Pfc. Jomar Jay L. Rodin, a driver of KM-450 troop carrier, who is still on duty at Guiuan town, Eastern Samar despite being one of the first military personnel to reach the locality which was first battered by Supertyphoon "Yolanda" last Nov. 8, recalls the morning the monster typhoon first hit land.
Rodin was attached to a squad belonging to the 14th Infantry Battalion which was immediately deployed to Guiuan for humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) prior to the supertyphoon's onslaught
Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, AFP public affairs office chief, said Rodin's unit was deployed there to serve as eyes and ears of the battalion on the effects that "Yolanda" might bring to the province.
They arrived in Guiuan at around 10 p.m. of Nov. 7.
“Everyone was busy packing relief goods at the town hall when we arrived. They are ready, they prepared well,” Rodin stressed.
“Our squad leader, Sgt Morales, immediately reported to the mayor and informed him of our mission there,” he added.
Rodin recalled that everything seemed to be normal until around 3 a.m. Friday when strong winds coupled with rains started moving buildings, removing rooftops, collapsing walls.
Electricity and communication networks were out and destruction became the scenario for the next three hours.
“Our squad was scattered, we were all on survival mode,” Rodin said.
He said they have to transfer from one room to another to avoid falling debris.
At the 8th Infantry Division Headquarters in
Other units were able to send messages to give updates except for the squad in Guiuan.
Their radio went down as it was soaked in water during the height of the storm.
“Our squad leader was considering on sending me and another soldier to drive to our command post in Hernani town some 60 kilometers north but fallen trees were blocking the streets. My truck cannot traverse the road. We were cut off,” Rodin stated.
It was daybreak of Nov. 8 when the clearer picture of the effects of Yolanda was measured. Almost everything went down. It was a catastrophe.
Rodin said bodies were seen among the rubble. Others were dead, some might still be alive.
“At first, we worked individually, helping those we see near us and those who seek for assistance,” he added.
Not minding their hunger, the squad continued to help people rescue their loved ones. Bodies started piling up.
As time passed, people started getting hungry. One by one, people entered the town hall to get relief goods.
It was during this time, Rodin said, that their squad leader, Sgt. Morales, realized that if there will be shortage of food, and there will be no fair distribution, more problems will arise.
“He said that we secure the relief goods first so that there will be order to some extent,” Rodin said.
Impressed by the determination of the people of Guiuan to survive despite hardships, Rodin opted to stay behind to continue providing HADR.
Rodin is now on his 18th day in Guiuan.
He said that he believes the residents here are worthy enough of his time and efforts.
Rodin wanted to give them his own helping hand for as long as needed.
He was particularly moved by the respect given to them by the people and the cooperation they showed them.
Despite his entire team’s going back to their headquarters in Hernani, he stayed in Guiuan to help the people get back on their feet.
Today, he continues to fulfill his duty of driving to far-flung barangays to bring relief goods to people still in need there.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=590956
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