It took days before water receded, leaving them trapped on rooftops. Cries of help echoed around the neighborhood but no one could get to them. They lost all of their possessions, money, jobs and some family members. For individuals who have lost things - all they can grasp is how much in life they have just lost. Likely, they are missing at least one family member and gone are their homes, their possessions and their livelihood. Tsunami almost vanished everything they had- including good memories. The emotions are all over the place. I can still feel it. They go from being thankful to be alive to the realization of what they had lost. And they cry for both. They cry to themselves. They cry on the arms of shoulders of people around them. In silence, my heart bleeds too.
Those are only a few of the emotions that people feel in the hours, days, weeks and months after a tsunami. I have not visited all of them but I guess their stories are almost the same. I guess the question now is not how these survivors are feeling but it is to ask ourselves “What can I do to them?” If you meet someone who has gone thru the said devastation, what can you do? Their needs are changing everyday…so what can you do? Most have more than the trauma of the tsunami waves to deal with. So what can you do? At first, I thought the survivors wanted not to talk anymore about the tsunami as this does not bring any good but only the fangs of tragedy. But when asked what and how can we help them, surprisingly one volunteer and a survivor requested us, “just tell the true stories when you go back to your respective places” …upon hearing those words, silently I said “these people here in Oshima are amazing!”- they survived a tsunami and they have been consistently pulling together to rebuild their community. One female volunteer who had left her home and school and opted to stay in Oshima to continue her volunteering activities said, “ It is too soon to think about the future but we have to do this while the will is there.” And she realized that indeed there is a lot of ways to help other people. Without a doubt, the vast devastation incidence can be very terrifying but, at the same time, one of the most inspiring. To see how people help others in their time of needs is truly very magnificent, showing goodness of and to every one.
Now I understand, why these people do not want to forget and ask us to share their stories. Other people need to know why some are able to survive the tests of being survivors. Other people need to know why the darkness is gradually fading now and will eventually disappear in no time! Let us share their stories. I just did!
Elric M. Batilaran
JDS 2010-2012