The Tacloban that Pope Francis won’t see

Paterno R. Esmaquel II

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The Tacloban that Pope Francis won’t see
Sadly, Pope Francis' itinerary won't allow him to see many places devastated by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in November 2013

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines – A streamer made of cloth hangs on top of a grounded ship in the village of Anibong, Tacloban City, days before Pope Francis visits the typhoon-hit province of Leyte.

It reads, “Pope Francis, welcome to Barangay 68, Anibong, Tacloban City, Leyte, Philippines.”

Patring Bacoy, 74, said residents of Anibong placed that streamer on top of the ship often seen in images that depict the devastation wrought by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in November 2013. She told us that residents of Anibong want the Pope to pass by their community – one of Tacloban’s danger zones, which means residents need to evacuate every time there’s a storm.

Breaking into tears, Bacoy said, “‘Yung Santo Papa, pakiramdam ko siya na po si Jesus Christ na dumating dito sa Tacloban… alang-alang sa mga anak ko.” (Many people here in Anibong are really poor… Because I feel that the Holy Father is Jesus Christ visiting Tacloban… for the sake of my children.)

Sadly, Francis’ itinerary won’t allow him to see this community by the sea, as well as many places that Yolanda devastated. Instead, he will see the renovated Tacloban Airport and Palo Cathedral, the Archbishop’s Residence in Palo, and the newly constructed Pope Francis Center for the Poor also in Palo.

I can only hope Francis would see the other face of this city, as well as the province of Leyte.

Our contributor at Rappler, Jonathan Ong, described “another” Tacloban: “This is the motionless Tacloban of bunkhouses and tent cities, of refugee camps straight out of the sci-fi of District 9, the Tacloban of mundane poverty made exceptional by Yolanda.” 

Picking up the pieces

The last time I was in Tacloban for more than a week, in November 2014, around 14,100 Yolanda survivors remained in danger zones like Anibong

Ateneo School of Government Dean Tony La Viña warned that the lack of structural or policy changes might lead to a repeat of Yolanda. “There’s no structural change, no policy change, and no change in terms of reduction of physical risks. If Yolanda happens tomorrow, are the people safe? They’re not safe. They have no place to go,” he said in one of our interviews.

True enough, another typhoon – Ruby (Hagupit) – destroyed many houses in Anibong in December 2014.

One of these houses is owned by Richelle Alcaraz, 26, whom we interviewed in November 2014.

Ruby destroyed her house, which Yolanda already swept away in November 2013. She and her children literally had to pick up the pieces – including galvanized iron floating in the sea.

It’s a good thing, in any case, that the Pope is having a personal encounter with 30 disaster survivors, through a lunch with them at the Archbishop’s Residence in Palo.

If the Pope decides to surprise us, though, that would be most welcome, too. – Rappler.com

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Paterno R. Esmaquel II

Paterno R. Esmaquel II, news editor of Rappler, specializes in covering religion and foreign affairs. He finished MA Journalism in Ateneo and MSc Asian Studies (Religions in Plural Societies) at RSIS, Singapore. For story ideas or feedback, email pat.esmaquel@rappler.com