the way things are

The shanties that have been blocking the view of the bay have already been torn down and the evacuees have finally been relocated to temporary bunkhouses while waiting for the permanent shelters to be constructed.  Things are moving at a pace that a snail can run circles around it.  People have come to rely too much on relief goods and dole outs.  One misguided sector has started to demand cash and they are growing restless.  This does not bode well.  The relief phase should have been over weeks if not months ago and the recovery phase should have started immediately after that, but the government is dragging its feet.  

While some people wallow in self pity and helplessness, there are those who are eager to start anew.

Today is the maiden voyage of the floating tub Frigidaire.  I arrived just in time to witness the blessing of the bay water.

It was a simple send off.  We didn’t have any champagne around to christen it and before it hit water, and despite the availability of beer as substitute, we didn’t want to risk breaking the boat.

Just a few minutes into the maiden voyage and something tells me that that tub is going to become an old maid, never to sail again.

On the other side of the bay, a community is sprouting.  This will be the new “normal”, which is not any different from what was normal before the typhoon.

This is her new home.  Her previous home was on the beach at the other side of the peninsula.  It was washed out by the surge.  This new home is quite near the beach and is still inside the danger zone, also in danger of being washed out in the future.

 

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• March 10, 2014
• streets of Tacloban
• 13 Comments