Doused in mud: The remains of tropical storm Vinta

It was one afternoon of December 22, 2017 in Jade Valley, Davao City, when the winds got stronger. The forecast had been heard everywhere before darkness and the sound of roaring winds took over. Everyone in town witnessed in fear, including Sonia Reyes.

The 53-year old housewife lived in this peaceful place for 18 years with her husband Alex. Known in the neighborhood as their “nanay” and “tatay,” the couple ran a small stove-making business, the “Alex Kalan de Blower” that supported the family’s daily needs. Life was easy and simple back then.

But one disaster came along that wreaked havoc to their lives and properties. Tropical storm Vinta washed out every ounce of their belongings, every little thing they both worked hard to have. Suddenly, Nanay Sonia saw before her very own eyes how the water rose up and washed out everything.

“The water rose up very fast until it reached the ceiling of our first floor. The water kept on running as the rain continued,” said Nanay Sonia in an interview.

“The rescue team cannot pass through us since our house is at the back of Jade Valley. There were more people to rescue and the rescue truck would be full before it could reach ours,” she continued.

In tears, Nanay Sonia reminisced that one traumatic night. As a former CARD MBA coordinator and an 11-year member of CARD, Inc., she remembered helping flood-affected clients in times of disaster, but now, she was the one who needed help.

“Before, I was the one who validate them [flood victims], but not this time. It saddened me but I believe God has a purpose for everything. Nevertheless, I still wanted to help other affected residents in any way I can,” Nanay Sonia said in a soft voice.

Nanay Sonia is just one of the more than 52,000 CARD clients affected by tropical storm Vinta and Urduja.

In the midst of disaster, and where many people sought help, humanity found its way. Boxes of donated clothes and a total of Php 220,060.25 cash donations reached the victims through CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI) staff, executive committee, management committee, head office, branches and senior advisers.

After the flood, Nanay Sonia’s once called home became just a house doused in mud.

While typhoon Vinta exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) a day before Christmas, painful memories remain. Despite the odds, Nanay Sonia and her family, together with the rest of the residents of Jade Valley, still celebrated Christmas and New Year, full of hope that everything will be fine eventually.