Six women leaders shine light on survival and gender issues during, after Yolanda

Who in the Philippines doesn’t know about the devastation trail Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) left in many parts of the Visayas last year? But for sure, not everyone knows about the struggles the women of these disaster-hit areas faced during and after the storm.

On Tuesday, six women from Yolanda-affected areas shared their experiences and stories at the “Women after the Storm” forum organized by the international aid group Oxfam in Quezon City.

The forum highlighted the gender issues during and after the onslaught of Yolanda. Aside from participants from the affected areas, also in the event are women advocates from national and international agencies such as United Nations (UN) Women, Rainbow Rights Philippines, and Plan International.

Six faces of difficulties and empowerment

Felisa Castro (Giporlos, Eastern Samar), Editha Bacalso (Ormoc), Isydra Desabille (Bantayan, Cebu), Amabel Macanile (Quinapondan, Eastern Samar), Linda Fabillar (also from Giporlos, Eastern Samar), and Shirley Gamus (Tanauan, Leyte) were some of the women leaders from the Yolanda-affected areas who went up on stage and shared stories of difficulties and empowerment during and after the storm. They were facilitated by Oxfam’s economic justice program manager Maya Quirino.

When asked about the impact of Yolanda on their lives, everyone agreed that the devastation caused by the storm was beyond their imagination. There was hunger and cold to face, as well as confusion and fear. All of them worried for their family’s lives and livelihoods. Yolanda simply destroyed everything.

But when they realize that their neighbors also needed help, the grassroots leaders decided to take part in re-organizing their communities, especially when help didn’t arrive right away. Each of them went out of their way (and out of their towns) just to get more relief goods not just for their families, but also for their own communities.

Castro, for example, went as far as Manila via C-130 to look for opportunities and returned home with two truckloads of relief goods.

Gamus, with the help of the women’s carpentry, Geographic Rediscovery of Endangered Environment and Nature in Mindanao (GREEN Mindanao), and Oxfam set up in Tanauan. She rebuilt not just her own home, but also her neighbors’. Learning carpentry was very essential in their area where most people are fisherfolk, she emphasized.

Fabillar continued her work as a barangay secretary despite being hit by the storm and managed the distribution of relief in her community. She said, “Kahit mahina ka, kailangan mo magpakatatag.”

And the rest took on roles as a leader of women’s organizations in their respective areas.

Challenges of women during the storm

Fabillar shared that women’s health was a big problem during and after Yolanda. Many mothers were traumatized and badly needed stress debriefing.

Alongside this, they worried where to get the school supplies for their children when everything they owned was washed away, Desabille said.

Gamus also told the audience that women’s safety was a problem, especially on those nights when power was not yet restored and a jail breakout in Tacloban was all over the news.

They all also pointed out the challenge of managing pregnant women and lactating mothers, considered, aside from children, to be the most vulnerable during disasters.

Fortunately, these issues were addressed. Psychologists and councilors arrived in the affected areas. Various NGOs handed out school supplies. Peace and order started to materialize in their areas. Pregnant women delivered with the help of mobile hospitals and volunteer doctors. And mothers and their kids stayed in child-friendly spaces.

Life after Yolanda, lessons learned

Even the gentlest of rain brings fear to the eyes of the children and some adults as well, the women shared. But they are all starting to cope and have picked up a few lessons.

Macanile shared that because of Yolanda, she realized the importance of unity. She said, “Ang mga dating magkagalit, nagkaisa dahil kay Yolanda.” Fighting back tears, she added that Yolanda taught them to value their lives and to express their love and care for their family and friends.

Bacalso also recalled how Yolanda made her faith stronger, aside from being more generous and patient. She also told the audience that because of Yolanda, she has learned to give her children the freedom to decide. A bit of background: Bacalso was not at home when Yolanda happened. She kept texting her child not to leave their home, which was rubble when she returned to it. Luckily, her child decided to not listen to her and left for a safer place.

Castro said that Yolanda, although devastating, gave women in the affected areas an opportunity to step up and take the lead. She added that they learned not to depend on the government, NGOs, or anyone.

After Yolanda, the six women all discovered two things: first, the remnants of their homes and communities; second, their own strengths as they led their families and kababayans in rebuilding what the storm left behind.

The session ended with still so many questions unanswered. But one thing’s for sure—the places affected by the typhoon still need help in recovering completely.

More importantly, all of them appealed that they need help finding sustainable livelihoods to be able to stand on their own feet. — VC, GMA News