Ground holes save Leyte village during #RubyPH

LEYTE, Philippines – When Typhoon Ruby, international name Hagupit, made landfall in Leyte, villagers survived by taking refuge in holes in the ground.

Voltaire Tupaz filed this video blog.

These kids and their families did not evacuate when typhoon Ruby hit Eastern Visayas. Let’s ask them how they survived.

Kids, diin man kamo pagtago han bagyo? (Kids, where did you hide during the storm?)

KIDS: Ha buho! (In the hole)

Hain man iton nga buho? (Where is that hole?)

KIDS: ‘Tuman! (There it is!)

Ipakita naton iton nga buho. Waray kamo kahadlok hini nga buho? (Let’s see that hole. Were you not scared while you were in that hole?)

KIDS: Waray! (We were not!)

Kay-ano? (Why?)

JELAICA AGRAVA, RESIDENT BRGY SALVACION, DAGAMI: Kay di man nasasabtan an hangin (We didn’t feel the wind)

Kay-ano nga di man nasasabtan an hangin? (How come?)

JELAICA AGRAVA, RESIDENT BRGY SALVACION, DAGAMI: Kay may-ada man atop nga trapal ngan hin sim, ngan guinbawbawan hin tabla para diri masabtan an hangin, ‘tas diri mauranan kami. (Because it was covered with tarpaulin, roofing sheets; and wood to protect us from the wind and rain)

Kay-ano nga waray kamo kadto han eskwelahan lugod? (Why did you not evacuate to your schools?)

RESSA MAY TIVES, RESIDENT BRGY SALVACION, DAGAMI: Kay hirayo ngadto, ngan bangin bumaha, tapos bangin maparehas naman han bagyong yolanda nga naruba an eskwelahan. (The schools are far from here and are prone to flooding, and they might be destroyed like what happened during typhoon Yolanda)

Pira man kamo dinhi nga oras nga nag-stay? (How long did you stay in the hole?)

KIDS: One day!

Ano man an iyo guinkakaon? (Did you have something to eat?)

KIDS: Puso! (Hanging rice)

Ano it puso? (What is puso?)

KIDS: Kanan lubi nga bagat guin-ayad nga bola nga guinbutangan hin kan-on tapos tuunon. (It’s preserved rice covered with coconut palm strips)

Pwede ako nala malusad kay bangin kamo mahulog? (Can i just be the one to go down? You might fall.)

KIDS: Diri man ngay-an hilarom (It’s a shallow hole)

This hole is about one and a half meters deep; the wet ground is covered with coco lumber; and this can accommodate about 5 families. They were saved during typhoons Yolanda and Ruby in this upland village, there are 19 other holes which were dug days before typhoon Ruby.

When the next typhoon comes, residents here say that they will prefer these holes to the schools. But perhaps they will reconsider if the schools are rebuilt and food is made available. Voltaire Tupaz, Rappler, Leyte. – Rappler.com