Daisy is Ready for Rainy Days

by Florence Joy Maluyo, Haiyan Response Communication Officer

“Our greatest fear was for summer to end without having a safe place to stay,” says Daisy, age 59. “Now I can sleep peacefully at night without having to worry about rain. Our house is almost complete and we can’t thank World Vision enough for providing the shelter materials.”

Her family and their neighbors shared the same burden.

Bayanihan within the community

In its recovery phase, World Vision distributed shelter tools and materials such as galvanized iron sheets, marine plywood, nails, and coco lumber. For most of the beneficiaries in Aklan province, located on Panay island in central Visayas, they practice bayanihan (a Filipino spirit of communal unity).

“The one who’s helping my husband now is our neighbor and we are not paying him,” says Daisy, pointing to Salcedo, also one of the beneficiaries. She explained that most of the neighbors came up with a schedule to work on their respective houses using the tools and materials they received.

“We all don’t have the money to pay for carpenters but I am thankful that everyone is willing to help. The houses you see in this area now are all products of bayanihan.”

Love outside the community

Daisy recalled how hard life was after Typhoon Haiyan struck their community last November.
“My husband lost his boat which was our only source of income. Looking back, I also don’t know how we were able to endure hunger because our area was hard to reach then. My grandchildren’s tears were the most painful of all. We were literally helpless. But I am grateful that help started to come.”

My husband lost his boat which was our only source of income. Looking back, I also don’t know how we were able to endure hunger because our area was hard to reach.

For Daisy, she has never felt more close to the world after Haiyan.

“I’ve lived my whole life in this community and I didn’t really feel like I belong to a bigger world. When the first help from World Vision came, I was overwhelmed not just with the bulk of food and non-food items but with how they tried to reach us despite all the debris along the way.”

World Vision was able to reach more than 713,000 people during the emergency phase the response. Now, the aim is to help 14,000 families in the recovery phase by providing support with shelter, clean water, health and sanitation, education, and livelihood projects.

“Look at the place we slept in for five months,” said Daisy, showing the makeshift tent.  “How can I not be thankful?  With the unpredictable weather, it would have been a struggle especially for my grandchildren, to live there. Thank you very much and we pray that the Lord will bless all of you for helping us.”