A new start

Over 40 families moved in yesterday to the Tent City built for typhoon Yolanda evacuees in a reclaimed area in south Cebu City.

As they settled into the camp site, where they will cook their own food and hope the damp grounds soaked by rains won’t bother their sleep, they prepared to spend Christmas in new surroundings with thoughts of starting anew in the new year.

Federico Tabay, a 51-year-old widower, said he and his two toddler sons would adjust.

He said his only wish is to build a home they can call their own, whether in Cebu or back home in Leyte.

“Ang ako lang wish karon pasko ug sa tibuok nako kinabuhi kay maka-tukod ug balay nga amoa gyud, labina para sa ako mga anak nga gagmay pa,” he told Cebu Daily News.

(My only wish for this Christmas and for all my life is to build our own house, especially for my kids.)

Tabay’s family from Tanuan, Leyte moved out of the Tinago barangay sports complex, where evacuees have been staying since early November.

His new shelter, a cluster of 50 tents in a a 1.3 hectare reclaimed lot prepared by the Cebu city government and Philippine Red Cross, is officially called the Family Rebuilding Center.

Tabay said he was grateful for the shelter, but knows it is a temporary arrangement.

He retired seven months ago as a electronic technician due to problems with his eyesight and later made a living selling charcoal.

His wife died three months ago due to a goiter complication, leaving him the sole parent of 3-year-old Renz Ian and 1-year old Reinier Jay.

Then their house was walloped by typhoon Yolanda, leaving only the toilet and sink standing.

“Ato na lang antuson, sagubangon ug atubangon tanan. Ako na lang isalig sa Ginoo,” he said.

( I’ll just have to bear with it and face it all. I just leave it up to the Lord)

Sunday was the last night for most of the 38 families of Yolanda storm survivors staying at the barangay Tinago sports complex in Cebu City.

“It was an emotional night for the evacuees and us, even the volunteers who have been here for the last 41 days,” said Tinago barangay captain Joel Garganera.

The gym will stay open till tomorrow, Christmas Day and volunteers will continue to come.

Nine families remain in the gym, ready with boat tickets for trips out of Cebu in the next three days. Those scheduled to leave after Christmas were advised to move to the Tent City in SRP

Tinago gym was the first public building in Metro Cebu that opened itself for typhoon Yolanda evacuees.

Garganera had the brand-new gym ready with toilets, running water, food, even a TV set and a play house with counselors for traumatized children in order to welcome the first planeloads of families fleeing Leyte in C-150 planes that landed in Mactan.

Since then, the gym has attracted almost daily contributions of food and help from private donors, many of them walk-ins.

ART EXHIBIT

A group of art lovers and photographers spent two mornings encouraging children to draw, paint and color themes of “Pasko at Pagasa” (Christmas and Hope).

Their work and on-scene photos will be exhibited at SM Northwing Dec. 27 to January 1. The sale of exhibit pieces from “Blank Canvas” will be used to conduct more art workshops for storm survivors in north Cebu, Leyte and Samar.

Almost 400 families have since passed through the Tinago gym, many of them going onward to reunite with relatives in Manila, Eastern Visayas and other parts of the country.

“These trips home for the families were done at no expense for the government. The transport fares and even allowances – this is is all from the private sector,” Garganera said.

Overflowing donations from groups and individuals have sustained daily meals since day one, said the barangay captain.

Until now, he said, he still receives pledge of food and packed meals for evacuees, so he advises donors to coordinate with the Cebu City’s Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) who will give them to evacuees now staying at the Tent City in SRP.

VOLUNTEERS PASSION

“I think we all did a good job. The volunteers, with their passion, especially did a great job of going out of their way to help. I’d like to thank all Cebuanos, the entire community, for all their help. I’m just there as a captain to connect them to survivors. If we are in the position to help, we should always do so,” Garganera said.

On their last night on Sunday, volunteers and the Tinago barangay threw a Christmas party.

Evacuees enjoyed food, dance presentations, comical acts and a short program prepared by the volunteers.

Garganera said he would stay at the gym on Christmas eve and bring food for “noche buena” with the remaining families there. One of the evacuee’s kids, his godchild, will also be getting a Christmas present.

For 38-year-old mother Marivic Sarsosa, their new tent-shelter in SRP is a welcome alternative to crashing in with relatives.

“Dako kaayo nig tabang kay dili na mi kailangan mag-abang. Naikog na pud mi sa among gipuy-an,” she said.

(This is a big help because we don’t have to rent a place. We started to feel awkward of overstaying in the place where we were.)

She, her three children and two nieces from Kananga, Leyte province, were among the estimated 3,000 “home-based evacuees” staying with relatives and friends outside of evacuation center in Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Talisay City.

This second type of evacuees – like Tabay who stayed in the Tinago barangay sports hall – qualifies as beneficiaries of the Red Cross tents.

SPORTS AND STUDENTS

The family came to Cebu last December 5 so that their teenage children could resume school as transferees.

Fortunately, they were accommodated at the Cebu City Central School where the principal offered them a place to stay near the school for free – the Tent City.

The only hitch is the remote location.

Her sons, varsity-level players, have daily soccer practice at school, which means going home late in the day to the SRP, which is not along the jeepney route.

Her 13-year-old son Choon Mark has been practicing daily together with his coach Andrew Gomez, who is also a typhoon victim staying in the SRP Tent City.

The young soccer player is preparing for the Thirsty Football Cup on February 21 next year. Together with his team, Kananga Football Club back in Leyte, they have joined and won several soccer tournaments including a regional tournament.

During his stay in Cebu, his teammates are also practicing back in Leyte.

“Akong wish sa Pasko kay magkauban mi sa akong mga kauban nga soccer players,” he said.

(My Christmas wish is to be in the company of my soccer player friends.)

His cousin Christine Joy Sarsosa is celebrating her 14th birthday on Christmas Day.

Her wish: good health for her family and a cellphone for her to keep in touch with her parents left in Kananga.

Marivic, who is acting as parent and guardian of all five children, said she just wants a simple noche buena this Christmas.

“Bisag gamayng putahi lang para saluhan karon pasko ug fruit salad. Mao na akong Christmas wish,” she said.

(Even just a small main dish for Christmas Day and fruit salad. That’s all I want for Christmas.)