Yolanda memorial wall to help bring ‘closure’

TACLOBAN CITY , Philippines  – Survivors of the super typhoon Haiyan, local name Yolanda, seek closure a year after that traumatic day in November. 

The Tacloban government says a memorial is a step towards that.
Paterno Esmaquel reports.

The memorial wall behind me will contain the names of Tacloban residents who died because of Super Typhoon Yolanda in November 2013

It stands by the sea that killed more than 3,100 people in this city alone and in front of the astrodome that served as an evacuation center a year ago.

The Tacloban City government will unveil this on November 8, exactly a year after Yolanda.

The city’s information chief says this will help Yolanda survivors move on.

BERNARDITA VALENZUELA, TACLOBAN INFORMATION OIC: That is like saying all those who had died, we still remember you. But we will not remember your death. We will remember your time here with us when you were still alive. Then that would seem like we’re saying we’ll let go, we’ll not hold on to you. We’ll let you go. We’ll remember you with love and affection. You are already resting in peace.

The city government believes this can give survivors a sense of closure.

Paterno Esmaquel, Rappler, Tacloban City – Rappler.com