Yolanda terrifies young, old alike

EASTERN SAMAR, Philippines – Traumatized by past typhoons, thousands of residents in Eastern Samar flock to evacuation centers to keep themselves safe from super typhoon Yolanda.

Paterno Esmaquel files this video blog.

Here in Eastern Samar, super typhoon Yolanda forces up to 47,000 to flock to evacuation centers like this one, right inside the provincial capitol.

We met one of them, 67-year-old Violeta Larioma. She says fear brought her here.

VIOLETA LARIOMA, 67: Takot na, parang nerbiyos na ako. Dahil matanda na ako, gano’n. Matanda na ako, takutin na ako. (I’m afraid. I’ve become so nervous, because I’m old. I’m old so I easily get terrified.)

Even her grandchild felt terrified. And he is only 6.

VIOLETA LARIOMA, 67: Oo, natatakot na rin siya. Kanina nga, yaya siya nang yaya, Tayo na nanay, punta na tayo doon sa kapitolyo. Natatakot naman siya. Malakas ang…pabugso-bugso kasi kanina ang ulan, tapos ang hangin malakas…. Ngayon takutin na. Alam na rin niya. Alam na niya, nakakatakot. Noong maliit pa siya, mga 4 years, naranasan na rin niya yung mga baha baha, sa ilog, sa tabing ilog.

(Yes, he also gets terrified. In fact, a while ago he kept on telling me, “Come on, Grandma, let’s go to the capitol.” He was feeling terrified. That was when the rain was intermittent, and the wind was strong…. Now he’s become nervous, because he already knows. When he was 4 years old, he experienced flooding by the river.)

They’re among the thousands of Filipinos, young and old alike, whom this super typhoon forced out of their homes.

Paterno Esmaquel, Rappler, Eastern Samar. 

– Rappler.com