Part II: The MDCC And The Bulan Rescue Team

The Municipal Disaster Coordinating Council or  MDCC and the Bulan Rescue Team deserve once again the highest respect for their selfless efforts and efficient performance in saving the lives of many Bulaneños and of coordinating the whole disaster management at the height of  typhoon Dante last May 1 and 2.

Under the leadership of  Vice-mayor Gogola and the young  and competent Municipal Administrator Luis De Castro, Jr., the dangerous risks  to the lives of our town people had been maintained to the minimum. I’ve observed these men at work in a situation where I know would also have triggered the highest emergency alarm and stress even among most advanced cities in the world. Our men worked with the serenity of spirit, bravery and heroism of a real Bulaneño amidst the chaos in the whole of  Bulan and the limited technical resources they have at their disposal. And I approached them and talked with them to know more about the disaster from their own perspective-  with Vice-Mayor Gogola as he inspects the evacuees in Bulan South Central School and with Mr. Luis De Castro in the MDCC office which is  housed in the old Municipal vicinity as he instructs the men of the rescue Team.

Mr. Luis De Castro has retained this  attitude of thankfulness in the midst of a disaster for the very little effort our Canipaan Team has done to the very first wave of evacuees that occupied the Bulan North Central School in the early hours of May2. I sensed also a deep sincerity in him when he told me ” sana walang maging casualty” (we pray that there will be no casualty).

These words had warmed my wet body and wearied soul for actually I came to bury my sister this very day- and not to roam around in the flooded streets of Bulan, an experience I never had for the last decades. Bulaneños still care for Bulaneños is the insight I have learned in my short exchange of words with Mr. Luis De Castro, Jr. I also somehow felt rewarded in return for the indignation and caring that I felt when as a young boy our then mayor Mr. Luis de Castro, Sr. met his tragic end. I think this inter-connectedness-in some-ways- in -a -deeper -level is the essence of being one people.

Our Kudos then to our competent young leaders who can practically manage the town on their own and who are present not only in peaceful and joyful times but in times of great calamities that even reached international news reports. Born good leaders seem to be always  at the right place and time and are there when the whole town is in distress and when  the padabas need them the most.

I violated my argument that if pictures speak louder than words, then let them be, which means words are unnecessary. My defense is that I cannot photograph my thoughts and feelings so again, I used words to convey them in this short tribute to our leaders.

For now let these following images speak louder than me:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Municipal Adninistrator Luis De Castro, jr.  instructing his men.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The silhoutte of Vice -mayor Gogola (middle figure) as he inspects the evacuees in Bulan South Central School.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the rescue men having their briefing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Getting set…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the rubber rescue boats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rescue men in action.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hold on tight, children! The water is wall-high.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A race against time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clearing the waters from dangerous objects.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Push…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and pull…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Young boys on the look out,  ready to help.

 

These are some of images of Bulaneños’  fight for survival on that stormy days.

 

jun asuncion

Bulan Observer                                 (photos by jun and mila asuncion)

Part I: The Storm Dante: Images Of Survival

 

Tuloy Po or Please Come In  is unmistakably Bulaneño hospitality…

 

 Even when Bulan is  under water brought about by the devastating typhoon Dante last May 1-2.

 

 But who will come in, what kind of guests when pupils are on vacation and  who will dare when it is flooded?

 

 They are the guests- evacuees; children from Managanaga fleeing from high waters that swallowed their bamboo huts,

spending the night of heavy rains awake,  fearful and anxious about their situation.

Storm Dante shows no mercy as it pounded Bulan with strong winds and heavy rains overnight.

The classrooms are  still closed and so they find their first refuge under the staircase;

children and even a baby are wet, shivering from cold- and hunger.

 

Young Bulaneños- pretty girls and handsome boys- soaked in water, sleepless and hungry.

We come to their rescue during the first hours in the morning of May 2; nursing and comforting them.

 As some fathers are  in great stress running and swimming back and forth

 to Managanaga to rescue their other children who are left behind.

 

 

 And this is how it looks by now outside the Bulan North Central School;

more families coming,  taking with them  their most important belongings as the waters continue to rise.

 Women….

 whole family…

 And an old man escorted by his young ones.

 A pig is precious, too.

 I am astonished by the gracefulness in their bearing; they retain their dignity and calmness,

as many walk through waters in a meditative posture- which shows that experience

with floods is not extraordinary in the town of Bulan.

 A boy joining his family somewhere, behind him the man

 in a meditative rhythm opposing the currents.

 The day when boats are in the streets of Canipaan…

 and a raft made of banana trunks, in place of cars and tricycles.

 Meanwhile, these families are now inside a classroom, given towels, hot drinks and biscuits. etc.

 Children now dry, visibly feeling better -at least for the time being-,

and mothers continue watching over them.

 

(click this photo to view Part II, or  the whole album)

A shy boy with sadness in his eyes in this dark room

with no electricity and drinking water.

If pictures speak louder than words, then let them be.

 

jun asuncion        

Bulan Observer                                                          ( photos by jun asuncion)

                            

   —-end—-