‘Yolanda’ survivors in Cebu find hope in skills training

BOGO CITY, Cebu—Their eyes were glued to the TV screen showing a slide of pictures of the devastation left here and elsewhere by Super Typhoon “Yolanda,” the world’s strongest storm to ever hit land.

Couple Miguelito and Nelia Cabatana were quickly reminded of how they came too close to death on Nov. 8 last year, the day Yolanda struck. “I thought we would die,” said Miguelito, 59.

Nelia, 62, just listened to Cebuana singer Raki Vega belt out “We Will Rise Again,” a song composed for the first anniversary of the Yolanda disaster. “We cannot forget,” she said.

Survivors

The Cabatanas were among 1,000 survivors gathered at Don Celestino Martinez Sr. Sports Complex here for rites commemorating the first anniversary of the disaster. The event organized by the provincial government also became an avenue for them to relive their pain and exorcise their fears.

At least 73 people died in Bogo City and they were remembered in a Mass attended by the survivors, local officials and several others.

Celebration of hope

Gov. Hilario Davide III, in a message read for him, said the assembly was the province’s way of “celebrating hope.”

“We give thanks that we are still here,” the governor said.

Hope came in the form of certificates of graduation in skills courses given to 771 people. They had finished training programs on welding, masonry, carpentry and housekeeping, skills which Technical Education and Skills Development Authority chairman Joel Villanueva said could help the survivors get back on their feet.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration turned over a total of P12.6 million in cash to help families of overseas Filipino workers who survived Yolanda find sources of livelihood.