Canadian recounts harrowing search for grandma amid deadly Philippines typhoon
A Canadian has recounted the harrowing 24 hours spent trying to locate family members in the Philippines amid the chaos of a deadly typhoon.
On Sunday, Nov. 9, the Philippines was struck by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, locally known as Uwan. According to Al Jazeera, the typhoon killed 10 people and displaced over 1.4 million, coming just days after Typhoon Kalmaegi, which left over 200 people dead.
Toronto-based Allos Abis, 37, who works in the creative industry, had been closely monitoring the incoming Typhoon Fung-wong along with his family days before it made landfall.
“When we looked at the map, we were well aware that the eye of the storm would pass very close to Dagupan City,” said Abis.
Allos Abis
Abis’ family had reason to worry: his 61-year-old aunt, Christina “Ting” Frianeza, and 98-year-old grandma, Perla Frianeza, live alone in a two-storey house in Dagupan City, Pangasinan, along Lingayen Gulf — a region northwest of Manila that’s frequently hit by typhoons.
“We knew that it was going to hit Dagupan Sunday night/Monday morning, and the last message that we got from them was that the electricity was out, the water on the first floor was already at waist level, pray for us, and then we didn’t hear from them for 24 hours,” recalled Abis.
Turning to social media
Mayor Belen T. Fernandez/Facebook
The family started monitoring the local news, but only saw channels covering the aftermath of the storm in other regions. So Abis turned to social media for information. On Facebook, he saw civilians posting about starting their own rescue operation, while a local youth group volunteered to contact or reach out to people’s loved ones that they had been trying to reach.
“There were people from their neighbourhood that got rescued, but then we still hadn’t heard from our family,” he said.
Frantic, Abis and his other cousin started sharing his aunt and grandma’s information on Facebook pages such as the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
“If anyone has a boat or raft who can check on my aunt and grandmother, please contact me. My grandmother and aunt live on the path of Typhoon Uwan, and we have not heard from them for more than 12 hours,” he wrote in the posts.
News at last
Allos Abis’ 98-year-old grandma, Perla Frianeza
After sharing their plea in comments and various Facebook groups, Abis said that his cousin finally heard news of their loved ones.
“The Philippine National Police and Red Cross messaged my cousins, and they said, ‘Hey, we went to your mom’s and your grandma’s house, and they’re okay,'” recounted Abis.
According to authorities, the storm had knocked out cell phone service and power. Days later, Abis said they received a message from his aunt stating that there was still no electricity and that the water levels had started subsiding.
“[She said], ‘By the way, there was police here and Red Cross came, and I heard that you guys were worried sick, thank you, but yeah, we’re good,'” he recalled.
Although he’s not sure of the damage caused by the typhoon, Abis said he assumes that their family’s furniture and appliances have been damaged as flood waters on the ground level reached chest level.
Looking ahead
An evacuation centre in the Philippines (Mayor Belen T. Fernandez/Facebook)
Abis, who has a master’s degree in environmental studies, said he’s worried about the compounding negative impacts of these typhoons on communities in the Philippines.
“It’s frustrating, I’m really angry about it,” he said.
He pointed out the fact that some evacuation centres weren’t open, and some of the ones that were aren’t structurally sound to withstand typhoons. He also said that it was locals and social media influencers who took it upon themselves to warn people, provide evacuation information, and organize rescue missions.
He also said that the government’s response was more reactive rather than proactive. A local government website warned locals of dangerous storm surges 10 hours into the storm, and when water levels had already risen by at least nine feet.
The recent typhoons come after nationwide anti-corruption protests in the Philippines in September. Locals took to the streets to protest alleged corruption surrounding flood control projects, accusing officials and contractors of allegedly siphoning billions of dollars in funds from government projects that either never materialized or were poorly constructed.
Mayor Belen T. Fernandez/Facebook
Abis said he wishes there were more accountability and humility from politicians to admit their mistakes and do better. He also said that it’s the first time they’ve experienced losing touch with loved ones during a typhoon and that he’s concerned about what it means for the future.
“It’s the first time that I’ve been unable [to get in touch with them], and that’s why it’s worrisome, because it will only get worse from here, right?” he asked.
The Filipino-Canadian community has also called for support for those affected by the typhoon, with local organizations sharing information on how to help families impacted by Typhoon Kalmaegi and Super Typhoon Fung-wong.