We had planned our trip to Goducate Laguna several weeks earlier, so by the time we got word of Typhoon Rammasun (known locally as Typhoon Glenda), we were already committed.
Our flight was surprisingly smooth, and when we landed the sky was overcast, but the weather calm. Glenda was supposed to intensify overnight, so we were lulled into a sense of security throughout the day as we went about our pre-planned activities. A light rain fell as we pulled into Goducate Laguna and were greeted by the entire staff. We enjoyed a great time of food and fellowship until midnight, when the power suddenly went out. Everyone retired for the night, expecting the typhoon to roll in, but what I experienced next was like nothing I had ever seen. All night a howling wind blew, but by the early hours of the morning it had intensified to the point where trees were blowing almost horizontally. Every now and then we could hear the metallic sounds of large objects being flung about. A flashlight would susbsequently appear in the darkness as someone checked to see whether that clanging noise required attention.
When dawn broke the full extent of the devastation was visible. The ground was littered with coconuts, branches, debris, and fallen tree trunks. Several trees had found their way onto the roof of the building we were occupying. Fortunately, no one was injured. Across the courtyard, the children were happily retrieving the fallen coconuts. One of the staff skilfully hacked away at them and presented us with fresh coconut drinks. That was a pleasant surprise.
The multipurpose hall where we had been entertained a few hours earlier was a mess, and one of the Goducate vans was crushed in the middle by a fallen tree. Although the concrete buildings managed to survive intact, the other Goducate structures such as the farmhouse, vermi-house, hydroponics building, and a literacy center were badly damaged. The two couples living in the farmhouse are now homeless, and the homes of many other staff workers have been damaged and flooded. It will take anywhere from a week to a month for power to be restored. Without power, water does not flow since it arrives through pumps.
I was astounded to learn that the Philippines is hit by typhoons 15-20 times a year. If this took place anywhere else in the world, the populace would be permanently depressed, yet the Filipinos take it all in stride. Immediately after the storm has passed, people are out clearing debris, repairing their roofs, and removing fallen trees from the roads.
The road outside the Goducate Laguna centre was strewn with debris, yet within two to three hours, enough had been cleared for us to drive through and onwards toward Manila airport.
Apart from learning about the work at Goducate, one of the other reasons why I undertook this trip was to expose my 11-year-old daughter to the realities of life outside her sheltered existence, but this visit ended up being an eye opener for me as well.
Our guest writer is Tim, a Goducate sponsor.
