Discovery Channel airs ‘Haiyan: After the Megastorm’

MANILA, Philippines – Almost a year has passed since one of the strongest typhoons ever recorded ravaged the Visayan region.

Discovery Channel pays tribute to the people who are continually rallying and pushing for the rebuilding of the areas and lives left devastated by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) by revisiting the months after November 2013 through a 60-minute documentary, Haiyan: After the Megastorm.

“Around this time last year, Haiyan and the aftermath of the storm captured the attention of the world,” Theresa Ong, senior vice president-general manager for Southeast Asia of Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific, said.

The documentary, hosted by Filipino-British television presenter and actor Trey Farley, also aims to honor the thousands who lost their lives and the millions struggling to persevere despite the challenges they face.

“Discovery Channel wants to share the inspiring story of how the city and its people rose above the ruins and destruction to rebuild their lives,” Ong added. “The documentary is a tribute to the tenacity and optimism of the Filipino people, and it is our honor and privilege to bring this to our viewers.”

Special screening

On October 23, the local government of Tacloban, together with Discovery Channel held a special screening with various stakeholders involved in the disaster rehabilitation of the region in attendance.

“This makes us remember the sorrow of losing many of our loved ones and the vast devastation that typhoon Haiyan brought to our shores,” Tacloban City Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez said. “It also shows the heroism in our people’s hearts, the hard guts it took to help us to get back on our feet again with the help of the rest of the Philippines and the international community.”

Haiyan: After the Megastorm will premiere in the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries on Sunday, November 8, at 8:00 pm on Discovery Channel.

Mayor Romualdez hopes that the need to prepare for the “new normal” will be emphasized in the documentary. 

“Haiyan spotlights the need for cities to be more prepared for the new normal, as the strength of each city comes from the mindset of its people, and that education and building social capital is absolutely crucial in order to incorporate resilience into all aspects of life,” he said. – Rappler.com