Surfing the waves of Haiyan for survival

MANILA, Philippines – Sheena Junia survived the storm by literally riding the waves and paddling her way to safety on her surfboard.

Sheena escaped the rising flood water in her room. Outside, she could barely see, surrounded by black water. 
After she said she accepted she could die, she became calm and survived, she said, by thinking clearly.

SHEENA JUNIA, TYPHOON YOLANDA SURVIVOR: I was trying to ask them for help tapos yung iba hindi ako pinansin. Yung isang guy, tumingin siya sa akin so slowly, pumunta ako doon. Dahan-dahan akong pumunta sa balcony. Nakaapak pa ako sa board, yung current sobrang lakas, pero di ko pinapakawalan. Either yung board or pupunta ako sa guy na nag-reach out ng hand niya, pinakawalan ko na lang yung board. Tumalon ako, nag-swing forward ako. Nahawakan ko yung kamay nya, medyo nag-slip pa ako, pero nakaakyat ako. (I was trying to ask them for help but they ignored me. Then one guy, he looked at me, so I slowly made my way towards the balcony. I was still on my board, and the current was so strong, but I did not let go of the board. I’d either stay on the board or take the hand of the guy reaching out to me. I chose to let go of the board. Then I jumped, I swung forward. I grabbed his hand, I nearly slipped, but I managed to make it.)

Without food and water, Sheena and her friends said did what they had to do.

SHEENA JUNIA, TYPHOON YOLANDA SURVIVOR: Di kami proud of it, pero nag-loot kami sa mga groceries, sa mga malls, kasi bukas na siya eh. (I’m not proud of it, but we looted groceries and malls. They were open.) [Q: Did you expect help?] I was not expecting it, I was hoping for it. Alam ko naman na may something politics yung national at local namin. (I know politics is involved.)

Watch the full interview below:

– Rappler.com