Contained in the tent metropolis in Cebu

Regardless of the hazard of potential landslides, round 150 households proceed to remain on the foot of a limestone cliff in Daanbantayan, Cebu, believing it’s safer there than returning to their coastal houses

CEBU, Philippines — “Mangayo mi og tabang (We’re asking for assist).”

On the foot of a limestone cliff known as Boldosan in Sitio Camotes, Purok Molmol, Barangay Tapilon, Daanbantayan city in Cebu province, a makeship tent metropolis has turn out to be residence to a number of dozen households displaced by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck northern Cebu on September 30.

Regardless of the hazard of potential landslides, round 150 households proceed to remain there, believing it’s safer than returning to their coastal houses. Households sleep underneath makeshift shelters of tarpaulins and salvaged wooden, attempting to maintain a way of regular life amid uncertainty. They cook dinner easy meals, wash garments, and care for his or her kids and pets whereas counting on donations from passersby and volunteers.

Crizza Rosal, an evacuee, remembers the terrifying evening when the earthquake struck. “Tumakbo po kami lahat papunta dito na walang dalang gamit, bitbit lang mga bata, tapos umuulan pa, takot na takot po kami, nag-iiyakan mga tao,” she stated. (All of us ran right here with out bringing something, simply carrying the kids. It was raining exhausting, everybody was terrified and crying.)

Rosal stated they continue to be within the tent metropolis as a result of they’re too afraid to return residence. “Wala po kami mapuntahan kaya kahit delikado dito, dito pa rin kami. Wala po kaming selection, ayaw po namin umuwi dahil sa takot. Di ko maintindihan bakit po nangyari ito, sana bagyo nalang na pwedeng paghandaan, pero iba po pag linog.” (Now we have nowhere else to go, so even when it’s harmful right here, we keep. We’re too scared to return. I don’t perceive why this occurred—if it have been a storm, we might put together, however an earthquake is completely different.)

One other evacuee, Monina Gastador, shared the identical concern. “Wa mi kasabot kung asa mi padung, asa mi moadto kay duol kaayo mi ug dagat. Morag nataranta nami tungod sa amongst kahadlok.” (We didn’t know the place to go as a result of our home is so near the ocean. We panicked.)

For a lot of, nights are sleepless, particularly when it rains. “Mahadlok unhappy mi diri kay delikado sa landslide. Unya kung mag-uwan basin naa mahitabo. Kagabii kusog ang uwan, wa mi tarong tug tanan. Naa ra bay mga bata ug tiguwang, nangabasa mi. Unta matabangan mi diri kay lisod gyud kaayo mi. Unta mahatagan mi’g tambal, tubig ug pagkaon,” stated Jonna Taglucop, a highschool pupil.

(We’re fearful of potential landslides. When it rains, we are able to’t sleep. There are kids and aged folks right here. We received soaked final evening. We hope somebody helps us—we badly want medication, water, and meals.)

Situated about 126 kilometers from Cebu Metropolis, Daanbantayan, the northernmost city in Cebu with 20 barangays, is among the many hardest hit by the earthquake. Due to the gap, reduction help stays scarce. Most donations are concentrated in close by Bogo Metropolis, nearer to the quake’s epicenter.

Rosal added that many kids are getting sick. “Hinaot unta na matabangan mi bisag gamay lang kay intawn ang mga bata nagkasakit-sakit na, wa pa gyuy tambal. Unya ang moabot diri sa amoa di tawon kaigo.”


(We hope we are able to get even a little bit assist. The kids are getting sick and we don’t have medication. No matter assist reaches us isn’t sufficient.)

Gastador echoed the plea. “Mangayo mi ug tabang, mga tao diri apil mga bata gipang-ubo na. Malooy intawon mo diri sa amo. Amongst kahimtang diri naglisod gyud. Sukad kagabii nag-uwan, wa mi tarong tug. Mga bata tawon, kalooy, nagpinungkuay nalang tungod sa baha.”

(We’re asking for assist. Individuals right here, together with kids, are coughing. Please have mercy on us. We’re actually struggling. It rained exhausting final evening, and we couldn’t sleep. The poor kids sat up all evening due to the flood.)

One other evacuee, Merlinda Gonzago Sanchez, shared her fear for her son Mico, 16, who’s sick. “Naa ko’y anak nga naay sakit nga meningitis. Manghinaot lang ko nga matabangan ni siya kay hantod karon mawad-an siya og panimuot, mokalit lang og kirig. Unta matabangan ko nga mapalitan siya og tambal ug nutritional vitamins.”


(My son has meningitis. I hope somebody can assist him. He nonetheless faints and has seizures. I want I might purchase him medication and nutritional vitamins.)

She additionally described how tough life has been for them. “Looy intawon mi diri kay wa mi higdaanan. Ngitngit kaayo, nagkinahanglan mi og tambal. Nanghinaot mi nga matabangan mi bisan gamay lang.”

(We’re pitiful right here, we’ve no place to sleep. It’s darkish, and we want medication. We simply hope somebody can assist, even a little bit.)

As of October 6, authorities reviews affirm the dying toll from earthquake has reached not less than 69 folks and a whole bunch injured throughout northern Cebu. In locations like Barangay Tapilon, the battle continues, not simply to rebuild houses, however to seek out hope beneath the skinny partitions of tarpaulin that now shelter their lives.

–Rappler.com