I don't know why it took me 4 days to write this. Probably because I am still in shock.

Monday, June 24. Around 5pm I got a text message from my sister Mae. She informed me that our house in Numancia, Aklan was flooded all the way to the roof and practically everything in it was ruined. There's no power and only Smart is working. All their phones at home were post paid Globe. Good thing my sister had an old smart sim that's why she was able to text me when cellphone signal came back. My family owned that house for more than 10 years and this is only the 2nd time that the flood reached our area. The first time was back in 2006 but the water only got waist deep. According to my sister's account, during the storm they have secured our appliances and had them stored on top of the double deck in our room but it was useless. In around 30 minutes the water surged so fast they only had time to secure themselves and some personal items before they took shelter in my Auntie Diding's house next door. According to my sister, 36 people from different families in our subdivision took refuge in the 2nd foor of my Auntie Diding's house. 36 people. It's a miracle it didn't collapse. My parents were in the process of extending our house. Construction was ongoing in the vacant lot at the back of our house for the 2nd floor extension. It didn't survive. My sister told me Monday there was 6 inches if mud they had to clear from the house. She was wearing a shirt brought by Auntie Lily because all their clothes were muddy and dirty. Our cousins from Lezo came Monday to help them clean up. I thought I was ok. But when I went to bed, I couldn't stop crying. That night, I prayed. Admittedly, I haven't prayed for a long time. But that night I did.

My sister told me that on Tuesday, June 25 she and Inday (our neighbor's helper) walked for 4 and 1/2 hrs from our place to Kalibo and back to look for food. They had to walk because there is no transportation. Everything was closed and Kalibo too is covered in mud. On the way they saw dead bodies and overturned cars. Yesterday my sister told me her phone is running out of battery and she needs to look for a place to charge it. This morning, she texted me again to ask for prepaid load because there's no place to load up. She told me they had their phones charged at one of our neighbor's who had a generator for 30 php! Also, she said rice cost 150php per ganta (2.2 kilos). Which is ridiculous! My sister was asking if I could send them some goods since everything really is way too expensive in Aklan. Banks are closed in Kalibo. According to her only Western Union is open in Numancia. Good thing one of my sister's friends will be coming home tomorrow so I can send some stuff for them.

I don't have any chance to watch the evening news since I am usually asleep by 6pm because my shift starts at 2am. For the past few days, I have been religiously reading internet articles about how badly Typhoon Frank had damaged Aklan. It's devastating to know that they will be out of water and eectricity for a month! It's a good thing we have a "poso" at the back of our house, my family still has a source of water if that's any consolation. I told my friend Cherry yesterday that yes, I am worried. But I know my parents are good people and people will help them. But then, the thought struck me. The whole province is in a state of calamity. How can they help when they too, do not have anything? :(

Below are some pictures taken after the storm:

I am appealing to whoever will be reading this to please extend some help in any way that you can. People in Aklan need clean water, food, and medicine. Spreading the news so more people can know about Aklan's plight will help a lot as well as your prayers.

Aklanon Students in Metro Manila have put up the Sagip Aklan group. You can contact the following people for any form of help that you are willing to extend:

Celeste Refendor, Aklanon Representative UP Diliman, 0927.253.3661
Jerald Benedict Equina, Aklanon Representative UST, 0915.707.9685
Miguel Miraflores, Aklanon Representative, Mapua Institute of Technology, 0917.881.0524

I am also working with my fellow Aklananons here in Manila in searching for people who are willing to extend medical help to the people in our province since our Provincial Hospital is in no way capable of caring for the sick. If you know anyone who can provide medical assistance, below is my contact information:

Michelle Anne J. Teodosio

SME, PeopleSupport Phils, Inc.

0906.330.5062

angelfyre005@yahoo.com mteodosio@peoplesupport.com

Thank you. Any form of help will be greatly appreciated.