STORIES OF RESILIENCE: COMMUNITIES AT THE FOREFRONT OF CLIMATE-RELATED IMPACTS
In November 2013, the Philippines faced unprecedented losses and damages brought by Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan), the strongest typhoon ever recorded in Philippine history. This catastrophic event resulted in more than 6,000 casualties and over PHP 95 billion worth of damages, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)
A decade later, the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) presents “Mga Kwento ng Pagbangon (Stories of Resilience),“ a documentary series that delves into stories of resilience and hope that emerged from Eastern Visayas, the first region to be hit by Super Typhoon Yolanda, in the wake of this devastating event.
10 stories of hope, 10 years after Yolanda.
“Mga Kwento ng Pagbangon” will feature 10 short videos and one full-length documentary to shed light on the progress and the remarkable leadership of people and communities in Eastern Visayas.
The series was launched on November 8, the official commemoration of Yolanda, with more videos to follow before 2023 ends. Stay tuned!
“Nais ko pong alalahanin ng mundo hindi lang ang kwento kung paano tayo pinadapa ng isa sa pinakamalakas na bagyo na naitala sa kasaysayan ng mundo, kundi ang maalala ng lahat ang kwento kung paano tayo bumangon at nagpatuloy.”
(I hope that the world not only recalls the story of how we were brought down by one of the strongest typhoons ever recorded, but also remembers all the stories of how communities bounced back and moved forward.)
Orland Quesada
ICSC Community Outreach Officer
In a speech delivered on the 10th Yolanda commemoration in Guiuan, Eastern Samar
Stories of Resilience: Impact of Yolanda (Haiyan)
This video features Dr. Eduardo Mangaoang, member of the Climate Change Commission’s National Panel of Technical Experts (NPTE), who talks about the impacts experienced in Eastern Visayas during and after Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) hit the region.
Stories of Resilience: Sulu-an Island
This video highlights stories from community members of Sulu-an Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, one of the first communities that experienced the impacts of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). Featured in this video is Ma. Gina Talavera, Barangay Secretary of Sulu-an, and Alma Latina, President of the women-led Sulong Sulu-an Association.
Stories of Resilience: Solar Scholar
The third Kwento ng Pagbangon comes from Orland Quesada of ICSC’s RE-Charge Pilipinas team, and how his experience has inspired him to help the community as a Solar Scholar, humanitarian volunteer, and community organizer.
Stories of Resilience: Local government
In our fourth #KwentoNgPagbangon, local governments of Guiuan and Salcedo in Eastern Samar recall the devastation left by Typhoon Haiyan, and how it led to long-term partnerships and plans to ensure the community’s resilience moving forward.
Stories of Resilience: Survivor, paying it forward
It’s been ten years since Typhoon Yolanda wreaked havoc on Eastern Samar, but it still has lasting effects on survivors like Jessie Bachecha, a teacher at GMA Kapuso Village Integrated School (Tacloban).
Despite this, Jessie believes that Yolanda taught them many lessons—one of which is the importance of solar power during an emergency. Today, this is his mission: to share it with his fellow survivors and students.
Stories of Resilience: Energy
Our sixth #KwentoNgPagbangon features Atty. Jose Michael Edwin Amancio of the Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative (ESAMELCO) and ICSC’s Director for Community Resilience Arturo Tahup, who discuss the island’s experiences with energy in the aftermath of typhoons, and the importance of integrating #RenewableEnergy in disaster and humanitarian response.
Stories of Resilience: Survivor, paying it forward
Empowering women and local livelihoods helps improve their lives and scale up sustainable development in their communities.
In our seventh #KwentoNgPagbangon, Anita Ogrimen talks about the Basey Association of Native Industry Growth (BANIG), a local business run by women weavers producing sleeping mats (banig), bags, wallets, and more. Anita also shared how their livelihood was affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, and how they were able to bounce back.
Stories of Resilience: Solar Scholar Women
Coastal communities like Marabut, Samar are routinely hit by typhoons, and often have limited resources to use in the event of natural disasters.
In 2018, the #SolarScholars held its first woman-led training in Marabut, equipping more women with the tools and knowledge to use solar energy in disaster response. Our eighth #KwentoNgPagbangon looks at how the program has impacted the community.
Stories of Resilience: Fishing
The livelihoods of fisherfolk are among some of the most affected when typhoons ravage the coast.
Our ninth #KwentoNgPagbangon features Marlon Talavera, who explains how using #RenewableEnergy has helped the fisherfolk of Sulu-an Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar become safer and more resilient out in the sea.
Stories of Resilience: Reporting in the time of Haiyan
In the midst of disasters, access to often life-saving information is crucial for affected communities. Journalists serve a key role in keeping others safe and informed, despite also being affected by tragedy.
Our tenth #KwentoNgPagbangon features Jasmine Bonifacio of #MagikFMTacloban, who shares her experience of the day Typhoon Haiyan hit Tacloban, and what motivates her to continue her line of work.