Amazing Earth: A tragedy that’s never forgotten 10 years ago!
Aired (November 3, 2023): Let’s hear an exclusive interview with a survivor from Ormoc City, Rita Managbanag, who suffered greatly during the Super Typhoon Yolanda.
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00:00 A mother who lost her child during the typhoon Yolanda
00:04 remembered the sad experience of her life.
00:07 How are they now, 10 years after the tragedy?
00:11 They thought it was over, they didn't know where they would end up.
00:15 Because even our various coverages before,
00:18 of different typhoons,
00:20 it was so far, here in the typhoon Yolanda.
00:22 My son was killed.
00:27 We're here, help us, brother.
00:32 November 2013, in Manalasa, Philippines,
00:39 the so-called strongest typhoon hit the land in history.
00:44 It's time to count down,
00:47 the typhoon Yolanda is about to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
00:56 After the devastating Typhoon Manalasa,
00:59 6,000 people were left dead.
01:03 14 million people were affected by the 44 typhoons that hit the Philippines.
01:10 One of the most angry people in the Philippines was the Samarat Leyte Islands.
01:15 The principal of the school, Rita, who was a native of Ormoc City,
01:18 while helping her fellow countrymen,
01:21 one of their children was the victim of the typhoon.
01:25 Lorenzo, since he was diagnosed with autism,
01:29 he's on the spectrum.
01:30 All of us, the whole family,
01:32 we also have a house help,
01:35 our neighbor who continues to take care of him.
01:38 Lorenzo, the time when Super Yolanda hit us,
01:41 he was 8 years old.
01:43 I'm also managing the Ormoc City Sped Center,
01:46 at the same time, the Ormoc City Central School.
01:48 So more or less, we have a lot of rooms that would serve as evacuation
01:53 When Yolanda landed on the B1,
01:56 and about 30 minutes after, there was a blackout,
01:59 we went to the house just to check,
02:01 just to make sure that they were there,
02:03 that we reached them.
02:04 They still had their breakfast.
02:05 Lorenzo, it was very rare for him to hold my hand.
02:09 Every time there was a meal,
02:12 because he's usually focused on eating,
02:14 it was probably his body language of saying goodbye.
02:22 We were taken to the school,
02:24 and that's what my husband said,
02:27 when they arrived at the house,
02:29 he couldn't believe it,
02:31 because they didn't have any witnesses.
02:32 Lorenzo was injured in a plane crash.
02:36 Lorenzo was declared the first casualty in Yolanda,
02:42 in Ormoc City.
02:44 For a lifetime, we will never forget,
02:46 especially for me,
02:48 that was really my witness.
02:50 I didn't think that it was just a typhoon.
02:53 More than 30 people died in Ormoc that year,
02:59 including Mamita's daughter.
03:01 After Matawilada,
03:03 it was really life-changing for us.
03:06 Lorenzo was really left to us.
03:08 Lorenzo will always be our inspiration.
03:11 Because of climate change,
03:13 it is expected that more typhoons will be expected
03:16 to cause a storm surge.
03:18 The teachings from here will serve as a warning and a guide
03:22 so that the victims of the devastating climate will not be victimized again.
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