Once a safe shelter, the home of Irene de Jesus in Brgy. Lipcan, Bangued, Abra became a battleground against the raging floodwaters of Typhoon Egay.
Irene was a dedicated housewife, taking care of her two children, aged 13 and 10, who were both studying.
As a non-uniformed personnel, her husband worked tirelessly to provide for their family, but nothing could have prepared them for the unexpected and devastating turn of events that Typhoon Egay brought upon their doorstep. As the floodwaters crept inside, they were unable to salvage their belongings. Irene’s brother, who worked as a caretaker for a large house nearby, came to their rescue, helping them escape the flood’s wrath.
“For seven long hours, from 2pm to 9pm, we endured the flood’s fury. We hadn’t anticipated such a calamity since we hadn’t experienced anything like this in over two decades,” Irene said.
The family relied on the relief given by the local authorities, but it was not nearly enough to cover their needs.
The aftermath was harsh, particularly for Irene’s husband, who couldn’t go to work for four days due to the extent of the damage caused by the flood. Irene, as a dedicated mother, worked tirelessly, washing clothes and cleaning the mud-filled house, but her fingers were left wounded from the consistent labor.
The disaster’s impact was even more poignant for Irene since it occurred precisely a year after a disastrous earthquake in Abra, which had already damaged a significant portion of their wall. Despite all the hardships, Irene expressed gratitude that their family was safe and that they were able to evacuate in time.
To aid those affected by the natural disaster, Operation Blessing stepped in and distributed relief aid, including food bags and bibles.
“Thank you very much for reaching our community. The contents of the bag would sustain us for several days and ease our immediate burden.”
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Typhoon #EgayPH may have moved away from the Philippines but the aftermath has left a trail of devastation, particularly in the province of Abra.
In the wake of this disaster, more kababayans are in urgent need of assistance.
DONATE today through any of our designated bank accounts under the account name: Operation Blessing Foundation Phils., Inc.
BDO: 0030000-55279
BPI: 3001-0040-33
METRO BANK: 270-3-27050273-4
UNIONBANK: 00-216-072163-9
For other ways of donating, please visit www.operationblessing.ph or contact us at 0939-921-5543 or 0918-906-7753.
DSWD-SB-SP-00017-2023-Nationwide. Valid until Mar 31, 2024.